Omega-3 Phospholipids and Fatty Liver: What the Research Shows
This review looked at how omega-3 fatty acids bound to phospholipids (a form found in marine sources like krill oil) may affect non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition strongly linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The authors examined 38 studies and found that in animal and cell-based research, omega-3 phospholipids reduced fat buildup in the liver more effectively than omega-3 in the more common triglyceride or ethyl ester forms. These effects appeared to involve not just the liver, but also fat tissue and the gut.
The review notes that existing human trials using triglyceride- or ethyl ester-bound omega-3 have shown mixed results for NAFLD and did not seem to help with more advanced liver damage. The researchers concluded that the stronger effects seen with phospholipid-bound omega-3 in preclinical studies still need to be confirmed in human clinical trials.
What this means for you
This is an early-stage, preclinical-heavy review suggesting that the chemical form of omega-3 (phospholipid vs. triglyceride) might matter for liver fat metabolism, but this has not yet been confirmed in well-designed human studies, so no treatment claims can be made at this time.
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European journal of clinical investigation · 2022-03-01 · DOI: 10.1111/eci.13650
Read the original source ↗This summary is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider before making changes to your supplement routine.