Abstract
Background Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most common chronic liver disease in the Western world and has rapidly become an important cause of liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Obesity is considered the primary risk factor for NASH. Aim The aim of this study was to clarify the role of high-fructose diet in the pathogenesis of steatohepatitis. Materials and methods This study was conducted on 40 male albino rats, equally divided into two groups. Group 1 (control) received standard caloric diet and plain drinking water. Group 2 (induced NASH group) received standard caloric diet and had free access to 70% (weight/volume) fructose-enriched drinking water for 5 weeks. All rats were weighed and killed, and then serum was collected for estimating triglycerides, total cholesterol, serum alanine aminotransferase, and serum aspartate aminotransferase levels, as well as liver tissue sampling was used for histopathologic examination and for estimation of tissue triglycerides level. Results Compared with the control group, rats with induced NASH group showed an increased weight gain and significant hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia, as well as significant increases in serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, which were associated with increased hepatic triglycerides level. Conclusion NASH can be experimentally induced in rats using a high-fructose diet. Steatohepatitis is associated with obesity as indicated by significant increase in body weight, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hepatic hypertriglyceridemia.
Published Version
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