Author/Authors :
Nasseri-Moghaddam Siavosh نويسنده , Barzin Gilda نويسنده Department of Anesthesiology, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. , Merat Shahin نويسنده , Nokhbeh-Zaeem Habibeh نويسنده Digestive Oncology Research Center - Digestive Disease Research Institute - Shariati Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Saniee Parastoo نويسنده Department of Microbiology - Tehran University , Pedramnia Shahrzad نويسنده Department of Microbiology - Tehran University , Mostashfi Habibabadi Ali نويسنده Department of Microbiology - Tehran University
Abstract :
BACKGROUND NAFLD/NASH is a manifestation of metabolic syndrome and is associated with obesity/overweight. Not all obese/overweight individuals develop NASH. Gastro-esophageal reflx disease (GERD) is considered a gastrointestinal manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and is associated with obesity/ overweight. Again not all obese/overweight individuals develop GERD. Recent data show association of dietary nitrate content and oral nitrate reductase activity (NRA) with GERD. Nitrates need to be converted to nitrite (done in human beings by nitrate reductase of oral bacteria exclusively) to be active in metabolic pathways. OBJECTIVE To assess the relation between NASH/NAFLD and oral NRA. METHODS Oral NRA was measured in individuals with NASH (compatible abdominal ultrasound and two elevated ALT/AST levels over six months) and was compared with that of those without NASH. Oral NRA was measured according to a previously reported protocol. RESULTS Eleven NASH patients and twelve controls were enrolled. Mean oral NRA activity were 2.82 vs. 3.51 µg nitrite-N formed per person per minute for cases and controls respectively (p=0.46). CONCLUSION According to our data, oral nitrite production is not different between individuals with and without NASH.
