The objective of this work was to identify the effect of tomato juice on the expression of genes and levels of metabolites related to steatosis in rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats (8 weeks-old) were grouped (6 rats/group) in four experimental groups: NA (normal diet and water), NL (normal diet and tomato juice), HA (high-fat diet and water), and HL (high-fat diet and tomato juice). After an intervention period of 5 weeks, rats were sacrificed and biochemical parameters, biomarkers of oxidative stress, liver metabolites, and gene expression were determined. Although the H diet provoked dislipemia related to steatosis, no changes in isoprostanes or liver malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed. Changes in the gene expression of the HA group were produced by the high consumption of fat, whereas the consumption of tomato juice had different effects, depending on the diet. In the NL group, the genes involved in β-oxidation were upregulated, and in groups NL and HL upregulation of CD36 and downregulation of APOB and LPL were observed. In addition, in the HL group the accumulation of lycopene upregulated the genes FXR and HNF4A, which have been suggested as preventive factors in relation to steatosis. Regarding the metabolomics study, intake of tomato juice stimulated the biosynthesis of glutathione and amino acids of the transulfurization pathway, increasing the levels of metabolites related to the antioxidant response.
Keywords: gene expression; lycopene; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); oxidative biomarkers; quantitative metabolomics.