Impact of Broccoli on Molecular Biomarkers of Liver Health (P06-001-19)

Abstract

ObjectivesThe diet in combination with lifestyle are contributing factors to obesity-associated diseases including type II diabetes, non-alcoholic hepatic diseases, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Broccoli, a brassica vegetable, can reduce the negative effects of a detrimental diet and sedentary lifestyle that can lead to obesity and impede the development of chronic diseases. There are no established molecular biomarkers that reflect the health benefits of dietary broccoli consumption. Thus, in this study we focused on health benefits of broccoli on liver and studied the relevance of blood metabolite profile changes and gene expression patterns in liver as indicators of liver disease development and prevention. MethodsRats (n = 3) were fed an AIN93G diet with 10% cooked freeze-dried broccoli for 14 days. We examined the impact of broccoli feeding on the plasma metabolite composition by metabolomics analysis and liver gene expression changes using Q-RT-PCR after 0, 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 days of broccoli feeding. ResultsWe identified several metabolites that changed more than 2-fold compared to the level on day 0, including metabolites that were involved in liver pathways for glutathione synthesis, amino acid metabolism and de novo fatty acid synthesis. We found that repeated broccoli consumption changes gene expression levels (CD36, CPT-1, CD68) in the liver. ConclusionsFurther characterizing health-promoting effects of broccoli in different in vivo obesity models will significantly expand our understanding of both liver health and the impact of dietary broccoli, having a broad impact on prevention of obesity-associated diseases, including NALFD and type II diabetes. Funding SourcesFunding provided by National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, College of ACES DNS 20/20 Award, USDA/AFRI Grant.