Investigating Hepatic Lipid Oxidation Using Deuterium MRI in an animal model Subjected to Gubra-Amylin NASH (GAN) Diet

Motivation: Early, non-invasive detection of liver disease progression to MASH is challenging yet crucial. Traditional imaging often misses subtle metabolic changes essential for early diagnosis. Goal(s): This study assesses hepatic β-oxidation and oxidative efficiency in a mouse model of MASLD, leveraging the clinically relevant GAN diet, which closely simulates human MASH pathology. Approach: We developed a method for estimating hepatic β-oxidation from the metabolism of [2H15]octanoate to deuterated water and detection with deuterium magnetic resonance methods. Results: GAN diet-fed mice showed increased HDO production, reflecting elevated β-oxidation and impaired oxidative efficiency, particularly in the fed state and later stages. Impact: This study demonstrates the utility of DMRI for non-invasive detection of diet-induced hepatic metabolic dysfunction, advancing early diagnostics for metabolic liver diseases.