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Vitamin K2 protects mice against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease induced by high-fat diet
Peizuo Zhao1, Weidong Yang1, Huiyu Xiao1
1Department of Physiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases worldwide and there is a huge unmet need to find safer and more effective drugs. Vitamin K has been found to regulate lipid metabolism in the liver. However, the effects of vitamin K2 on NAFLD is unclear. This study aims to evaluate the preventive and therapeutic effects of vitamin K2 in the process of fatty liver formation and to explore molecular mechanisms the associated with lipid metabolism. A non-alcoholic fatty liver model was established by high-fat diet administration for three months. Vitamin K2 significantly reduced the body weight, abdominal circumference and body fat percentage of NAFLD mice. Vitamin K2 also showed histological benefits in reducing hepatic steatosis. NAFLD mice induced by high-fat diet showed increased HMGR while vitamin K2 intervention could reverse the pathological lterations. Adiponectin (APN) is an endogenous bioactive polypeptide or protein secreted by adipocytes. We detected APN, SOD, AlaDH and other indicators that may affect the state of high-fat diet mice, but the experimental results showed that the above indicators did not change significantly. It is worth noting that the effect of vitamin K2 supplementation on the lipid-lowering effect of uc OC in vivo needs to be further explored. This study first reported the protective effect of vitamin K2 on high-fat diet-induced NAFLD in mice. The protective effect of vitamin K2 may be related to the improvement of lipid metabolism disorder in NAFLD.
Insights
Vitamin K2 supplementation effectively reduced body weight and improved liver health in mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study highlights vitamin K2
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Hepatology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent global health concern with limited therapeutic options.
- Vitamin K, known for its role in lipid metabolism, has potential but unconfirmed effects on NAFLD.
- Existing research lacks clarity on vitamin K2's specific impact on NAFLD pathogenesis and lipid regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of vitamin K2 on high-fat diet-induced NAFLD in a mouse model.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying vitamin K2's influence on hepatic lipid metabolism.
- To assess vitamin K2's impact on key biomarkers associated with NAFLD progression.
Main Methods:
- Establishment of a non-alcoholic fatty liver model in mice using a three-month high-fat diet.
- Administration of vitamin K2 to assess its effects on body weight, abdominal circumference, and body fat percentage.
- Histological examination of liver tissues to evaluate hepatic steatosis and pathological alterations.
- Measurement of key indicators including HMGR, adiponectin (APN), SOD, and AlaDH.
Main Results:
- Vitamin K2 significantly reduced body weight, abdominal circumference, and body fat percentage in NAFLD mice.
- Histological analysis revealed that vitamin K2 mitigated hepatic steatosis.
- Vitamin K2 intervention reversed the high expression of HMGR observed in NAFLD mice.
- No significant changes were observed in APN, SOD, or AlaDH levels, suggesting specific lipid metabolism pathways are primarily affected.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first evidence of vitamin K2's protective effects against high-fat diet-induced NAFLD in mice.
- The beneficial effects of vitamin K2 in NAFLD are likely mediated through the improvement of lipid metabolism disorders.
- Further research is warranted to explore the lipid-lowering mechanisms of vitamin K2, particularly concerning undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC).
