Avaliação dos parâmetros metabólicos e teciduais hepáticos em um modelo experimental de dieta hipercalórica: uma forma de estudar comorbidades no fígado

Abstract

The macronutrient composition of the diet, particularly high intakes of dietary carbohydrate, simple sugars, fats, proteins and low fiber intake may be associated with the risk of developing liver diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Animal diet models allow researchers to control genetic and environmental factors that may influence the development of the disease and its secondary complications, thus gaining useful information about its management and treatment.

It is known that the total intake of high calories is associated with NAFLD and non- alcoholic steatohepatitis, and several studies have focused on the role of specific

nutrients, such as saturated fats and carbohydrates, in the development and transition of the disease. The objective of this study is to evaluate metabolic and hepatic tissue changes in a new experimental model of hypercaloric diet. Sixteen rats were divided into two groups: the standard diet group and the hypercaloric diet group, with 8 animals each. The rats were submitted to analysis of the following parameters in hepatic tissue: dosage of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, glutathione (GSH), and myeloperoxidase activity (MPO). Liver samples were also subjected to histopathological evaluation. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin (ALB), alkaline phosphatase (FAL), uric acid and total cholesterol (TC), calcium (CA), urea and HDL. The results showed that there was a significant difference in MDA, GSH, total cholesterol (CT), ALT, ALB, AU, calcium (CA) and HDL. The histopathological evaluation presented a low score, insufficient for the classification of NAFLD. In conclusion, it was possible to observe that hepatic damages resulting from the experimental hypercaloric diet in rats did not present the extension and severity associated with NAFLD. As a result of this, it is emphasized that this model allows to study the association between the Hypercaloric Diet (DHC) and other comorbidities.