Curcumin prevents liver fat accumulation and serum fetuin-A increase in rats fed a high-fat diet

J Physiol Biochem. 2013 Dec;69(4):677-86. doi: 10.1007/s13105-013-0244-9. Epub 2013 Feb 22.

Abstract

Fetuin-A is synthesized in the liver and is secreted into the bloodstream. Clinical studies suggest involvement of fetuin-A in metabolic disorders such as visceral obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and fatty liver. Curcumin is extracted from the rhizome Curcuma longa and has been shown to possess potent antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of curcumin treatment on serum fetuin-A levels as well as hepatic lipids and prooxidant-antioxidant status in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups. Group 1 was fed control diet (10 % of total calories from fat). Groups 2 and 3 were given curcumin (100 and 400 mg/kg bw/day, respectively ) by gavage for 8 weeks and were fed control diet. Group 4 was fed with HFD (60 % of total calories from fat). Groups 5 and 6 received HFD together with the two doses of curcumin, respectively. Curcumin treatment appeared to be effective in reducing liver triglycerides and serum fetuin-A levels. These findings suggest that the reduction of fetuin-A may contribute to the beneficial effects of curcumin in the pathogenesis of obesity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage*
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Curcumin / administration & dosage*
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Dietary Fats / adverse effects
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects
  • Fatty Liver / blood
  • Fatty Liver / chemically induced
  • Fatty Liver / pathology
  • Fatty Liver / prevention & control*
  • Insulin / blood
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Malondialdehyde / blood
  • Obesity / blood
  • Obesity / chemically induced
  • Obesity / pathology
  • Obesity / prevention & control*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Blood Glucose
  • Dietary Fats
  • Insulin
  • Triglycerides
  • alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Cholesterol
  • Curcumin