Review for 10.1186/s12876-020-01282-3 (2020)

Reviewer’s report  
 
Title: Plasma Lipidome, PNPLA3 polymorphism and hepatic steatosis in hereditary 
hemochromatosis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 30 Jan 2020  
 
Reviewer: Juan Nieto  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
In this study, Seeßle et al. have described Hereditary Hemochromatine patients showed 
significantly lower serum phosphatidylcholine and significantly higher 
phosphatidylethanolamine compared to healthy control group. They showed alterations on 
phospholipid  metabolism and its association with the susceptibility to NAFLD. Moreover, 
this association was independent of PNPLA3 polymorphism. In general, patients with higher 
ratio of PC/PE had a liver affectation that correlates with the degree of steatosis hepati tis. 
However, the relevance identifying these patients in the clinical practice is not well clarified. 
Although potentially interesting, most of the results shown are not particularly novel. In fact, 
nearly each aspect has been replicated from previous wor k that has demonstrated that 
PNPLA3 genotype was not associated with metabolic parameters.  
 
I have listed some additional concerns below:  
In general, the discussion section is rather discursive and tends to highlight how the current 
findings simply repeat what is already known. You should include more discussion regarding 
the relationship between PE, PC levels in the context of your cohort of patients and the 
parameters assessed.  
 
Valenti et al. (World J Gastroenterol. 2012) had described in a cohort of 174  patients that 
PNPLA3 genotype was not associated with metabolic parameters, including body mass 
index, the presence of diabetes, and lipid levels. You should include in your discussion some 
explanation more in detail about the difference with your work.  
 
 
Are the methods appropriate an d well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn a dequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscr ipt: 
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from 
an organisation that may  in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of 
this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either n ow or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of 
the manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating t o the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing int erests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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