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Effect of Blueberry Extract on Liver in Aged Rats
Tarfa Albrahim1, Mona Alonazi2
1Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Nutrition, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
|July 28, 2022
Summary
Blueberry extract improved liver health in aged rats by reducing metabolic disturbances, oxidative stress, and inflammation. This suggests blueberries may help manage age-related liver dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Nutritional Science
- Focuses on the biological processes of aging and the impact of dietary interventions.
Background:
- Aging leads to physiological decline, increasing susceptibility to chronic diseases and organ failure.
- Blueberries are rich in bioactive compounds with known health benefits, particularly for metabolic factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protective effects of blueberry extract on the liver of aged rats.
- To assess blueberry's impact on metabolic disturbances, oxidative stress, and inflammation in aging livers.
Main Methods:
- Aged rats were administered blueberry extract (200 mg/kg) orally for four weeks.
- Key metabolic parameters, liver function markers, oxidative stress indicators, inflammatory mediators, and fibrotic markers were monitored.
Main Results:
- Aging increased body and liver weight, disrupted metabolic parameters (insulin, triglycerides, cholesterol), and decreased vitamin D.
- Aging elevated lipid peroxidation and inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, NF-κB) and fibrotic markers (TGF-β1) while decreasing antioxidant enzyme activity and glutathione.
- Blueberry extract administration effectively reversed these age-related detrimental changes.
Conclusions:
- Blueberry extract demonstrates significant ameliorative effects against age-related liver dysfunction in rats.
- Blueberries show potential as a therapeutic strategy for managing age-related liver diseases.
