Effect of pemafibrate on fatty acid levels and liver enzymes in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients with dyslipidemia: A single-arm, pilot study

Aim: Dyslipidemia (DL) is commonly associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Pemafibrate, a selective peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha modulator (SPPARM alpha), has been shown to improve liver function among patients with DL. The aim of this single-arm prospective study is to evaluate the efficacy of pemafibrate in NAFLD patients with DL. Methods: Twenty NAFLD patients with DL who received pemafibrate (0.1 mg) twice a day for 12 weeks were prospectively enrolled in this study. The primary end-point was change in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels from baseline to week 12. Results: Serum ALT levels decreased from 75.1 IU/L at baseline to 43.6 IU/L at week 12 (P = 0.001). Significant improvements in triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total fatty acid, saturated fatty acid (SFA), and unsaturated fatty acid were also noted. The serum level of remnant-like protein cholesterol, SFA, and polyunsaturated / saturated fatty acid ratio (PUFA / SFA ratio) at baseline were correlated with change in ALT level (r = -0.53, r = -0.57, and r = 0.46, respectively). Change in PUFA and change in PUFA / SFA ratio were negatively correlated with change in ALT level (r = -0.49 and r = -0.53). No hepatic or renal adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Selective peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha could be a promising novel agent for treatment of NAFLD patients with DL by regulating fatty acid composition. A further long-term large-scale trial is warranted to confirm the efficacy of SPPARM alpha on NAFLD with DL.