Effects of Metabolic Therapy of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Using Decanoic Acid-based Ketogenic Diet in Animal Models

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most challenging chronic liver diseases with more than 30% of prevalence in Iran. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has emerged as a significant challenge because of its prevalence, difficulties in diagnosis, complex pathogenesis and lack of approved therapies. The more non-alcoholic fatty liver disease develops, the higher the risk of fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. Lack of approved therapies has led to increased infliction with the diseases. Hence, novel therapeutic approaches based on metabolic therapies and lifestyle modifications have been developed for this disease. A ketogenic diet based on medium-chain fatty acids can be a good option for this purpose. In this study, decanoic acid (C10) was added to diet of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease animal models and the preventive and therapeutic effects of this intervention were investigated for the first time.

The non-alcoholic fatty liver disease model was induced using high-fat diet in rats. Effects of C10 on the two prevention and treatment groups were assessed. Each group included three subgroups of normal diet (ND), high fat (HF) and C10. The C10 was set to include 35% of daily energy in the diet. After completing 10C induction period, liver tissues were stained with H&E to initially assess liver steatosis. Then, rat serum parameters were compared with each other.

Texture and biochemical analyses showed that C10 intervention decreased lipid accumulation in livers and improved dominant serum parameters.

Findings of this study have shown that using C10 in the form of ketogenic diet can improve serum parameters and inhibit or decrease the progression of lipid accumulations in liver tissues.