Protective effects of the carotenoid zeaxanthin in experimental nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
Fat infiltration and inflammation cause liver injury and fibrosis and may progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and end-stage liver disease. Currently, there are no effective treatments for NASH. Zeaxanthin is a carotenoid which has been shown to be preferentially accumulated in the adipose tissue and liver. We hypothesized that treatment with zeaxanthin may decrease oxidative stress in the liver and, possibly, halt the inflammation and fibrosis associated with NASH. Here we tested zeaxanthin effects in preventing progression of liver injury in a model of NASH. Mongolian gerbils, fed a methionine-choline-deficient diet, were treated with different doses of zeaxanthin. We assessed histopathological changes by hematoxylin-eosin and Masson trichrome staining and determined oxidative stress by measuring lipid peroxidation. The obtained results show that zeaxanthin significantly prevented NASH progression by decreasing oxidative stress and liver fibrosis, thus suggesting a potential therapeutic application for this carotenoid in the management of NASH.
Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, BBR-2538, Augusta, GA 30912, USA. schamberlain@mcg.edu
Sherman M
SM
Chamberlain
Joshua D
JD
Hall
Jigneshkumar
J
Patel
Jeffrey R
JR
Lee
Dennis M
DM
Marcus
Subbaramiah
S
Sridhar
Maritza J
MJ
Romero
Mohamed
M
Labazi
Robert W
RW
Caldwell
Manuela
M
Bartoli
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000494:pharmacology*; D065146:Zeaxanthins
D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins