The physiological response to starvation involves increased muscle proteolysis and adipose tissue lipolysis that supply amino acids and non-esterified fatty acids (‘free fatty acids’) for gluconeogenesis, oxidation and ketogenesis. In the present issue of Clinical Science, Moller and co-workers show that, in humans, IHL (intrahepatic lipid) content, measured using 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy, increases following 36 h of fasting, with a direct association with plasma levels of 3-hydroxybutyrate. The observation raises interesting questions as to how IHL levels increase in a situation of increased mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis. Possible mechanisms for increased IHLs include reduced apoB-100 (apolipoprotein B-100) production and hepatic lipid export, and/or impaired mitochondrial function resulting from increased oxidative stress, with diversion of fatty acids for esterification. The accumulation of IHL during prolonged fasting may, therefore, reflect a maladaptive response to increased non-esterified fatty acid delivery to the liver that unmasks a subtle defect in mitochondrial function. This could have implications for the pathogenesis of the common human disorder of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The accumulation of IHLs observed with prolonged fasting may also explain exacerbations of steatohepatitis seen sometimes with rapid weight loss, anorexia nervosa and parenteral nutrition. The findings also suggest caution against promoting excessive ketogenesis with weight-loss regimens.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
April 2008
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Commentary|
March 13 2008
Is adipose tissue lipolysis always an adaptive response to starvation?: implications for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Seng Khee Gan;
Seng Khee Gan
1Metabolic Research Centre, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Royal Perth Hospital, University of Western Australia, GPO Box X2213, Perth, WA 6847, Australia
Search for other works by this author on:
Gerald F. Watts
1Metabolic Research Centre, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Royal Perth Hospital, University of Western Australia, GPO Box X2213, Perth, WA 6847, Australia
Correspondence: Professor Gerald F. Watts ([email protected]).
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
December 20 2007
Accepted:
January 08 2008
Accepted Manuscript online:
January 08 2008
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2008 Biochemical Society
2008
Clin Sci (Lond) (2008) 114 (8): 543–545.
Article history
Received:
December 20 2007
Accepted:
January 08 2008
Accepted Manuscript online:
January 08 2008
Connected Content
A commentary has been published:
Fasting in healthy subjects is associated with intrahepatic accumulation of lipids as assessed by 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Citation
Seng Khee Gan, Gerald F. Watts; Is adipose tissue lipolysis always an adaptive response to starvation?: implications for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 April 2008; 114 (8): 543–545. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20070461
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
Open Access for all
We offer compliant routes for all authors from 2025. With library support, there will be no author nor reader charges in 5 journals. Check here |
![]() |