Antioxidant activity of Hydroxytyrosol and Vitamin E reduces systemic inflammation in children with paediatric NAFLD

Background: The rise in paediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is particularly alarming. We recently reported that Hydroxytyrosol (HXT) and Vitamin E (VitE) may improve oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and steatosis in children with biopsy-proven NAFLD. Aim: Here, we investigated if HXT + VitE may reduce systemic inflammation in the above-mentioned patients. Methods: This study analysed the plasma levels of IL (interleukin)-6, IL-1 beta, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) and 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in children enrolled in the HXT + VitE trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02842567). Results: Changes in markers of systemic inflammation were found in both placebo (Pla) and HXT + VitE. In particular, after four months, the levels of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha were reduced in both groups, while IL-6 decreased, and IL-10 increased significantly only in the group treated with HXT + VitE. Children treated with HXT + VitE showed a significant decrease of 4-HNE and 8-OHdG that correlated with the improvement of triglyceride levels. Noticeably, only the 8-OHdG decrease correlated with steatosis amelioration and with the increase of IL-10 levels. Conclusion: The treatment with HXT and VitE reduced the NAFLD-related systemic inflammation in children, mainly by an increase of IL-10 circulating levels that occurred in response to DNA damage recovery, ultimately improving steatosis and hypertriglyceridemia. (C) 2020 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Treatment with HXT and VitE can reduce systemic inflammation related to NAFLD in children, mainly by increasing circulating IL-10 levels in response to DNA damage recovery, ultimately improving steatosis and hypertriglyceridemia.