A small, exotic red fruit could make a big difference in the lives of the seven million Canadians who suffer from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Researchers at Université Laval have discovered that camu camu helps reduce the amount of lipids in the liver.
Camu-camu is an exotic fruit that grows in the Amazon. This fresh fruit is not found in Quebec, but capsules containing camu-camu extract are easily found in pharmacies.
For people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, their liver accumulates a lot of fat. Unfortunately, there are very few treatment options to treat this disease.
Eating less sugar is important to reduce fat accumulation in the liver because simple sugars like fructose are converted into fat in the liver.
“We think this study is important because it’s the first time we’ve seen that a natural health product – camu camu capsules which are an extract of the fruit – are able to improve liver health in people who already have compromised liver health,” Dr.r André Marette, who led the study and is a full professor at the Faculty of Medicine at Laval University.
PHOTO PATRICE LAROCHE, LE SOLEIL ARCHIVES
André Marette, full professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Laval University
It was already known that polyphenols in fruits have anti-inflammatory properties. In a previous research, Dr Marette and his team had demonstrated the potential of certain fruits (including camu camu) to reduce liver fluid in animals. A few years later, the theory was tested on humans.
The results of this study, which has just been published in the journal Call Reports Medicinedemonstrate a 15.85% difference in liver lipids in the thirty patients who participated in the study. More precisely, it decreased by 7.43% in subjects who consumed camu-camu and increased by 8.42% in those who took the placebo.
How does it work?
The polyphenols contained in camu camu are metabolized by the intestinal microbiota. One of the polyphenols in camu camu (castalagin) cannot penetrate the intestinal barrier, but it can still be metabolized by small bacteria that will ensure that it is absorbed into the blood. “These molecules will then reach the liver. They are able to metabolize lipid droplets or prevent their formation. This is why the liver is thus “defatted”, summarizes Dr Marette, who is also a researcher at the University Institute of Cardiology and Pneumology of Quebec – Laval University (IUCPQ – ULaval).
This process is essential because when this organ contains too much fat it leads to cirrhosis, “a very fast highway to cause liver cancers,” says the researcher.
When liver cirrhosis is severe, there is not much effective treatment left, says Dr Marette. Often, transplanting a new liver is the only option. This is not safe since there are few livers available and the patient may reject the transplanted organ.
If we can block the accumulation of lipids or reduce it substantially – plus we know that polyphenols have anti-inflammatory effects – a liver that is less inflammatory and has fewer lipids is less likely to develop cirrhosis.
André Marette, full professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Laval University
The study participants had not developed cirrhosis. They were in the early stages of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. “Already, when we intervene at this point, we are able to reverse the trend and reduce the amount of fat by a certain percentage in just 12 weeks,” he emphasizes.
Other fruits contain different polyphenols such as cranberry. Dr Marette believes that when combined with camu camu, their effects on patients with non-alcoholic liver disease could be enhanced. This theory remains to be confirmed, however.
Currently, Université Laval is recruiting participants for a similar, larger-scale study on the benefits of plant polyphenols. People with non-alcoholic liver disease are welcome to apply and can contact the university.
The Canadian Press’ health content is funded through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. Editorial choices are solely the responsibility of The Canadian Press.