Korean J Nutr.  2007 Dec;40(8):693-700.

Effects of Genistein Supplementation on Fatty Liver and Lipid Metabolism in Rats Fed High Fat Diet

• Lee SH
• Kim MH
• Park MN
• Lee YS

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the effects of genistein, a kind of soy isoflavones, on fatty liver and lipid metabolism in rats fed high fat diet. Twenty four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups by dietary fat and genistein contents then raised for six weeks. The rats (n = 6 / group) were fed normal fat diet (NOR), high fat diet (HF), high fat with 0.1% genistein (HF + 0.1%G) or high fat with 0.2% genistein (HF + 0.2%G). Hepatic total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol and Serum GPT, as a marker for fatty liver, were significantly increased by high fat diet. Also, serum total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, glucose and insulin concentration, hepatic lipogenic enzyme (fatty acid synthase and malic enzyme) activities were significantly increased by high fat diet. However, hepatic total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol and Serum GPT were significantly decreased by genistein intake. Also, genistein supplementation decreased serum total lipid, triglyceride, glucose and insulin concentration, hepatic lipogenic enzyme (fatty acid synthase and malic enzyme) activities. There were no differences by genistein level except for serum insulin. These results suggest that fatty liver induced by high fat diet was caused by increased serum lipid profiles and hepatic lipogenesis, whereas, genistein may be useful in inhibiting of fatty liver by reducing serum lipid profiles and hepatic lipogenesis.

Keyword

fatty liver; isoflavone; genistein; lipid profile; lipogenic enzyme

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cholesterol
Diet
Diet, High-Fat*
Dietary Fats
Fatty Liver*
Genistein*
Glucose
Humans
Insulin
Isoflavones
Lipid Metabolism*
Lipogenesis
Male
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Triglycerides
Cholesterol
Dietary Fats
Genistein
Glucose
Insulin
Isoflavones