> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# DHA, EPA protect against NAFLD
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/dha_epa_protect_against_nafld_0623160249/
- Published: 2016-06-23T15:46:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:13:34.000Z
- Description: Mice on an atherogenic high-fat diet developed less severe fatty liver disease when fed EPA or DHA. EPA cut liver triacylglycerol more effectively, while DHA better prevented inflammation and oxidative stress. The authors conclude both could treat NAFLD and NASH.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Inadequate diet with high [fat ](https://www.foodconsumer.org/high%5Ffat%5Fdiet%5Fcan%5Fharm%5Fthe%5Fliver%5F0929140842/)and high [sugar ](https://www.foodconsumer.org/fructose%5Fmay%5Finduce%5Fnafld%5F0724151124/)or high intake of [meat/fish, fried foods, spicy foods and tea](https://www.foodconsumer.org/nafld%5Flinked%5Fto%5Fintake%5Fof%5Fmeat%5Ffish%5F0602160632/) can induce non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which can eventually lead to the development of steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. 

A new animal study conducted in Japan confirmed with previous studies that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are protective against NAFLD or they can be employed to treat the disease. 

In the current study, mice were fed an atherogenic high-fat diet with or without n-3 PUFAs-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6) supplemented for four weeks. The diet was designed to induce NAFLD.

As a result, both EPA and DHA supplementations reduced the severity of the high-fat diet induced NASH as indicated in reduced hepatic lobular inflammation and increased serum transaminase activity. The difference is, EPA was more effective at reducing hepatic triacylglycerol while DHA was more effective at preventing the high-fat diet induced hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress or ROS generation.

The study concluded that "*both EPA and DHA could be effective for treatment of NAFLD and NASH".*

Previous studies have indicated that the supplementation with [omega 3 fatty acids may help NAFLD](https://www.foodconsumer.org/omega%5F3%5Fpolyunsaturated%5Ffatty%5Facids%5F0629140701/). Some dietary components and supplements that also may help NAFLD include [chlorella vulgaris](https://www.foodconsumer.org/chlorella%5Fvulgaris%5Fsupplements%5Fhelp%5Fnafld%5F0808140142/), [probiotics](https://www.foodconsumer.org/probiotics%5Fmay%5Fhelp%5Ffight%5Ffatty%5Fliver%5F0718141026/), and [curcumin](https://www.foodconsumer.org/curcumin%5Fprevents%5Ffatty%5Fliver%5F1110130126/). (David Liu)

*Suzuki-Kemuriyama N, Matsuzaka T, Kuba M, Ohno H, Han SI, Takeuchi Y, Isaka M, Kobayashi K, Iwasaki H, Yatoh S, Suzuki H, Miyajima K, Nakae D, Yahagi N, Nakagawa Y, Sone H, Yamada N, Shimano H. Different Effects of Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic Acids on Atherogenic High-Fat Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice. PLoS One. 2016 Jun 22;11(6)* 

**Similar articles**

- [Docosahexaenoic acid attenuates hepatic inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis without decreasing hepatosteatosis in a Ldlr(-/-) mouse model of western diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23303872?ref=foodconsumer.org)\[J Nutr. 2013\]
- [Diet rich in Docosahexaenoic Acid/Eicosapentaenoic Acid robustly ameliorates hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in seipin deficient lipodystrophy mice.](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26690553?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [A metabolomic analysis of omega-3 fatty acid-mediated attenuation of western diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in LDLR-/- mice.](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24358308?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Review Potential for dietary ω-3 fatty acids to prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and reduce the risk of primary liver cancer.](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26567194?ref=foodconsumer.org)
- [Review Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Roles of the gut and the liver and metabolic modulation by some dietary factors and especially long-chain n-3 PUFA.](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26300318?ref=foodconsumer.org)