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Fish Omega-3 Fatty Acids Induce Liver Fibrosis in the Treatment of Bile Duct-Ligated Rats

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Abstract

Background

Biliary atresia-induced cholestasis increases hepatic oxidative stress with eventual progression to cirrhosis and liver failure. Omega-3 fatty acids play a possible role in the regulation of oxidative stress and the improvement of cholestasis.

Aim

The goal of the present study is to investigate the role of dietary supplementation of fish omega-3 fatty acids in the reduction of hepatocellular damage by using a rat common bile duct ligation model.

Methods

Sprague–Dawley rats received either sham or bile duct ligation (BDL) and were divided into four study groups: Sham+saline (Sham+sal) group, Sham+Fish oil (Sham+FO) group, BDL+saline (BDL+sal) group, and BDL+Fish oil (BDL+FO) group. Rats from each group were assigned to receive, besides regular chow, once daily with either normal saline or fish omega-3 fatty acids (0.4 % of its own body weight) via gavage for 10 days. Samples of blood, liver tissue homogenates, and histological studies from different groups were analyzed at the end of the study.

Results

Rats from BDL+FO had significantly impaired liver function as compared to other study groups (p < 0.05 is of significant difference). Ishak scores and the TGF-b1 contents were significantly higher in rats that received BDL+FO, p < 0.05. Contrary to TGF-b1 liver content, rats from the BDL+FO group had the lowest glutathione levels among the study groups, p < 0.05.

Conclusions

Fish omega-3 fatty acids supplementation, albeit increased tissue content of DHA, tended to increase liver fibrosis in BDL rats, decrease liver glutathione level, and compromise hepatic function; fish oil supplementation to subjects with biliary atresia might be of potential hazard and should be used with caution.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a research grant (CMRP 890211) from the Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital to Dr. Chih-Cheng Chen. The authors also wish to thank Dr. Arthur Chen for his grammatical input and editing work on this paper.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatrics Department, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang-Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta-Pei Road, Niao Song, Kaohsiung, 833, Taiwan

    Chih-Cheng Chen, Chun-Yi Ho, You-Lin Tain & Li-Tung Huang

  2. Veterinarian Department, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan

    Hsio-Chi Chaung

  3. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan

    Chih-Sung Hsieh

  4. Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang-Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Fang-Ying Kuo

  5. Institute of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung, Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Chun-Yu Yang

Authors
  1. Chih-Cheng Chen
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  2. Chun-Yi Ho
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  3. Hsio-Chi Chaung
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  4. You-Lin Tain
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  5. Chih-Sung Hsieh
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  7. Chun-Yu Yang
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  8. Li-Tung Huang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li-Tung Huang.

Additional information

Chih-Cheng Chen and Chun-Yi Ho contributed equally to this work.

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Chen, CC., Ho, CY., Chaung, HC. et al. Fish Omega-3 Fatty Acids Induce Liver Fibrosis in the Treatment of Bile Duct-Ligated Rats. Dig Dis Sci 58, 440–447 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-012-2489-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-012-2489-5

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