Betaine attenuates fatty changes via antioxidant responses against oxytetracycline-induced fatty liver in rats.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant properties of betaine against oxytetracycline-induced fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND

During the past decades, fatty liver has been considered a public health concern, with prevalence between 10-24% in the world. Betaine has been shown to have some antioxidant properties in our previous studies.

METHODS

For this purpose, 32 male Wistar rats, were divided into four groups: control, betaine (Bet., betaine 10 mg/kg daily for 15 days, orally), fatty liver (Fat., induction of fatty liver with oxytetracycline 120 mg/kg during three consecutive days, ip), and fatty liver + betaine group (Fat. + Bet.). On the 19th day, after complete anesthesia, blood samples were taken from the heart, and the liver was sampled for biochemical and histopathology evaluations.

RESULTS

Betaine significantly increased glutathione peroxidase activity (Gpx) in the Bet. and Fat. + Bet. Groups compared to the Fat group (P <0.05). In this regard, glutathione (GSH) content and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) increased significantly in the betaine-treated rats and Fat. + Bet. group compared to the Fat. Group (P <0.05). Regarding lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde concentration significantly decreased in Bet. and Fat. + Bet. Groups, when compared to fat. Group (P <0.05). Betaine was able to reduce tissue necrosis and decrease the number of Kupffer cells, restoring the standard color of the cytoplasm of hepatocytes.

CONCLUSION

The antioxidant properties of betaine are able to prevent fatty liver and oxidative stress in the oxytetracycline-induced fatty liver of rats. The antioxidant properties of betaine appear to prevent fatty liver and oxidative stress in rats with oxytetracycline-induced fatty liver.