THURSDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Resveratrol appears to be useful against alcoholic fatty liver by coordinating lipid metabolism signaling pathways, leading to improved oxidation of fatty acids, less lipid synthesis and prevention of lipid accumulation in the liver, according to research published in the October issue of the American Journal of Physiology -- Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology.
Joanne M. Ajmo, Ph.D., of the University of South Florida Health Sciences Center in Tampa, and colleagues analyzed data from male mice that were divided into six low-fat dietary groups: one received diet alone, two received resveratrol at different dosages, one received ethanol, and two received ethanol plus resveratrol at different dosages.
Resveratrol protected mice from alcoholic liver steatosis, the investigators found. It also was associated with increased expression of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and increased activity of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) in the livers of the mice that were given alcohol. These are key signaling molecules controlling hepatic lipid metabolism pathways. The increased expression of SIRT1 and AMPK was associated with a decrease in sterol regulatory element binding protein 1, activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator α, increased circulating adiponectin levels, and increased mRNA expression of liver adiponectin receptors in mice given alcohol.
"In summary, the present study suggests that resveratrol or similar activators of hepatic SIRT1-AMPK signaling system may serve as novel and promising nutritional or pharmacological therapeutic agents in treating human alcoholic fatty liver disease," the authors conclude.
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