scholarly journals Obeticholic Acid: A New Era in the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludovico Abenavoli ◽  
Tetyana Falalyeyeva ◽  
Luigi Boccuto ◽  
Olena Tsyryuk ◽  
Nazarii Kobyliak

The main treatments for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are currently based on lifestyle changes, including ponderal decrease and dietary management. However, a subgroup of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), who are unable to modify their lifestyle successfully, may benefit from pharmaceutical support. Several drugs targeting pathogenic mechanisms of NAFLD have been evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of NASH. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a nuclear key regulator controlling several processes of the hepatic metabolism. NAFLD has been proven to be associated with abnormal FXR activity. Obeticholic acid (OCA) is a first-in-class selective FXR agonist with anticholestatic and hepato-protective properties. Currently, OCA is registered for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis. However, promising effects of OCA on NASH and its metabolic features have been reported in several studies.

Doctor Ru ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 21-30
Author(s):  
N.B. Gubergritz ◽  
◽  
N.V. Belyaeva ◽  
T.L. Mozhina ◽  
N.E. Monogarova ◽  
...  

Objective of the Review: to analyse changes in bile acids (BA) metabolism due to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL), nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFP); to assess the efficiency of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) for their correction. Key Points. NAFL and NAFP have much in common, including BA synthesis imbalance and reduced farnesoid X receptor (FXR) expression. One possible therapy of NAFL and NAFP is BA synthesis correction and increase in FXR expression using FXR agonists. The article discusses clinical and experimental trials of the efficiency of selective FXR agonist — UDCA — in NAFL and NAFP. Conclusion. The multifactorial UDCA mechanism of action including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytoprotective and antiapoptotic actions, can normalise carbohydrate, lipid metabolism and activate FXR; it can justify medicine inclusion into NAFL and NAFP therapeutic regimens. Keywords: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty pancreas disease, ursodeoxycholic acid.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 426-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arun J. Sanyal

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a common cause of liver related morbidity and mortality. It is closely linked to underlying insulin resistance. It has recently been shown that bile acids modulate insulin signaling and can improve insulin resistance in cell based and animal studies. These effects are mediated in part by activation of farnesoid x receptors by bile acids. In human studies, FXR agonists improve insulin resistance and have recently been shown to improve NAFLD. The basis for the use of FXR agonists for the treatment of NAFLD and early human experience with such agents is reviewed in this paper.


Author(s):  
Eleni A. Karavia ◽  
Kyriakos E. Kypreos

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of metabolic disorders ranging from a simple accumulation of excess triglycerides in the liver (hepatic steatosis) to hepatic steatosis with inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis (steatohepatitis or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)). Studies in humans and animal models suggested that alterations in hepatic lipid metabolism, increased generation of reactive oxygen species and consequently oxidative stress, changes in mitochondrial function, DNA damage, microbial infections and release of various cytokines may contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD and its progression to NASH. Recent data also suggest an important role of the lipoprotein transport system in hepatic lipid deposition. Currently, no drugs are approved for the treatment of NAFLD and NASH and existing pharmacotherapy aims at the management of intercurrent diseases such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. All guidelines acknowledge that any medicines prescribed for NAFLD treatment should be considered as an off-label treatment and that their efficacy and safety should be carefully monitored. Although current pharmacotherapy may seem limited and of questionable efficacy, there is optimism that innovative safe and effective options for the management of the disease will be made available shortly since specialized drugs such as obeticholic acid, elafibranor and cenicriviroc, are presently tested in clinical trials. Given that patients with NAFLD without steatohepatitis or fibrosis have excellent prognosis if they adopt appropriate therapeutic lifestyle changes, it is generally accepted that pharmacological treatments should be limited to those with established NASH and fibrosis while subjects with early manifestations of NAFLD should resort to therapeutic lifestyle and nutritional changes.


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