Background
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the hepatic component of metabolic syndrome and has attracted widespread attention due to its increased prevalence. Daily dietary management is an effective strategy for the prevention of NAFLD. Quinoa, a nutritious pseudocereal, is abundant in antioxidative bioactive phytochemicals. In the present study, the effects of different amounts of quinoa on the progression of NAFLD and the related molecular mechanism were investigated.
Methods
Male SD rats were simultaneously administered a high fat diet (HF) and different amounts of quinoa (equivalent to 100 g/day and 300 g/day of human intake, respectively). After 12 weeks of the intervention, hepatic TG (triglyceride) and TC (total cholesterol) as well as serum antioxidative parameters were determined, and hematoxylin–eosin staining (H&E) staining was used to evaluate hepatic steatosis. Differential metabolites in serum and hepatic tissue were identified using UPLC-QTOF-MSE. The mRNA expression profile was investigated using RNA-Seq and further verified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Results
Low amounts of quinoa (equivalent to 100 g/d of human intake) effectively controlled the weight of rats fed a high-fat diet. In addition, quinoa effectively inhibited the increase in hepatic TG and TC levels, mitigated pathological injury, promoted the increase in SOD and GSH-Px activities, and decreased MDA levels. Nontarget metabolic profile analysis showed that quinoa regulated lipid metabolites in the circulation system and liver such as LysoPC and PC. RNA-Seq and RT-PCR verification revealed that a high amount of quinoa more effectively upregulated genes related to lipid metabolism [Apoa (apolipoprotein)5, Apoa4, Apoc2] and downregulated genes related to the immune response [lrf (interferon regulatory factor)5, Tlr6 (Toll-like receptor), Tlr10, Tlr11, Tlr12].
Conclusion
Quinoa effectively prevented NAFLD by controlling body weight, mitigating oxidative stress, and regulating the lipid metabolic profile and the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism and the immune response.
Background: HF diet-associated fatty liver (is also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD) is considered the hepatic component of the metabolic syndrome and has attracted widespread attention due to the increase in its prevalence. Daily dietary management, is considered to be one of the effective strategies for the prevention of NAFLD. In the present study, the effect of quinoa on the hepatic steatosis and the metabolism mechanism were investigated.Methods: Male SD rats simultaneously administered an HF diet and different amounts of quinoa (equivalent to 100 g/day and 300 g/day of human intake, respectively). After 12 weeks of the intervention, Hepatic TG and TC as well as serum anti-oxidative parameters were determined, H&E staining evaluated the hepatic steatosis. Differential metabolite in serum and hepatic tissue were analyzed using UPLC-QTOF-MSE. mRNA expression profile were investigated using RNA-Seq and further verified using real-time RT-PCR.Results: It showed that quinoa effectively controlled the weight of rats, mitigated hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress, which exhibited the beneficial effect of quinoa on prevention of NAFLD. These beneficial effects could be attributed to the regulation of the production of certain metabolites in the circulation system or liver such as LysoPC and PC. The RNA-Seq analysis and RT-PCR verification revealed that an intake of a high amount of quinoa more effectively up-regulated the genes related to lipid metabolism [Apoa (apolipoprotein)5, Apoa4, Apoc2) and down-regulated the genes related immune response [lrf (interferon regulatory factor)5, Tlr6 (Toll like receptor), Tlr10, Tlr11, Tlr12]. Conclusions: Quinoa could alleviate hepatic steatosis due to the regulation of metabolism and the expression of genes related with lipid metabolism and immune response.
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