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Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a public health problem lacking an approved pharmacological treatment. Omega-3 fatty acids have shown to reverse NAFLD. Chia is a seed rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA), antioxidants, and fiber; therefore, it could be useful to treat NAFLD. Methods: In a single arm experimental design study, the effect of 25 g/day of milled chia was assessed in 25 patients with NAFLD. After two weeks of dietary stabilization (basal condition) and eight weeks of a chiasupplemented isocaloric diet, liver:spleen attenuation index and visceral abdominal fat (VAF) were measured by computed tomography. Lipids, lipoproteins, free fatty acids (FFA), and ALA plasma concentrations were also determined. Results: Dietary chia supplementation induced an increase in plasma ALA concentration (75%) and dietary fiber (55%) consumption. After chia supplementation, VAF (9%), body weight (1.4%), total cholesterol (2.5%), non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.2%), and circulating FFA (8%) decreased. Furthermore, NAFLD regressed in 52% of the treated patients (P < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: The results of the present study show that 25 g/day of milled chia ameliorates NAFLD. Chia is an accessible vegetal source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber, which could have the potential to prevent metabolic abnormalities in NAFLD patients. Considering that there is no pharmacological treatment approved for NAFLD, the findings of the present study suggest that a chia-supplemented diet could be an innovative alternative to control this disease.

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Background: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations are determined by environmental and metabolic factors, but systemic inflammation markers had been less studied. Aim:To evaluate the independent association of systemic inflammation markers to HDL-C concentration, considering the relative contribution of envioromental, and metabolic factors, in a well-characterized Mexican-Mestizo population. Methods:We used logistic regression and linear regression analysis to assess the effect of inflammatory (high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukins 6, 10, 15, and 1β), environmental (diet and physical activity) and metabolic factors (triglyceride (TG) levels, insulin resistance, abdominal visceral fat) on HDL-C concentrations, in 907 adults (46.5% female, aged 52 ± 9 years), without diabetes, TG ≤ 600 mg/dL, and hs-CRP ≤ 3 mg/L. Results:We found hypoalphalipoproteinemia (HA: HDL-C ≤ 50 mg/dL in women and ≤ 40 mg/ dL in men) in 44.8% of women and 48.8% of men. Carbohydrate intake (standardized coefficient β: -0.109 and -0.142), TG (-0.280 and -0.418), and interleukin-1β (-0.156 and -0.159) were inversely and independently associated to HDL-C levels, whereas adiponectin had a positive effect on the lipoprotein concentrations (0.196 and 0.169) for women and men, respectively (p<0.05 for all). Conjointly, these variables explained 33% of the variance in HDL-C levels. Conclusion:The study confirms the strong association of TG and carbohydrate intake with HDL-C levels. In addition, the results highlight the relevance of inflammatory processes in HA, which is one of the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors in the Mexican population.