Abstract
Background and aim
Intestinal permeability (IP) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of nonalcoholic
fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We assessed site-specific (gastroduodenum, small intestine,
colon and whole gut) IP in NAFLD patients and healthy controls (HC) and its association
with the degree of hepatic steatosis, hepatic fibrosis and dietary composition in
these NAFLD patients.
Methods
In vivo site-specific IP was analysed with a validated multi-sugar test in NAFLD patients
and HC. Furthermore, in NAFLD patients, hepatic steatosis (chemical shift MRI), hepatic
fibrosis (transient elastography) and dietary composition (food frequency questionnaire)
were assessed.
Results
Fifty-two NAFLD patients and forty-six HC were included in this study. Small intestinal
(P <0.001), colonic (P = 0.004) and whole gut (P <0.001) permeability were increased in NAFLD patients compared to HC. Furthermore,
colonic permeability (P = 0.029) was significantly higher in NAFLD patients with clinically significant fibrosis
compared to those without. Colonic permeability remained positively associated with
the presence of clinically significant fibrosis (P = 0.017) after adjustment for age, sex and BMI.
Conclusion
Colonic permeability is increased in at least a subset of NAFLD patients compared
to HC and is independently associated with clinically significant NAFLD fibrosis.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 27, 2023
Accepted:
December 26,
2022
Received:
July 22,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l.
