Work

Association between trans-palmitoleic acid and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease-related hepatocellular carcinoma: NHANES 1999–2018

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a global health burden with an increasing incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet early risk predictors remain elusive. This study investigated trans-palmitoleic acid (TPA) as a potential biomarker for MASLD-HCC risk. Methods: = 548), propensity score matching (PSM) minimized sociobehavioral confounders. Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were employed to assess the association between TPA and HCC risk. Results: -nonlinear <0.001). Each unit increase in TPA elevated HCC risk by 52.4% (OR = 1.524, 95% CI = 1.397-1.677), with quartile analysis showing exponential risk escalation (Q4 OR = 753.7). Subgroup analyses identified heightened susceptibility in women (Q4 OR = 1148.83) and younger individuals (OR = 612.11). TPA correlated positively with lipid factors (triglycerides β = 1.236, LDL β = 0.557) and hematologic indices, while exhibiting a negative association with BMI (β = -0.037). Mediation analysis implicated triglycerides as a key metabolic intermediary (39.18% effect proportion). Discussion: These findings establish TPA as an independent MASLD-HCC risk factor with distinct demographic variability, potentially mediated through lipid dysregulation. While limited by observational design, this study highlights TPA's prognostic value for HCC risk stratification, especially in non-diabetic populations (OR = 257.14). Future mechanistic studies should validate TPA's oncogenic pathways and explore therapeutic targeting of trans-fatty acid metabolism to mitigate MASLD progression. The robust dose-response relationship and metabolic mediation effects position TPA as a promising candidate for incorporation into existing HCC prediction models.

Source: Frontiers in Nutrition

DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1606482