Evaluation of the effects of L-carnitine on medaka (Oryzias latipes) fatty liver

Sci Rep. 2017 Jun 5;7(1):2749. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-02924-5.

Abstract

Lifestyle-related diseases have become a major issue in recent years. The increasing incidence of fatty liver underlines the urgency with which the issues of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) need to be addressed. L-carnitine is a compound known to transport fatty acids into the mitochondria to enhance β-oxidation-mediated metabolism of fats. In this study, the effects of L-carnitine administration on fatty liver of medaka (Oryzias latipes) were analysed, to check for disease improvement and metabolic changes. Additionally, the effects of the concomitant administration of L-carnitine and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) (EPA) were investigated. Findings indicated reduced lipid deposition, increase in metabolites associated with β-oxidation, and significant reduction in fatty acid levels in the liver, implying improvement in fatty liver condition. Concomitant administration of L-carnitine and EPA resulted in further benefits, via changes in fatty acid composition in the medaka fatty liver model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Body Weight
  • Carnitine / pharmacology*
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism
  • Fatty Liver / drug therapy
  • Fatty Liver / etiology
  • Fatty Liver / metabolism*
  • Fatty Liver / pathology
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Metabolome
  • Metabolomics / methods
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Oryzias / metabolism*
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Fatty Acids
  • Carnitine