Abstract
Background: The higher consumption of fat and sugar are associated with obesity development and its related diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Lycopene is an antioxidant whose protective potential on fatty liver degeneration has been investigated. The aim of this study was to present the therapeutic effects of lycopene on NAFLD related to the obesity induced by a hypercaloric diet. Methods: Wistar rats were distributed in two groups: Control (Co, n = 12) and hypercaloric (Ob, n = 12). After 20 weeks, the animals were redistributed into the control group (Co, n = 6), control group supplemented with lycopene (Co+Ly, n = 6), obese group (Ob, n = 6), and obese group supplemented with lycopene (Ob+Ly, n = 6). Ob groups also received water + sucrose (25%). Animals received lycopene solution (10 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (corn oil) via gavage for 10 weeks. Results: Animals which consumed the hypercaloric diet had higher adiposity index, increased fasting blood glucose, hepatic and blood triglycerides, and also presented in the liver macro and microvesicular steatosis, besides elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Lycopene has shown therapeutic effects on blood and hepatic lipids, increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), mitigated TNF-α, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and further improved the hepatic antioxidant capacity. Conclusion: Lycopene shows therapeutic potential to NAFLD.
Highlights
Obesity is a chronic disease with high prevalence worldwide, which represents an overwhelming problem for public health [1,2]
At the 20th week, after confirmation of difference in body weight and plasma triglycerides, the animals were redistributed into 4 groups for the lycopene supplementation study: A control group (Co, n = 6), a control group supplemented with lycopene (Co+Ly, n = 6), an obese group (Ob, n = 6), and an obese group supplemented with lycopene (Ob+Ly, n = 6)
The adiposity index was higher in the groups Ob and Ob+Ly
Summary
Obesity is a chronic disease with high prevalence worldwide, which represents an overwhelming problem for public health [1,2]. The higher intake of processed foods containing saturated fat, added sugar, and high energy density led to an increase in the caloric value of the diet [7]. Taken together these factors favor the development of obesity and its related diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [8,9]. Results: Animals which consumed the hypercaloric diet had higher adiposity index, increased fasting blood glucose, hepatic and blood triglycerides, and presented in the liver macro and microvesicular steatosis, besides elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).
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