Triglicerídeo de cadeia média reforça o dano hepático causado pela ingestão de frutose em camundongos

Abstract

High fructose corn syrup is used as food by the food industry due to its high sweetness and low cost. Studies indicate that the inadequate use of fructose is related to adverse metabolism, especially in hepatic metabolism, among others. The medium chain triglyceride (MCT) is a lipid with a potent energetic being rapidly oxidized in the liver. However, the literature is controversial regarding the effect of MCT on hepatic metabolism. As some studies have demonstrated its protective effect, the aim of the study was to investigate the effects of MCT oil on the high fructose diet-provoked hepatic abnormalities in mice. We used 3-mo-old C57bl/6 male mice divided into four groups for 12 weeks: control (C), control with MCT (C-MCT), fructose (F), and fructose with MCT (F-MCT). We investigated food and water intake, body mass, blood pressure, glucose tolerance, plasma and liver biochemistry, hepatic protein and gene expression. There were no changes in body mass, food intake and glucose tolerance among the groups. The F group presented increased water intake and blood pressure associated with hepatic steatosis and elevated de novo lipogenesis, beta-oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis and inflammation in the liver. Surprisingly, the C group also showed hepatic steatosis and inflammation in the liver, and the F group had exacerbations of fructose-induced abnormalities, showing marked hepatic steatosis, de novo lipogenesis and hepatic inflammation. The MCT oil groups also presented increased beta-oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis. In conclusion, MCT oil showed detrimental hepatic effects and should be used with caution with or without fructose overload, especially in the presence of hepatic alterations.