Nutr Res Pract.  2013 Feb;7(1):26-33.

Lycopene supplementation suppresses oxidative stress induced by a high fat diet in gerbils

• Choi SK
• Seo JS

Abstract

The effect of lycopene supplementation on the antioxidant system was investigated by analyzing lipid peroxide levels, glutathione contents, and antioxidant enzyme activities in Mongolian gerbils fed a high fat diet. Gerbils were fed on each experimental diet for 6 weeks; normal diet (NC), normal diet with 0.05% lycopene (NL), high fat diet (HF), and a high fat diet with 0.05% lycopene (HFL). Dietary supplementation of lycopene increased hepatic lycopene level in gerbils fed a normal or high fat diet (P < 0.05). Liver and erythrocyte concentrations of lipid peroxide increased in gerbils fed a high fat diet, whereas lycopene supplementation decreased liver and erythrocyte concentrations of lipid peroxide (P < 0.05). Hepatic total glutathione content was higher in the NL group than that in the NC group (P < 0.05). Total antioxidant status in plasma increased following lycopene supplementation compared with that of the non-lycopene supplemented groups (P < 0.05). Hepatic catalase activity increased following dietary lycopene supplementation (P < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase activity in liver remained unchanged with lycopene supplementation, but erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity increased in NL group compared with NC group (P < 0.05). Glutathione-S-transferase activity increased in the NL group compared to NC group (P < 0.05). Liver and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity increased significantly in the NL group compared to that in the HF group (P < 0.05). Liver glutathione reductase activity was higher in the NL group than that in the NC group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that lycopene supplementation may be efficient for preventing chronic diseases induced by oxidative stress related to high fat diet.

Keyword

Lycopene; oxidative stress; antioxidant; Mongolian gerbils; high fat

MeSH Terms

Carotenoids
Catalase
Chronic Disease
Diet
Diet, High-Fat
Dietary Supplements
Erythrocytes
Gerbillinae
Glutathione
Glutathione Peroxidase
Glutathione Reductase
Liver
Oxidative Stress
Plasma
Superoxide Dismutase
Carotenoids
Catalase
Glutathione
Glutathione Peroxidase
Glutathione Reductase
Superoxide Dismutase

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Effects of lycopene supplementation on hepatic concentration of lycopene in gerbils fed a normal or high fat diet. NC, normal diet (10% fat calories); HF, high fat diet (45% fat calories); NL, normal diet with 0.5 g/kg lycopene; HFL, high fat diet with 0.5 g/kg lycopene. Bars represents the mean ± SD (n = 10). Values with the same superscript letter are not significantly different at α = 0.05 by Duncan's multiple range test. Test for normal diet (NC, NL) vs high fat diet (HF, HFL): P< 0.0001. Test for lycopene diet (NL, HFL) vs non lycopene diet (NC, HF): P< 0.0001. Test p for interaction of fat and lycopene < 0.0001

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