Context: One of the world's most widespread and frequent liver diseases is the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Aims: To evaluate the preventives activities of Ruzu herbal bitters (RHB), which is an anti-obesity therapeutic... more
Context: One of the world's most widespread and frequent liver diseases is the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Aims: To evaluate the preventives activities of Ruzu herbal bitters (RHB), which is an anti-obesity therapeutic concoction used widely in Nigeria on high-fat diet (HFD) induced NAFLD in albino Wistar rats. Methods: A total number of twenty-five rats were isolated and divided equally into five groups. Group 1, the normal control group was placed on normal rat diet and normal saline (1 mL/kg body weight daily) for twelve weeks. The remaining four groups 2-5 were placed on HFD for twelve weeks; adding to the following treatment schedules by oral gavage: group 2 received pioglitazone 4 mg/kg daily, group 3 received RHB 0.6 mL/kg daily, group 4 received normal saline 1 mL/kg daily and group 5 received fenofibrate 10 mg/kg daily (s.c). The animals were sacrificed and biochemical markers of liver function, lipid profile, glycemic index, and histopathological assessment of the liver of the rats were determined. Results: Rat treated with RHB and other treated groups significantly (p<0.05) reduced the liver index, fasting blood glucose, and activities and concentrations of liver function enzymes and molecules when compared to untreated NAFLD group. Scoring of hepatic steatosis also showed the ameliorative role of the treatment on NAFLD. Conclusions: This study reveals that RHB and other treatment options assessed could prevent HFD-induced NAFLD and could be explored as another therapeutic approach to fenofibrate and pioglitazone in NAFLD management.
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs; ie. leucine, isoleucine, and valine) are essential amino acids we need to ingest through our diet.While circulating BCAA levels were first found to be elevated in obese individuals back in 1969 by Felig... more
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs; ie. leucine, isoleucine, and valine) are essential amino acids we need to ingest through our diet.While circulating BCAA levels were first found to be elevated in obese individuals back in 1969 by Felig and colleagues, the potential role of BCAAs in obesity and diabetes development has been re-highlighted in the last decade.
Background Obesity is the number one preventable risk factor for chronic kidney disease. Multiple observational studies have documented an association between obesity and risk of kidney disease even after adjustment for obesity-related... more
Background Obesity is the number one preventable risk factor for chronic kidney disease. Multiple observational studies have documented an association between obesity and risk of kidney disease even after adjustment for obesity-related co-morbid conditions, including diabetes mellitus. Because diet specially dietary fat has been recognized as contributing to the development and prevention of obesity, the influence of quantities and qualities of dietary fat on the pathogenesis of obesity related renal disorders has been studied. It has been known that tissues of porpoise contain unique structured-lipids as combination of iso-valeric acid (iso-C5:0) and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA). It is well known that ω-3 PUFAs have lipid-lowering effects in animal and human studies. Omega3-polyunsaturated fatty acids can prevent or alleviate obesity-related disorders through the suppression of fatty acid synthesis, enhancement of fatty acid β-oxidation. In the present study the effect of structural-lipids from porpoise adipose tissue (porpoise oil) on lipid metabolism was investigated. Design In this study 4 groups of male albino rats (n=10/group): group 1 received control diet 10.6% fat, group 2 received high fat diet (HFD) 53.15% fat, group 3 received HFD 53.15% fat with porpoise oil from start of induction of obesity and group 4 received HFD 53.15% fat and followed by addition of porpoise oil for 4 weeks after induction of obesity. All groups were subjected to the assay of serum levels of total lipid profile, urea, creatinine, fasting glucose and insulin as well as the levels of free fatty acid (FFA), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO). Also, renal tissue levels of triacylglycerol (TAG), FFA, and MDA and NO as well as aldose reductase (AR) activity were assayed, with estimation of urinary albumin level. Results: There was statistically significant improvement in all parameters of renal function, oxidative stress and dyslipidemia under the effect of porpoise oil intake. Conclusions: The current results might lead us to better utilization of porpoise oil due to its content of ω-3 PUFA to reduce lipid deposition in the kidney tissue with improving its functions, therefore presenting an opportunity for developing new strategies to treat obesity.
