The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been increasing worldwide, and the average age at NAFLD diagnosis has been decreasing. Although some components of adlay can ameliorate lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and gut microbiota, few studies have explored the effects of the dietary intake of intact dehulled adlay on liver diseases. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of the dietary intake of dehulled adlay on NAFLD progression and explored the potential underlying mechanisms. Rats were randomized into a control group; a high-fat, high-sucrose diet (60% total energy derived from fat and 9.4% from sucrose)-induced NAFLD group (N); or a high-fat, high-sucrose diet with dehulled adlay group (received the same amounts of dietary fiber and total energy as did the N group). The experimental duration was 16 weeks. The diet containing dehulled adlay mitigated hepatic fat accumulation, proinflammatory cytokine levels, and oxidative stress by regulating the AMPK-Nrf2-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and ferroptosis. Additionally, the dietary intake of dehulled adlay modulated the composition of the gut microbiota. In conclusion, a diet containing dehulled adlay may decelerate the progression of NAFLD by ameliorating hepatic steatosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut dysbiosis.
Keywords: dehulled adlay; gut microbiota; inflammation; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; oxidative stress; steatosis.