Dietary açai attenuates hepatic steatosis via adiponectin-mediated effects on lipid metabolism in high-fat diet mice

Abstract

Polyphenols, especially anthocyanins, have been considered promising for the prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study investigated whether açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), a source of anthocyanins and recognized as one of the new “superfruits”, could alleviate high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD in mice. In HFD mice, aqueous açai extract (AAE) administration (3 g/kg) for six weeks improved insulin resistance index and increased adiponectin mRNA expression in adipose tissue and serum levels. Furthermore, AAE decreased the total liver triacylglycerol content and attenuated HFD-induced hepatic steatosis. This reduced hepatic lipid content was associated with AAE-mediated up-regulation of genes involved in adiponectin signaling, including adiponectin receptor 2, PPAR-α, and its target gene, carnitine palmitoyltransferase. Thus, dietary açai can protect liver from steatosis through its enhancement of adiponectin levels, improvement of insulin sensitivity, and increase in PPAR-α-mediated fatty acid oxidation.

Keywords

• Euterpe oleracea mart
• Anthocyanins
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
• Insulin resistance
• Adipokines
• Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α