The effects of onion consumption on treatment of metabolic, histologic, and inflammatory features of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Hadi Emamat,Hassan Eini–Zinab,Mohsen Taghizadeh,Marjan Rismanchi,Forough Foroughi,Azita Hekmatdoost

doi:10.1186/s40200-016-0248-4

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of onion powder consumption on treatment of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in an experimental model of disease.MethodsSprague–Dawley rats were fed high-fat (HF) diet for seven weeks to induce the NAFLD. Then, they were treated by either the same diet (HF), or high-fat diet plus 7 % onion powder (HF + onion), or chow diet (control), or chow diet plus 7 % onion powder (control + onion)ad libitum for four weeks. Serum levels of fasting glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, liver enzymes, insulin, and hepatic tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) gene expression were determined. Hepatic histology was examined by Hematoxylin and Eosin stain.ResultsDietary food intakes and weigh gain were significantly more in animals fed control + onion diet in comparison to the other groups. Animals fed control or control + onion diet had significantly lower plasma levels of hepatic enzymes, lipid profile, glycemic indices, and hepatic TNF-α gene expression as compared with HF diet fed groups; however, there was no significant difference in the histopathologic features of NAFLD among different groups.ConclusionOur results indicate that onion consumption can be effective in NAFLD management when it is combined with a healthy diet.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40200-016-0248-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Highlights

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of onion powder consumption on treatment of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in an experimental model of disease
In treatment phase,the animals were randomly assigned to four groups : first group fed a standard chow diet with 10 % of energy derived from fat, 30 % from protein, and 60 % from carbohydrates, second group fed a high-fat, high sugar diet (HF group) with 59 % of energy derived from fat, 30 % from carbohydrates, and 11 % from protein, the third group fed high-fat, high sugar diet added 7 %(w/w) onion powder (HF + onion group) with 59 % of energy derived from fat, 31 % from carbohydrates, and 10 % from protein and fourth group fed chow + onion diet with 10 % of energy derived from fat, 62 % from carbohydrates, and 28 % from protein
Food intake in control group was less than food intake in model group and HF + onion groups (P < 0.01).No difference was seen between HF and HF + onion group in food intake

Summary

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of onion powder consumption on treatment of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in an experimental model of disease. NAFLD is strongly associated with the features of metabolic syndrome such as hyperglycemia, central obesity and dyslipidaemia [2]. It is associated withincreased risk of all-cause mortality, contributed by liver relateddeaths as well as nonliver related causes such as malignancy,diabetes, and cardiovascular disease [1]. Its high content of flavonoids [13], makes it as a great source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agent [14] It seems that all of these properties can help in treatment of NAFLD. The purpose of thepresent study was to examine the effects of oraladministration of onion powder on hepatic and serum features of NAFLD in an experimental model of disease

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