LAUSR

BACKGROUND Fructose and cholesterol-rich diets are implicated in the upsurge of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Phytochemicals are being explored as alternatives for the prevention and management of MetS. Thirty-six, 21-day old, female, Sprague Dawley rats fed a high-fructose, high-cholesterol diet, post-weaning were used to investigate the prophylactic potential of quercetin. Group 1: standard rat chow (SRC); Group 2: SRC, quercetin (75 mg/kg daily); Group 3: SRC, fenofibrate (100 mg/kg daily); Group 4: high cholesterol diet (HCD) (2 % added dietary cholesterol in SRC), 20 % fructose drinking solution (FS); Group 5: HCD, 20 % FS, quercetin (75 mg/kg daily); Group 6: HCD, 20 % FS, fenofibrate (100 mg/kg daily). Rats were fed ad libitum for eight weeks, euthanased and blood and liver samples collected. RESULTS The HCD and FS significantly increased (p<0.05) absolute and relative liver masses and serum cholesterol. Fasting blood glucose, serum triglycerides, alanine transaminase, creatinine and urea were not significantly different (p>0.05) between groups. The HCD and FS significantly increased liver lipid yield compared to the SRC and that in rats receiving SRC with fenofibrate (p<0.05). Quercetin or fenofibrate together with HCD and FS attenuated the diet-induced increase in liver lipids by approximately 50 %, although not statistically significant. Liver macro- and micro-steatosis scores were significantly increased (p<0.05) in rats receiving HCD and FS. Quercetin or fenofibrate administration together with HCD and FS significantly decreased (p<0.05) liver macro-steatosis scores. CONCLUSION The prophylactic effect of quercetin on fructose and cholesterol diet-induced liver lipid accumulation may be exploited in the fight against NAFLD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.