Effects of Phytosterol Ester on the Fatty Acid Profiles in Rats with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Both serum and hepatic fatty acid (FA) compositions differ among nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and healthy subjects. The severity of the above liver disease is closely associated with the concentration and composition of FAs. Our previous study found that phytosterol ester (PSE) could alleviate hepatic steatosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease rats. The aims of this work were to explore the effects of PSE (0.05/100 g center dot body weight) on FA profiles and the mRNA levels of FA metabolism-related genes. Compared with a high-fat diet alone group, PSE treatment significantly decreased hepatic saturated fatty acid levels (P < .05) and increased monounsaturated fatty acid (especially C16:1 n-7) levels in the liver, serum, and adipose tissue and polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in the serum and liver (P < .05) after 12 weeks of intervention. In particular, PSE treatment increased the level of C22:5 n-3, an FA that was negatively correlated with the degree of hepatic steatosis in the serum, liver, and adipose tissue. The increases in some unsaturated fatty acids are probably related to the upregulation of stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1 and fatty acid desaturase-1.