title: Black rice (Oryza sativa L.) extract attenuates hepatic steatosis in C57BL/6 J mice fed a high-fat diet via fatty acid oxidation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two major risk factors for the onset of fatty liver disease are excessive alcohol intake and obesity, the latter being associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to examine the effects of black rice extract (BRE) on hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in high-fat diet-fed mice, providing a model of NAFLD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four mice were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8 in each group): normal fat diet (ND), high fat diet (HF), and high fat diet supplemented with 1% (w/w) BRE (HF +1% BRE). The experimental diets were fed for seven weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A HF induced hepatic steatosis with significant increases in the serum levels of free fatty acids (FFAs), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and insulin. By contrast, supplementary BRE (10 g/kg of diet) included in the HF alleviated hepatic steatosis and significantly decreased serum TG and TC levels (p < 0.01 for both). Dietary BRE also increased expression of fatty acid metabolism-related genes, including carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT1A), acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO), cytochrome P450 (CYP4A10), and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-α (p < 0.05 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary BRE supplementation improved serum lipid profiles and significantly enhanced mRNA expression levels of fatty acid metabolism-related genes, primarily via β-oxidation and ω-oxidation in the liver. Taken together, these findings suggest that a BRE-supplemented diet could be useful in reducing the risks of hepatic steatosis and related disorders, including hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia.
authors.affiliation: Functional Food & Nutrition Division, Department of Agrofood Resources,Rural Development Administration, Suwon, Republic of Korea. dpark@korea.kr.
authors.forename: Hwan-Hee
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Mi-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Heon-Woong
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung-A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jae-Hak
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong-Sik
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Oran
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kwon