HEPATIC INJURY ON A NUTRITIONAL BASIS IN RATS.

Area of Science:

• Nutritional biochemistry
• Hepatology
• Animal models in research

Background:

• The vitamin B complex is essential for numerous metabolic processes.
• Deficiencies in specific B vitamins can lead to various health issues.
• The liver is a primary organ affected by nutritional imbalances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of vitamin B complex deficiency on rat liver.
• To identify specific pathological changes in the liver due to nutritional deficits.
• To determine the protective role of yeast or yeast extract against induced liver injury.

Main Methods:

• Forty-eight rats were used, divided into groups with varying vitamin B complex supplementation.
• A basal diet deficient in the vitamin B complex was administered.
• Supplementation included vitamin B1, riboflavin, and vitamin B6, with some groups receiving yeast or yeast extract.
• Liver tissues were examined for pathological changes.

Main Results:

• Rats on deficient diets exhibited significant liver pathology, including parenchymatous and fatty degeneration.
• Necrosis, hyperemia, hemorrhage, and fibrosis were observed in the livers of deficient rats.
• Supplementation with yeast or Peters' eluate (yeast extract) consistently prevented these hepatic injuries.

Conclusions:

• Liver changes observed in rats are of nutritional origin.
• The findings suggest a correlation between these liver pathologies and deficiency in a component of the vitamin B2 complex.
• Yeast and yeast extracts possess protective properties against nutritional liver damage.