Alleviating effects of hydrogen on hyperhomocysteinemia and fatty liver induced by high-methionine diet

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the alleviating effect of hydrogen (H2) on homocysteine (Hcy) levels and non alcoholic fatty liver in rats with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). Methods: After one week of adaptive feeding, Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: the general diet group (CHOW), the high methionine group (HMD), and the high methionine plus hydrogen rich water group (HMD+HRW), with 8 rats in each group. The CHOW group was fed with AIN-93G feed, while the HMD and HMD+HRW groups were fed with AIN-93G+2% methionine feed to construct an HHcy model. The HMD+HRW group was also gavaged with hydrogen rich water (3 ml/animal, twice a day, with a hydrogen concentration of 0.8 mmol/L), and body weight data were recorded. After 6 weeks of feeding, the plasma and liver samples were processed and collected. The plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and lipid contents of each group were measured, and the histological morphology of the liver was observed. The activities of key enzymes in the Hcy metabolism pathway and mRNA expression were detected in the liver. Results: Compared with the CHOW group rats, the Hcy level in the blood of HMD rats was significantly increased significantly (P＜0.05). Pathological tissue sections showed liver enlargement, injury, and fatty liver in the rats; Compared with the HMD group rats, the HMD+HRW group rats showed a significant decrease in Hcy in the blood, reduced liver damage, and increased Hcy metabolism key enzyme activity and mRNA expression in the liver, with statistical differences (P＜0.05). Conclusion: Hydrogen has a significant improvement effect on liver injury induced by HMD diet in HHcy rats, possibly by enhancing the three metabolic pathways of Hcy to reduce excessive Hcy in the body, thereby improving liver metabolic function and symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.