Effect of α-lipoic acid(α-LA) on prevention and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver in rats

Objective:To investigate the effects and mechanism of α-lipoic acid(α-LA) on rat model of nonalcoholic hepatosteatosis.Methods: Ninety male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal(n=15) and experimental groups(n=75).The normal group rats were fed with a standard diet,and those of the experimental group with a high-fat diet.After 8 weeks,the experimental group was randomly subdivided into three groups: one withα-LA treatment(n=45),one with vitE treatment and one without(n=15).Four weeks later,all rats were killed.Aminotransferase,free fatty acids(FFA),malondialdehyde(MDA),glucose(GLU),superoxide dismutase(SOD) were measured by biochemical methods.Results: Compared with the model group,SOD of α-LA group was significantly increased.The liver index,FA,MDA,GLU and the level of serum aminotransferase of α-LA group were significantly decreased.Conclusion: α-LA can attenuate hepatic fat degeneration and inflammation of rats with fatty liver induced by high-fat diet through resisting oxidative stress and liperoxidation,which may become a new choice for fatty liver treatment in the future.