Effects of some potassium compounds on liver lipid accumulation induced by excess dietary lysine

Abstract

Excess dietary lysine fed to previously starved rats caused lipid accumulation in the liver after refeeding for 7 days and increased excretion of potassium into urine for 2 days after the initiation of refeeding. We investigated whether dietary supplement of potassium compounds to the “lysine-excess” diet could prevent the lipid accumulation in the liver. Potassium acetate tended to improve the growth rate and significantly reduced lipid accumulation in the liver. Neither potassium bicarbonate nor potassium citrate had any effect on growth rate and liver lipid level. Non-starved rats, rate fed a lysine-excess diet for 20 days did not demonstrate liver lipid accumulation. The addition of potassium acetate to the lysine-excess diet reduced growth retardation and had no effect on liver lipid content. It is suggested that the effect of potassium acetate might be due to acetate reduction of lysine-arginine antagonism.