Key Takeaway
12-week RCT showed C15:0 supplementation combined with Mediterranean diet reduced liver fat by 33% in women with NAFLD, though diet alone achieved similar fat reduction (30%).
Summary
Double-blinded RCT examining effects of pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) supplementation combined with an Asian-adapted Mediterranean diet on NAFLD in 88 Chinese women.
Both diet groups lost more weight and liver fat than controls, but C15:0 supplementation showed only modest additional benefits over diet alone, primarily in LDL cholesterol reduction.
Methods
- Double-blinded parallel-design RCT
- 88 Chinese women with NAFLD
- 12-week intervention
- Three groups: diet + C15:0 (n=31), diet alone (n=28), control (n=29)
- Measured liver fat by MRI-PDFF
Key Results
- Liver fat (PDFF) reduced: 33% (diet+C15:0), 30% (diet alone), 10% (control)
- Weight loss: 4.0 kg (diet+C15:0), 3.4 kg (diet), 1.5 kg (control)
- C15:0 further reduced LDL cholesterol
- Increased Bifidobacterium adolescentis abundance
Limitations
- Single ethnic population (Chinese women)
- C15:0 showed marginal benefit over diet alone
- Short duration (12 weeks)
- Partial industry funding