Atorvastatin and flaxseed dietary treatments improve dyslipidemia and liver injuries in a diet-induced rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as the most common chronic liver disease is associated with metabolic disorders including dysregulated lipid and glucose metabolism. There is no approved drug treatment for NAFLD; thus, new therapies are needed. We studied the antidyslipidemic eff...

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Main Authors: Zahra Eslami, Hamidreza Joshaghani, Abdorreza Eghbal Moghanlou, Alireza Norouzi, Seyed Javad Mirghani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences 2025-06-01
Series:Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine
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Online Access:https://ajp.mums.ac.ir/article_25220_f185e7a30383834d31f91c77bc5b31c9.pdf
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author Zahra Eslami
Hamidreza Joshaghani
Abdorreza Eghbal Moghanlou
Alireza Norouzi
Seyed Javad Mirghani
author_facet Zahra Eslami
Hamidreza Joshaghani
Abdorreza Eghbal Moghanlou
Alireza Norouzi
Seyed Javad Mirghani
author_sort Zahra Eslami
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as the most common chronic liver disease is associated with metabolic disorders including dysregulated lipid and glucose metabolism. There is no approved drug treatment for NAFLD; thus, new therapies are needed. We studied the antidyslipidemic effects of atorvastatin and/or possibly hepatoprotective effects of flaxseed/ flaxseed oil in a rat model of NAFLD.Materials and Methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were divided randomly into seven groups: 1) control, 2) high-fructose diet (HFD), 3) HFD +atorvastatin (20 mg/kg), 4) HFD+ flaxseed (40 g/kg), 5) HFD+ flaxseed oil (40 mg/kg), 6) HFD+flaxseed (40 g/kg) + atorvastatin (20 mg/kg) and 7) HFD+flaxseed oil (40 g/kg) +atorvastatin (20 mg/kg). The interventions were done for 23 weeks, after which anthropometric indices, lipid profile, liver enzymes, fasting blood glucose, and kidney indices were analyzed. Scoring of hematoxylin-eosin-stained liver sections was used to assess the severity of NAFLD.Results: All the treatments reduced mesenteric fat mass, and the amount of fat around the liver, except in HFD+ flaxseed +atorvastatin group. The interventions improved NAFLD activity score, which considers steatosis, lobular inflammation, and hepatocyte ballooning. However, atorvastatin was most efficient in reducing inflammation and hepatocyte ballooning. While atorvastatin reduced only Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels, flaxseed or flaxseed oil mono- and combination therapies reduced serum levels of all liver enzymes. The interventions improved the serum lipid profile and all, except atorvastatin decreased fasting blood glucose.Conclusion: Flaxseed therapies improved NAFLD-associated liver injuries and dyslipidemia, while atorvastatin mostly reduced hepatocyte ballooning and lobular inflammation.
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spelling doaj-art-d14f0736c2564088a47d64ca742d9b612025-08-20T03:52:56ZengMashhad University of Medical SciencesAvicenna Journal of Phytomedicine2228-79302228-79492025-06-011531102111210.22038/ajp.2024.2522025220Atorvastatin and flaxseed dietary treatments improve dyslipidemia and liver injuries in a diet-induced rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseZahra Eslami0Hamidreza Joshaghani1Abdorreza Eghbal Moghanlou2Alireza Norouzi3Seyed Javad Mirghani4Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hamadan university of medical science, Hamadan, Iran.Laboratory sciences research center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, IranIstanbul esenyurt University, Physical Education and Sports High School, Coaching Education Department, Istanbul, TurkeyGolestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, IranShahid Mirghani Research Institute, Gorgan, Golestan, IranObjective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as the most common chronic liver disease is associated with metabolic disorders including dysregulated lipid and glucose metabolism. There is no approved drug treatment for NAFLD; thus, new therapies are needed. We studied the antidyslipidemic effects of atorvastatin and/or possibly hepatoprotective effects of flaxseed/ flaxseed oil in a rat model of NAFLD.Materials and Methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were divided randomly into seven groups: 1) control, 2) high-fructose diet (HFD), 3) HFD +atorvastatin (20 mg/kg), 4) HFD+ flaxseed (40 g/kg), 5) HFD+ flaxseed oil (40 mg/kg), 6) HFD+flaxseed (40 g/kg) + atorvastatin (20 mg/kg) and 7) HFD+flaxseed oil (40 g/kg) +atorvastatin (20 mg/kg). The interventions were done for 23 weeks, after which anthropometric indices, lipid profile, liver enzymes, fasting blood glucose, and kidney indices were analyzed. Scoring of hematoxylin-eosin-stained liver sections was used to assess the severity of NAFLD.Results: All the treatments reduced mesenteric fat mass, and the amount of fat around the liver, except in HFD+ flaxseed +atorvastatin group. The interventions improved NAFLD activity score, which considers steatosis, lobular inflammation, and hepatocyte ballooning. However, atorvastatin was most efficient in reducing inflammation and hepatocyte ballooning. While atorvastatin reduced only Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels, flaxseed or flaxseed oil mono- and combination therapies reduced serum levels of all liver enzymes. The interventions improved the serum lipid profile and all, except atorvastatin decreased fasting blood glucose.Conclusion: Flaxseed therapies improved NAFLD-associated liver injuries and dyslipidemia, while atorvastatin mostly reduced hepatocyte ballooning and lobular inflammation.https://ajp.mums.ac.ir/article_25220_f185e7a30383834d31f91c77bc5b31c9.pdfstatinflaxliverlinseed oilsteatosis
spellingShingle Zahra Eslami
Hamidreza Joshaghani
Abdorreza Eghbal Moghanlou
Alireza Norouzi
Seyed Javad Mirghani
Atorvastatin and flaxseed dietary treatments improve dyslipidemia and liver injuries in a diet-induced rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine
statin
flax
liver
linseed oil
steatosis
title Atorvastatin and flaxseed dietary treatments improve dyslipidemia and liver injuries in a diet-induced rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
title_full Atorvastatin and flaxseed dietary treatments improve dyslipidemia and liver injuries in a diet-induced rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
title_fullStr Atorvastatin and flaxseed dietary treatments improve dyslipidemia and liver injuries in a diet-induced rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
title_full_unstemmed Atorvastatin and flaxseed dietary treatments improve dyslipidemia and liver injuries in a diet-induced rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
title_short Atorvastatin and flaxseed dietary treatments improve dyslipidemia and liver injuries in a diet-induced rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
title_sort atorvastatin and flaxseed dietary treatments improve dyslipidemia and liver injuries in a diet induced rat model of non alcoholic fatty liver disease
topic statin
flax
liver
linseed oil
steatosis
url https://ajp.mums.ac.ir/article_25220_f185e7a30383834d31f91c77bc5b31c9.pdf
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