Chronic alcohol intake can affect both liver and intestinal barrier function. The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the function and mechanism of lutein administration on the chronic ethanol-induced liver and intestinal barrier damage in rats. During the 14-week experimental cycle, seventy rats were randomly divided into seven groups, with 10 rats in each group: a normal control group (Co), a control group of lutein interventions (24 mg/kg/day), an ethanol model group (Et, 8-12 mL/kg/day of 56% (v/v) ethanol), three intervention groups with lutein (12, 24 and 48 mg/kg/day) and a positive control group (DG). The results showed that liver index, ALT, AST and TG levels were increased, and SOD and GSH-Px levels were reduced in the Et group. Furthermore, alcohol intake over a long time increased the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β, disrupted the intestinal barrier, and stimulated the release of LPS, causing further liver injury. In contrast, lutein interventions prevented alcohol-induced alterations in liver tissue, oxidative stress and inflammation. In addition, the protein expression of Claudin-1 and Occludin in ileal tissues was upregulated by lutein intervention. In conclusion, lutein can improve chronic alcoholic liver injury and intestinal barrier dysfunction in rats.
Keywords: alcohol; alcoholic liver injury; intestinal barrier; lutein; oxidative stress.