Cholic acid for hepatic steatosis in patients with lipodystrophy: A randomized, controlled trial

Zahid Ahmad, Lalitha Subramanyam, Lidia Szczepaniak, Vinaya Simha, Beverley Adams-Huet, Abhimanyu Garg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Hepatic steatosis is a common complication in patients with lipodystrophies and can lead to cirrhosis. There is no proven effective therapy for hepatic steatosis, but cholic acid (CA), a farnesoid X receptor agonist, has previously been shown to reduce hepatic triglyceride (TG) content in mice and serum TG in humans. Our objective was to assess clinical efficacy and tolerability of CA therapy in patients with lipodystrophy and hepatic steatosis. Design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Methods: Eighteen patients with genetic or autoimmune lipodystrophies and elevated hepatic TG content participated in the study. The intervention was CA (15 mg/kg per day) compared with placebo for a period of 6 months each. Hepatic TG content, the primary outcome variable, was measured with 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy at baseline and at 3 and 6 months during each study period. Levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and TG were secondary end points of the study. Results: Compared with placebo, CA did not reduce (median (interquartile range) hepatic TG content (14.8% (9.4-19.0%) vs 15.9% (10.5-26.5%) respectively; P=0.42) or serum TG ((340 mg/dl (233-433 mg/dl) vs 390 mg/dl (233-595 mg/dl) respectively; P=0.45)). CA therapy also did not change AST, ALT, or GGT levels. Two patients developed diarrhea and excessive flatus while taking CA and these symptoms resolved after reducing the dose of CA. Conclusion: CAwas well tolerated but did not reduce hepatic TG content in patients with lipodystrophy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)771-778
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean journal of endocrinology
Volume168
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Endocrinology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cholic acid for hepatic steatosis in patients with lipodystrophy: A randomized, controlled trial'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this