Attenuation of Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatic Toxicity by a Dietary Supplement. (4th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zheng, Zhiqiang; Gelling, Richard W.
• Is Part Of: Journal of dietary supplements. Volume 14:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 121
• Page End: 131
• Publication Date: 2017-03-04
• Subjects: advanced liver disease -- dietary supplement -- in vivo -- liver fibrosis -- malnutrition; Dietary supplements -- Periodicals; Dietary Supplements -- Periodicals; 613.205
• DOI: 10.1080/19390211.2016.1205702
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1939-0211

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Advanced liver disease (ALD) is often characterized with overt malnutrition and liver fibrosis. In this study, a dietary supplement (DS) was first developed, including branch chain amino acids, fat soluble vitamins, zinc, medium chain triglycerides, soy lecithin, L-carnitine, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Benefits of DS were then tested using an ALD rat model treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) for 6, 8, and 10 weeks, respectively. Our study showed that CCl4 -induced drop of serum albumin and ratio of branch chain to aromatic amino acids were significantly prevented at all three time points. DS also mitigated CCl4 -induced elevation of classical liver function markers (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and bilirubin) at certain time points, depending on specific liver function markers. Moreover, CCl4 -induced liver fibrosis was strongly inhibited at all three time points in a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) independent manner. These findings indicated multi-faceted benefits of DS in this animal model, suggesting that it could be a useful adjunctive treatment of ALD in clinic.