Resveratrol Protects Against Fat Accumulation in the Liver

Byron's Comments:

Resveratrol is obviously quite active in the liver where it really has a helpful effect on fat metabolism, guarding against the fatty build-up that is so common in overweight people.

Study Title:

Dietary resveratrol alters lipid metabolism-related gene expression of mice on an atherogenic diet.

Study Abstract:

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Resveratrol, a polyphenolic activator of the silent information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1), is known to extend lifespan and improve metabolic disease. The aim of the present study is to test whether resveratrol protects against metabolic steatohepatitis through the modulation of lipid metabolism-related genes. METHODS: We used a mouse model in which steatohepatitis can be induced by an atherogenic diet (Ath diet) to evaluate the effects of resveratrol on steatotic hepatitis and hepatic gene expression. RESULTS: The Ath diet induced excessive weight gain, hepatomegaly, dyslipidemia, and steatohepatitis after 8 weeks. The addition of resveratrol protected against Ath diet-induced changes and also alleviated steatohepatitis. Whole-genome expression analysis revealed that an Ath diet altered the hepatic expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism, and the addition of resveratrol to the diet reversed that effect. Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis confirmed the Ath diet up-regulated the levels of genes related to lipogenesis and down-regulated genes involved in lipolysis. Resveratrol clearly suppressed the Ath diet-induced alterations of the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Resveratrol ameliorated dyslipidemia and steatohepatitis induced by the Ath diet, and its beneficial effects were associated with the altered expression of hepatic genes involved in lipid metabolism.

Study Information:

Ahn J, Cho I, Kim S, Kwon D, Ha T. Dietary resveratrol alters lipid metabolism-related gene expression of mice on an atherogenic diet. J Hepatol. 2008 December 49(6):1019-28.
Food Function Research Center, Korea Food Research Institute, 516, Bundang, Gyeonggi 463-746, Republic of Korea.