Metabolic Effects of Coconut Oil on Fatty Liver and Oxidative Stress Induced by a High-fat Diet in Rats

Abstract

Background and objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of coconut oil (CO) on steatosis and oxidative stress in rats fed a high-fat diet.Methods: Three groups of male Wistar rats were used: the control group (CG, n = 10) received a standard diet for 50 days, the hyperlipidic group (HL, n = 10) received a high-fat diet with 50% lard for 50 days, and the hyperlipidic-CO group (HL+CO, n = 10) received a high-fat diet with 50% lard for 30 days followed by 25% lard and 25% CO for 20 days.Then, the animals were euthanized, and their blood, liver, and adipose tissue were collected for biochemical analyses.Results: The groups that received a high-fat diet had pronounced liver steatosis.Compared to the CG and HL groups, the HL+CO group had less weight gain, but liver fat and triglycerides were increased, with a significant reduction in liver cholesterol.Glutathione increased significantly and vitamin E decreased in the livers of the experimental groups compared to the control.Lipid peroxidation in the serum and liver was less in the HL+CO group compared to that in the HL group, but it was higher than that in the control group.CO caused significant accumulation of hepatic fat, triglycerides, and fat content, despite decreasing the hepatic cholesterol levels.There was a better hepatic antioxidant response in the CO group, especially compared with the HL group.Conclusions: CO was not able to prevent or improve liver fat levels, but the HL+CO group had a better antioxidant profile.Additional clinical studies are necessary to verify the efficacy and safety of different CO doses on both hepatic and lipid metabolism.