Korean J Intern Med.  2013 Jul;28(4):439-448. 10.3904/kjim.2013.28.4.439.

Effects of D-002, a mixture of high molecular weight beeswax alcohols, on patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

• Illnait J
• Rodriguez
• Mendoza S
• Fernandez
• Mas R
• Miranda M
• Pinera J
• Fernandez
• Mesa M
• Fernandez
• Carbajal D
• Gamez R

• KMID: 1503781
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2013.28.4.439

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is intimately related to insulin resistance and ranges from a benign course to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. NAFLD management mainly involves dietary modification and weight loss. Although no fully successful pharmacological intervention is available, alternative therapies to treat NAFLD have shown promising results. Experimental studies have shown that D-002, a mixture of beeswax alcohols with antioxidant effects, is hepatoprotective. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of D-002 in patients with NALFD.
METHODS
Fifty patients with NAFLD were randomized to receive a placebo or D-002 (100 mg/day) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was a significant ultrasonography-detected reduction of liver fat infiltration versus a placebo. Secondary endpoints were decreases in the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index, insulin levels, serum liver enzymes, increases in plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) and improved clinical symptoms versus the placebo recipients.
RESULTS
At randomization, all indicators were comparable in both groups. At study completion, seven (28.0%) D-002-patients, but none of the placebo recipients, exhibited a normal liver echo pattern on ultrasonography (p < 0.01). Also, D-002 significantly reduced (p < 0.01 vs. baseline and placebo) the HOMA index and insulin levels and increased the TAS, but did not affect other parameters. The proportion of D-002-patients (12/25, 48.0%) showing symptom improvement was higher (p < 0.001) than that of the placebo group (1/25, 4.0%). The treatment was safe and well tolerated. Three patients in each group withdrew from the study.
CONCLUSIONS
D-002 (100 mg/day) improved ultrasonographic findings, indicators of insulin resistance, plasma TAS and clinical evolution on NAFLD patients. Further studies, however, are needed to confirm these results.

Keyword

D-002; Beeswax; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Fatty liver; Insulin resistance

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Antioxidants/adverse effects/isolation & purification/*therapeutic use
Biological Markers/blood
Blood Glucose/metabolism
Cuba
Double-Blind Method
Enzymes/blood
Fatty Alcohols/adverse effects/isolation & purification/*therapeutic use
Fatty Liver/blood/*drug therapy/ultrasonography
Female
Humans
Insulin/blood
Lipids/blood
Liver/*drug effects/enzymology/ultrasonography
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Waxes/*chemistry
Antioxidants
Biological Markers
Blood Glucose
Enzymes
Fatty Alcohols
Insulin
Lipids
Waxes