Cerium oxide nanoparticles modulate liver X receptor and short heterodimer partner, and attenuate liver steatosis and steatohepatitis in a rat model of postmenopausal obesity.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in postmenopausal obesity and the underlying mechanisms.64 adult female rats were allocated into Sham, ovariectomized (OVX), high-fat high-fructose dietfed- OVX (HFHF-OVX), and HFHF-OVX-CeO2-NPs-treated (CeO2-HFHF-OVX) groups. OVX and HFHF-OVX rats presented a significant increase in overall and visceral obesity, dyslipidemia, liver enzymes, serum malondialdehyde, liver TNF-α, TGF-ß1 and free fatty acids, liver X receptor (LXR) expression associated with decreased serum total antioxidant capacity and liver short heterodimer partner (SHP) expression vs. Sham group. Also, histomorphometric studies displayed a significant higher scores of liver steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. All these parameters were significantly improved by CeO2-NPs treatment in CeO2-HFHF-OVX vs. HFHF-OVX rats. Thus, CeO2-NPs treatment ameliorates liver steatosis, steatohepatitis, and fibrosis in postmenopausal obese rats via alleviation of obesity, dyslipidemia, modulating liver genes involved in lipid metabolism (LXR and SHP), decreasing liver lipogenesis besides its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Favorable impact of Nigella sativa seeds on lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The atherogenic pattern of dyslipidemia associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) has been increasingly discussed. We have recently reported a hypoglycemic effect of Nigella sativa (NS) seeds in patients with type 2 DM. In this study we sought to assess the impact of NS seeds on lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A total of 94 patients with type 2 DM were recruited and divided into 3 dose groups. Capsules containing NS were administered orally in a dose of 1, 2, and 3 g/day for 12 weeks. All patients were subjected to measurement of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) before treatment and 4, 8, and 12 weeks thereafter. RESULTS: Patients receiving 1 g/day NS seeds for 12 weeks (group 1) showed nonsignificant changes in all the parameters except for a significant increase in HDL-c after 4 weeks of treatment. However, patients ingested 2 g/day NS displayed a significant decline in TC, TG, and LDL-c, and a significant elevation in HDL-c/LDL-c, compared with their baseline data and to group 1 patients. Increasing NS dose to 3 g/day failed to show any increase in the hypolipdemic effect produced by the 2 g/day dose. CONCLUSION: NS supplementation at a dose of 2 g/day for 12 weeks may improve the dyslipidemia associated with type 2 diabetic patients. Therefore, NS is a potential protective natural agent against atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications in these patients.