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Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil containing 5% trans fats when combined with fructose exacerbates obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that feeding trans fatty acids (TFA) (5%) along with fructose exacerbates obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats.

Methods

Male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups, i.e., standard diet, 5% TFA + standard diet, fructose + standard diet, and TFA + fructose + standard diet. All the diets were provided for 16 weeks. The body weight, body mass index, calorie intake, adiposity index, and liver index were determined. Serum glucose, insulin, lipid profile, and liver enzymes were estimated. Liver lipids, markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen were estimated in the liver. The histopathological evaluation of the adipose tissue and liver were carried out.

Results

TFA + standard diet caused an increase in body weight while TFA + fructose + standard diet caused significant body weight gain, adiposity index, and hypertrophy of adipocytes. TFA + fructose + standard diet caused insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in the rats. Rats in the TFA + standard diet group showed marked hepatic steatosis and an elevation in alanine aminotransferase, while those in the TFA + fructose + standard diet group showed oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis in the liver.

Conclusion

Feeding of TFA at a concentration of 5% along with the standard diet resulted in an increase in the body weight and hepatic steatosis, but the addition of fructose to 5% TFA and standard diet resulted in obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Thus, the reduction in TFA content of foods must be accompanied by a significant decrease in the fructose intake in order to protect against obesity and NAFLD.

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Abbreviations

AC/TC:

ratio-abdominal circumference to thoracic circumference ratio

ALP:

alkaline phosphatase

ALT:

alanine aminotransferase

AST:

aspartate aminotransferase

BMI:

body mass index

GGT:

gamma-glutamyl transferase

GSH:

reduced glutathione

HDL-C:

high density lipoprotein cholesterol

HOMA-IR:

homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance

LDL-C:

low density lipoprotein cholesterol

MDA:

malondialdehyde

NAFLD:

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

NASH:

nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

PHVO:

partially hydrogenated vegetable oil

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

TFA:

trans fatty acids

TG:

triglycerides

VLDL-C:

very low density lipoprotein cholesterol

WHO:

World Health Organization

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Ms. Deepali Ganachari and Ms. Jaya Verma, research fellows at Dept. of Clinical Pharmacology, T.N. Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital for their help during animal experimentation, and Dr. Sanjay Pawar, veterinary pathologist for carrying out the histopathological evaluation of the liver and adipose tissue.

Funding

The University Grants Commission (BSR Fellowship), New Delhi, India, letter no. F.25–1/2014–15 (BSR)/No. F.5–63/2007 (BSR) dated 16 Feb 2015 is awarded to Ms. Sarayu Pai.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. A-243, Pharmacology Research Lab-1, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, N.P. Marg, Matunga, Mumbai, 400 019, India

    Sarayu A. Pai & Archana R. Juvekar

  2. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, T.N. Medical College and BYL Nair Charitable Hospital, Dr. A. L. Nair Road, Mumbai Central, Mumbai, 400 008, India

    Renuka P. Munshi

Authors
  1. Sarayu A. Pai
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  3. Archana R. Juvekar
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Contributions

SAP carried out the experiments and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. RPM helped in designing the study and analyzing the data. ARJ was involved in designing the study and supervision of the conduct of the work. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Archana R. Juvekar.

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Ethics approval

The protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of T N Medical College and BYL Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai, India (protocol no. IAEC/2016/8 dated 29 February 2016).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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Pai, S.A., Munshi, R.P. & Juvekar, A.R. Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil containing 5% trans fats when combined with fructose exacerbates obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats. Nutrire 45, 5 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41110-019-0105-6

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