Endocrine Abstracts

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has an increased worldwide prevalence due to obesity and the use of various drugs affecting the liver. The pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is presently not completely defined. In addition, there is a paucity of agents for its treatment. Choline deficiency has been shown to induce nonalcoholic liver disease. Systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases require chronic systemic treatment with various agents, which may affect liver function. Therefore, the management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease attains importance. Prunus mume, the Asian plum of the rosaceae family, has been studied for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and liver protecting properties. The aim was to describe the use of a Prunus mume extract in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and autoimmune musculoskeletal rheumatic diseases. In a group of 50 patients, 25 male and 25 female, with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the context of autoimmune musculoskeletal rheumatic diseases, an extract of Prunus mume 300 mg (Prunus mume extract 150 mg, choline bitartrate 82.5 mg, oleanolic acid 1.3%, ursolic acid 1.7%) was administered once daily. In this group the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides were measured before, 1, and 3 months later. Observations were also performed in a control group of 50 patients. A liver ultrasound was performed. In this group of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the context of autoimmune musculoskeletal rheumatic diseases after 3 months of treatment with the Prunus mume extract 300 mg daily the levels of alanine aminotransferase decreased significantly by 35.1% (P < 0.01), those of aspartate aminotransferase decreased by 8.2% (P < 0.01) and those of gamma-glutamyl transferase decreased by 12.4% (P < 0.01). The LDL/HDL ratio decreased by 10.9% (P < 0.05), HDL levels increased by 11.5% (P < 0.05) and triglycerides decreased significantly by 7.2% (P < 0.05). The diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the context of autoimmune musculoskeletal diseases presents a problem andthe systemic treatment of the disorder is presently in the focus of scientific research. The management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with a Prunus mume extract has beneficial effects on various metabolic parameters as it has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and liver protecting properties and may contribute to a good quality of life.