{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T00:39:59Z","timestamp":1790728799643,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,18]],"date-time":"2023-08-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1692316800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"European Union\u2019s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program, MAST4HEALTH","award":["691042"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["691042"]}]},{"name":"European Union\u2019s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program, MAST4HEALTH","award":["T2EDK-03044"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["T2EDK-03044"]}]},{"name":"European Union\u2019s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program, MAST4HEALTH","award":["1529"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1529"]}]},{"name":"European Union and Greek national funds","award":["691042"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["691042"]}]},{"name":"European Union and Greek national funds","award":["T2EDK-03044"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["T2EDK-03044"]}]},{"name":"European Union and Greek national funds","award":["1529"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1529"]}]},{"name":"Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI)","award":["691042"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["691042"]}]},{"name":"Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI)","award":["T2EDK-03044"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["T2EDK-03044"]}]},{"name":"Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI)","award":["1529"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1529"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Metabolites"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have been linked to changes in amino acid (AA) levels. The objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between MRI parameters that reflect inflammation and fibrosis and plasma AA concentrations in NAFLD patients. Plasma AA levels of 97 NAFLD patients from the MAST4HEALTH study were quantified with liquid chromatography. Medical, anthropometric and lifestyle characteristics were collected and biochemical parameters, as well as inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, were measured. In total, subjects with a higher MRI-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) exhibited higher plasma AA levels compared to subjects with lower PDFF. The concentrations of BCAAs (p-Value: 0.03), AAAs (p-Value: 0.039), L-valine (p-Value: 0.029), L-tyrosine (p-Value: 0.039) and L-isoleucine (p-Value: 0.032) were found to be significantly higher in the higher PDFF group compared to lower group. Plasma AA levels varied according to MRI-PDFF. Significant associations were also demonstrated between AAs and MRI-PDFF and MRI-cT1, showing the potential utility of circulating AAs as diagnostic markers of NAFLD.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/metabo13080959","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,18]],"date-time":"2023-08-18T10:29:25Z","timestamp":1692354565000},"page":"959","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":8,"title":["Plasma Amino Acids in NAFLD Patients with Obesity Are Associated with Steatosis and Fibrosis: Results from the MAST4HEALTH Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Athina I.","family":"Amanatidou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 17671 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4033-5580","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eleni V.","family":"Mikropoulou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Charalampia","family":"Amerikanou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 17671 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4082-5480","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maja","family":"Milanovic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, 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Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jonica","family":"Campolo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, 56124 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anastasia","family":"Thanopoulou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Diabetes Center, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rajarshi","family":"Banerjee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Perspectum Ltd., Oxford OX4 2LL, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mary Jo","family":"Kurth","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Studies Group, Randox Laboratories Ltd., Crumlin BT29 4RN, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Natasa","family":"Milic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Milica","family":"Medic-Stojanoska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia"},{"name":"Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria Giovanna","family":"Trivella","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Clinical Physiology National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy"},{"name":"ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8104-8425","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sophie","family":"Visvikis-Siest","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"INSERM UMR U1122, IGE-PCV, Facult\u00e9 de Pharmacie, Universit\u00e9 de Lorraine, 30 Rue Lionnois, 54000 Nancy, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2594-1651","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Amalia","family":"Gastaldelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Clinical Physiology National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5620-0165","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria","family":"Halabalaki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of 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