Articles - Chemical Science & Engineering Research

Abstract

Soy lecithin is a phosphatidylcholine that has shown a beneficial action in relation to hepatic steatosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of soy lecithin on NAFLD induced by a diet deficient in methionine and choline, in Wistar rats for 8 weeks. The Control group received the AIN-93 diet; the Lecithin group (Lec) received an AIN-93 diet with soy lecithin (5%); the other group received a diet deficient in methionine and choline (MCD); the last group received a MCD diet with soy lecithin (5%) (MCDL). Fasting blood glucose, plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, liver transaminases (ALT and AST) and liver concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides and total fat, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamins A and E. We observed that the MCD diet induced a reduction in food intake, body weight gain, plasma triglyceride concentrations and hepatic vitamin A but induced an increase in the total weight of the liver and in the hepatic concentrations of triglycerides, total fat, MDA and GSH and in the values of transaminases. Supplementation with soy lecithin promoted a partial reversal in food intake, body weight gain and total liver weight. There was a reduction in plasma triglycerides and liver vitamins A and E. but there was an increase in transaminases. In conclusion, the data obtained indicate that supplementation with 5% soy lecithin promoted an improvement in the liver lipid profile and in hepatocellular damage, which are considered factors involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD induced by the MCD diet.