Effects of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment on Liver Steatosis using DMBA‐Induced Mammary Tumor Obese Zucker Rat Model

Abstract

Obesity has been epidemic in the US for over two decades. Obesity has been linked with the risk of development of various cancers, including breast cancer. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an over‐the‐counter dietary supplement used as an anti‐cancer agent and anti‐obesity supplement. The objectives of this study were to investigate the long‐term effects of obesity and DHEA treatment on body weight gain and liver steatosis using 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)‐induced mammary tumor model. Forty‐three six‐week‐old obese female Zucker rats were used. Rats were randomly assigned and had ad libitum access to water and a diet of either chow (2016) as a control diet or chow with the addition of DHEA at a concentration of 6 g/kg of chow as a DHEA diet. All rats were orally gavaged at age 50 days with 65 mg DMBA/kg body weight and were sacrificed 155 days post‐DMBA treatment. Obese rats fed the DHEA diet gained significantly less weight (P<0.001) and less liver steatosis (P<0.001) than control fed rats. Fifty‐five percent (55%) of the control diet group developed mammary tumors, while no tumors were detected in the DHEA diet group (P<0.001). Our results suggest that DHEA treatment can reduce body weight gain and protects against liver steatosis caused by obesity. These data suggest that there might be a link between liver damage and breast cancer development. Supported by ABI to RH.