title: Effects of beta-carotene on antioxidant status in rats with chronic alcohol consumption.
abstract: This study examined the effects of beta-carotene on antioxidant status in rats with chronic alcohol consumption. At the beginning of experiment (week 0), according to both the plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, rats (n = 24) were divided into 3 groups and fed with a standard diet (group C), a diet containing ethanol (group E), or a diet containing ethanol and beta-carotene (group E+B). After 10 weeks, plasma AST and ALT, fat accumulation in the liver, antioxidant enzyme activities in erythrocytes and the liver, malondialdehyde (MDA), and alpha-tocopherol and retinol in plasma and hepatic samples were analyzed. The chronic alcohol diet significantly increased AST and ALT levels in plasma, and these changes were prevented by supplementing the diet with beta-carotene. Glutathione (GSH) in erythrocytes and in the liver was significantly elevated in rats fed with a diet containing beta-carotene. The results indicate that beta-carotene supplementation can prevent ethanol-induced liver damage and increase GSH concentrations in erythrocytes and the liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospitality Management, College of Agriculture, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wan-Teng
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chi-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Tien-Jen
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jiun-Rong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming-Jer
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shieh
authors.forename: Hsiang-Chi
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Suh-Ching
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chih-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005235:Fatty Liver, Alcoholic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D009929:Organ Size; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008055:Lipids; D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014527:Uric Acid; D000431:Ethanol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol