Dietary virgin olive oil protects against lipid peroxidation and improves antioxidant status in the liver of rats chronically exposed to ethanol.
Excessive ethanol intake induces severe tissue damage particularly in the liver through the generation of reactive oxygen species. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a virgin olive oil-rich diet on oxidative stress induced by chronic ethanol exposure in rats. Wistar rats were treated daily with a 35% ethanol solution for 6 weeks and fed with a standard chow or a diet containing 5% virgin olive oil. By administering ethanol to rats, a severe toxicity occurred in their liver, as assessed by the significantly elevated levels of serum transaminases. The hepatic malondialdehyde level, indicator of lipid peroxidation, was also increased in ethanol-treated rats, whereas the hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities, namely, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase were significantly reduced. The activity of glutathione reductase remained unchanged in rats. Fatty acid composition of the liver was also significantly changed with ethanol intake. In contrast, virgin olive oil intake during ethanol treatment in rats resulted in a higher antioxidant activity and inhibited toxicity to the liver, as monitored by the reduction of transaminases levels and hepatic lipid peroxidation. Rats showed a better profile of the antioxidant system with normal glutathione peroxidase activity and ameliorated superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. In conclusion, results of this study indicate that olive oil ingestion by rats protects the liver from ethanol-induced oxidative damage by affecting the cellular redox potential.
Kasdallah-Grissa
Abir
A
Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, UR03/ES-08 Human Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders, Monastir 5019, Tunisia.
Nakbi
Amel
A
Koubaa
Nadia
N
El-Fazaâ
Saloua
S
Gharbi
Najoua
N
Kamoun
Abdelaziz
A
Hammami
Mohamed
M
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000032:analysis; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D000069463:Olive Oil; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis
D000975:Antioxidants; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D000431:Ethanol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase