Quercetin administration post‐weaning attenuates high‐fructose, high‐cholesterol diet‐induced hepatic steatosis in growing, female, Sprague Dawley rat pups

Abstract

BACKGROUND Fructose and cholesterol‐rich diets have been implicated in the upsurge of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Phytochemicals are being explored as alternatives for the prevention and management of MetS. Thirty‐six 21‐day‐old, female Sprague Dawley rats fed a high‐fructose, high‐cholesterol diet post‐weaning were used to investigate the prophylactic potential of quercetin. Group 1 was given standard rat chow (SRC); Group 2: SRC and quercetin (75 mg kg−1 daily); Group 3: SRC and fenofibrate (100 mg kg−1 daily); Group 4 was given a high cholesterol diet (HCD) (2% added dietary cholesterol in SRC), 20% fructose drinking solution (FS); Group 5 was given HCD, 20% FS and quercetin (75 mg kg−1 daily); Group 6: HCD, 20% FS and fenofibrate (100 mg kg−1 daily). Rats were fed ad libitum for 8 weeks, euthanized, and blood and liver samples were collected. RESULTS The HCD and FS significantly increased (P < 0.05) absolute and relative liver masses and serum cholesterol. Fasting blood glucose, serum triglycerides, alanine transaminase, creatinine, and urea were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between groups. The HCD and FS significantly increased liver lipid yield compared to the SRC and rats receiving SRC with fenofibrate (P < 0.05). Quercetin or fenofibrate together with HCD and FS attenuated the diet‐induced increase in liver lipids by approximately 50%, although this was not statistically significant. Liver macro‐ and micro‐steatosis scores were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in rats receiving HCD and FS. Quercetin or fenofibrate administration together with HCD and FS significantly decreased (P < 0.05) liver macro‐steatosis scores. CONCLUSION The prophylactic effect of quercetin on fructose and cholesterol diet‐induced liver lipid accumulation may be exploited in the fight against non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Nicotinamide riboside ameliorates high-fructose-induced lipid metabolism disorder in mice via improving FGF21 resistance in the liver and white adipose tissue

“…26,27 In animal studies, it has also been confirmed that 20% fructose exposure can lead to lipid metabolism disorders by stimulating triglyceride and free fatty acid synthesis. 28,29 In this study, consistent with previous studies, 30,31 the increased body weight, serum lipid level, and hepatic lipid accumulation of the FRU group suggested that 20% fructose feeding for 10 weeks induced lipid metabolism disorder.…”

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

“…NAFLD refers to the presence of greater than 5–10% lipid content accumulation in the liver, which eventually leads to increased oxidative stress within the hepatocytes, reduced oxidation of fatty acids, and increased triglyceride synthesis and accumulation. [ 45 ]…”

Revealing the Mechanism of Huazhi Rougan Granule in the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Through Intestinal Flora Based on 16S rRNA, Metagenomic Sequencing and Network Pharmacology

“…The animal experiments of Xin et al and the mass spectrometry analysis Du et al showed that both the enterohepatic circulation and the intestinal flora are involved in the absorption process of quercetin and kaempferol and that isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside could be successively decomposed into quercetin and kaempferol under bacterial action ( Du et al, 2014 ; Du et al, 2017 ; Xin et al, 2019 ). A number of animal experiments have shown that quercetin can improve hepatic steatosis and prevent hepatic lipid accumulation, thereby treating NAFL ( Esrefoglu et al, 2017 ; Donaldson et al, 2019 ). Therefore, we believe that HRG may improve intestinal inflammation, intestinal immunity, and lipid synthesis through relevant pathways, thereby improving NAFL by regulating intestinal flora.…”