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Liver delipidating effect of a combination of resveratrol and quercetin in rats fed an obesogenic diet

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Abstract

Liver steatosis is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of triacylglycerols in this organ. This metabolic disorder is closely associated with obesity. In the present study, we aimed to analyse the effect of a combination of resveratrol and quercetin on liver steatosis in an animal model of dietetic obesity, and to compare it with one induced by the administration of each polyphenol separately. Rats were divided into four dietary groups of nine animals each and fed a high-fat, high-sucrose diet: an untreated control group and three groups treated either with resveratrol (RSV; 15 mg/kg/day), with quercetin (Q; 30 mg/kg/day), or with both (RSV + Q; 15 mg resveratrol/kg/day and 30 mg quercetin/kg/day) for 6 weeks. Liver weight and triacylglycerol content decreased only in the RSV + Q group. A significant reduction in acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity was observed in RSV and RSV + Q groups, without changes in fatty acid synthase activity. A significant increase in carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1a activity was observed only in rats treated with the combination of resveratrol and quercetin, suggesting increased fatty acid oxidation. Citrate synthase, a marker of mitochondrial density, remained unchanged in all groups. No significant changes were observed in the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1) and transcription factor A mitochondrial (TFAM). In conclusion, resveratrol and quercetin together, combining two doses which were shown to be ineffective singly, is an interesting tool to prevent liver steatosis associated with high-fat high-sucrose feeding. The delipidating effect seems to be mediated by increased fatty acid oxidation not associated with increased mitochondriogenesis, and by reduced de novo lipogenesis.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (AGL2011-27406-ALI), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERobn), Government of the Basque Country (IT-572-13) and University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) (ELDUNANOTEK UFI11/32). N. Arias is a recipient of a doctoral fellowship from the Basque Country Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition and Obesity Group, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy and Lucio Lascaray Research Center, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria, Spain

    Noemí Arias, M. Teresa Macarulla, Leixuri Aguirre, Jonatan Miranda & María P. Portillo

  2. CIBERobn Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain

    Noemí Arias, M. Teresa Macarulla, Leixuri Aguirre, Jonatan Miranda & María P. Portillo

  3. Departamento de Nutrición y Bromatología, Facultad de Farmacia, Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006, Vitoria, Spain

    María P. Portillo

Authors
  1. Noemí Arias
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  2. M. Teresa Macarulla
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  3. Leixuri Aguirre
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  4. Jonatan Miranda
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  5. María P. Portillo
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Correspondence to María P. Portillo.

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Arias, N., Macarulla, M.T., Aguirre, L. et al. Liver delipidating effect of a combination of resveratrol and quercetin in rats fed an obesogenic diet. J Physiol Biochem 71, 569–576 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-015-0403-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-015-0403-2

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