Daily Intake of Smallanthus sonchifolius (Yacon) Roots Reduces the Progression of Non‑alcoholic Fatty Liver in Rats Fed a High Fructose Diet

ALEMAN M.N.; SÁNCHEZ S. S.; HONORÉ S.M.

PLANT FOODS FOR HUMAN NUTRITION

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2022

0921-9668

High-fructose diet is associated with an increased risk of dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) through chronic infammation. The present study aimed to elucidate the potential beneft of daily consumption of Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) roots, rich in fructooligosaccharides (FOS), on the progression to liver fbrosis, in a rat model of NAFLD induced by a high-fructose diet. Male Wistar rats were fed a standard diet (CD, n =6) or a standard diet plus 10% fructose solution (FD; n =18). After 20 weeks, FD rats were randomly separated into the following groups (n =6, each): FD; FD treated with yacon four (340 mg FOS/body weight; FD+Y) and FD treated with fenofbrate (30 mg/kg body weight; FD +F), for 16 weeks. Daily intake of yacon four signifcantly reduced body weight gain, plasma lipid levels, transaminase activities, and improved systemic insulin response in FD rats. In the liver, yacon treatment decreased fructose-induced steatosis and infammation, and reduced total collagen deposition (64%). Also, yacon decreased TGF-β1 mRNA expression (78%), followed by decreased nuclear localization of p-Smad2/3 in liver tissue. Yacon signifcantly reduced the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Col1α1, and Col3α1 mRNAs (85, 44, and 47%, respectively), inhibiting the activation of resident hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). These results suggested that yacon roots have the potential to ameliorate liver damage caused by long-term consumption of a high-fructose diet, being a promising nutritional strategy in NAFLD management.