The vitamin E reduces liver lipoperoxidation and fibrosis in a model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
No effective treatment is available for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in nowadays.



To develop a model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis induced by a methionine and choline deficient diet, as well as to evaluate the role of metformin, vitamin E and simvastatin in the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis progression.



The study analyzed prospectively 50 Wistar rats for a 90-day period and divided them into five groups of 10 rats. One group was given standard rat diet and the others received the methionine and choline deficient diet. Among the four groups that received this diet, one received saline 0,9% and the others received metformin, vitamin E or simvastatin. After the study period, the animals were sacrificed and their blood was collected for biochemical analysis. The livers were removed for lipoperoxidation analysis and for the histological examinations.



The methionine and choline deficient diet was able to induce steatosis in 100% of the animals and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in 27 (69.2%). The alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly higher in the simvastatin group. The aspartate aminotransferase levels were also higher in the simvastatin group, but were statistically significant only in relation to the standard diet group. When lipoperoxidation values were compared, the groups that received standard rat diet and methionine and choline deficient with vitamin E presented significantly lower rates than the others. The presence of fibrosis was significantly smaller in the group receiving vitamin E.



The diet used was able to induce steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Besides vitamin E showed to reduce the liver oxidative stress, as well as the fibrosis development.
Post-Graduation Program in Hepatology, Fundação Faculdade Federal de Ciências Médicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. izamin@terra.com.br
Idilio
I
Zamin
Angelo Alves de
AA
Mattos
Angelo Zambam de
AZ
Mattos
Gabriela
G
Coral
Diogo
D
Santos
Cláudia
C
Rhoden
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002796:Choline Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008715:Methionine / Q000172:deficiency*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; D008687:Metformin; D008715:Methionine; D019821:Simvastatin; D000637:Transaminases