The protective effects of sulforaphane on high-fat diet-induced metabolic associated fatty liver disease in mice via mediating the FXR/LXRα pathway

Food Funct. 2022 Dec 13;13(24):12966-12982. doi: 10.1039/d2fo02341e.

Abstract

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is becoming the key factor in causing chronic liver disease all over the world. Sulforaphane (SFN) has been proven to be effective in alleviating many metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to induce MAFLD and given SFN (10 mg per kg bw) daily. Our results showed that SFN not only improved the excessive accumulation of fat in the liver cells but also ameliorated liver and serum inflammatory and antioxidant levels. In addition, SFN can regulate bile-acid metabolism and fatty-acid synthesis by affecting their farnesoid X receptor (FXR)/liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) signaling pathway, ultimately alleviating MAFLD. Our study provides a theoretical basis for the mechanism by which SFN alleviates hepatic steatosis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bile Acids and Salts / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / metabolism
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / drug therapy
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / etiology
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / genetics
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • sulforaphane
  • Bile Acids and Salts