Examining the Effect of Selenium in Improving Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Rats Download PDF

Introduction: Given the prevalence of risk factors for metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease in society. In this study, the effect of selenium in improving nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was investigated in rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 40 adult female Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups, each consisting of 8 rats. The five groups were control, high-fat diet and high-fat diet treated with 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg doses of selenium). Selenium was fed by gavage to the rats. At the end of the experiment, the rats were weighed. Blood samples were taken from heart of the rats (Blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture). Finally, serum ALT, AST, ALK, LDL, HDL, TG and TC levels were measured. Five-micron tissue sections were prepared from liver tissue. The sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Findings: the results showed that mean serum concentration of TG, TC, LDL, ALT, AST and ALK significantly increased in the group receiving high-fat diet compared to control group. TC, LDL, ALT and ALK serum concentration significantly decreased in the groups receiving 0.5 and 1 mg/kg selenium compared to the group receiving high-fat diet. TG and AST serum concentrations significantly decreased in the group receiving 1 mg/kg selenium compared to the group receiving high-fat diet. All doses of selenium had no effect on mean serum levels of HDL. The best dose of treatment was 1 mg/kg. The results showed that selenium with antioxidant properties reduces and prevents damaging effects of fatty liver in rats.