Effects of beta-Carotene Supplementation on Lipid Peroxide Levels and Antioxidative Enzyme Activities in Alcoholic Fatty Liver Rats

ABSTRACT

This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary beta-carotene supplementation on lipid peroxide levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in alcoholic fatty liver rats. Forty five Sprague-Dawley male rats aging 8 weeks were used as experimental animals, which were divided into the control diet (CD) and the ethanol diet (ED) and the ethanol + 0.02% beta-carotene diet (EbetaD) groups and fed the experimental diet respectively for 5 weeks. After the feeding, rats were sacrificed to get blood and liver to analyze lipid and lipid peroxide levels and antioxidant enzyme activities. The mean body weight and food intake of the ethanol diet group was significantly lower than that of the control diet. The liver index (LI) of the ethanol diet group was significantly higher than those of the control diet and the beta-carotene supplementation group. Serum levels of total lipid, triglyceride of the ethanol diet group were significantly higher than those of the control diet and the beta-carotene supplementation group. Total cholesterol levels were not significantly different among all groups. HDL-cholesterol of the ethanol diet group was significantly lower than those of the control diet and the beta-carotene supplementation group. Liver TBARS of the ethanol diet group was significantly higher than those of the control diet and the beta-carotene supplementation group. Liver lipofuscin and conjugated diene levels were not significantly different among all groups. The superoxide dismutase activity of the ethanol diet group was significantly lower than those of the control diet and the beta-carotene supplementation group. Catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were not significantly different among all groups. Because beta-carotene supplementation significantly decrease the serum total lipid, triglyceride, liver TBARS levels and increase the superoxide dismutase activity in alcoholic fatty liver rats, beta-carotene supplementation seems to give beneficial effect for the alcoholics.