Effects of carnosine supplementation on markers for the pathophysiological development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in a diet-induced model.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate whether Carnosine (CAR) could attenuate diet-induced Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in rats by improving metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative markers.
Results Summary
CAR reduced plasma and hepatic triglycerides, cholesterol, hepatic steatosis, oxidative markers, and CD68+ macrophages while increasing HDL cholesterol and PPAR-α levels in MASLD-induced rats. The study did not report adverse effects but was limited to a rodent model and short-term intervention.
Population
Male Wistar rats fed a hypercaloric diet to induce MASLD.
Effective Dosage
250 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally.
Duration
4 weeks of treatment following 17 weeks of diet induction.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
hypercaloric diet rich in lipids and simple carbohydrates | increase | adiposity index | Male Wistar rats | - | had a higher | #1 |
hypercaloric diet rich in lipids and simple carbohydrates | increase | systolic blood pressure | Male Wistar rats | - | had a higher | #2 |
hypercaloric diet rich in lipids and simple carbohydrates | increase | glucose | Male Wistar rats | - | had a higher | #3 |
hypercaloric diet rich in lipids and simple carbohydrates | increase | plasma triglycerides | Male Wistar rats | - | had a higher | #4 |
hypercaloric diet rich in lipids and simple carbohydrates | increase | liver triglycerides | Male Wistar rats | - | had a higher | #5 |
hypercaloric diet rich in lipids and simple carbohydrates | increase | plasma cholesterol | Male Wistar rats | - | had a higher | #6 |
hypercaloric diet rich in lipids and simple carbohydrates | increase | liver cholesterol | Male Wistar rats | - | had a higher | #7 |
hypercaloric diet rich in lipids and simple carbohydrates | increase | insulin | Male Wistar rats | - | had a higher | #8 |
hypercaloric diet rich in lipids and simple carbohydrates | increase | hepatic steatosis | Male Wistar rats | - | had a higher | #9 |
hypercaloric diet rich in lipids and simple carbohydrates | increase | oxidative markers | Male Wistar rats | - | had a higher | #10 |
hypercaloric diet rich in lipids and simple carbohydrates | decrease | PPAR-α | Male Wistar rats | - | had a lower | #11 |
Carnosine (CAR) | decrease | plasma triglyceride levels | Male Wistar rats | - | attenuated | #12 |
Carnosine (CAR) | decrease | hepatic triglyceride levels | Male Wistar rats | - | attenuated | #13 |
Carnosine (CAR) | decrease | plasma cholesterol levels | Male Wistar rats | - | attenuated | #14 |
Carnosine (CAR) | decrease | hepatic cholesterol levels | Male Wistar rats | - | attenuated | #15 |
Carnosine (CAR) | decrease | hepatic steatosis | Male Wistar rats | - | attenuated | #16 |
Carnosine (CAR) | decrease | CD68+ macrophages | Male Wistar rats | - | attenuated | #17 |
Carnosine (CAR) | decrease | hepatic oxidative markers | Male Wistar rats | - | attenuated | #18 |
Carnosine (CAR) | increase | HDL cholesterol levels | Male Wistar rats | - | increasing | #19 |
Carnosine (CAR) | increase | PPAR-α | Male Wistar rats | - | increasing | #20 |
Consumption of diets high in sugar and fat is related to the development of Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Carnosine (CAR) is a dipeptide with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action and has been studied for treating diseases. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of CAR on diet-induced MASLD in rats. Male Wistar rats were distributed into 2 groups (17 weeks): normocaloric (Co, n = 12), and hypercaloric diet rich in lipids and simple carbohydrates (MASLD, n = 12). After, the animals were redistributed to begin the treatment with CAR (4 weeks): Co (n = 6), Co + CAR (n = 6), MASLD (n = 6), and MASLD + CAR (n = 6), administered intraperitoneally (250 mg/kg). Evaluations included nutritional, hormonal and metabolic parameters; hepatic steatosis, inflammatory and oxidative markers. MASLD group had a higher adiposity index, systolic blood pressure, glucose, plasma and liver triglycerides and cholesterol, insulin, hepatic steatosis, oxidative markers, and lower PPAR-α (Peroxisome Proliferator-activated receptor α), compared to the Co. CAR attenuated plasma and hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol levels, hepatic steatosis, CD68+ macrophages, and hepatic oxidative markers, in addition to increasing HDL cholesterol levels and PPAR-α, compared to the untreated MASLD group. CAR acts in importants pathophysiological processes of MASLD and may be a therapeutic compound to control the disease.