A Lard and Soybean Oil Mixture Alleviates Low-Fat-High-Carbohydrate Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice

Dietary habit is highly related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Low-fat-high-carbohydrate (LFHC) diets could induce lean NAFLD in Asians. Previously, we found that a lard and soybean oil mixture reduced fat accumulation with a medium-fat diet; therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effect of a lard and soybean oil mixture (LFHC diet) on NAFLD and its underlying mechanisms. Mice in groups were fed with lard, soybean oil, or a lard and soybean oil mixture-an LFHC diet-separately. Our results showed that mixed oil significantly inhibited serum triglyceride, liver triglyceride, serum free fatty acids (FFAs), and liver FFAs compared with soybean oil or lard, and we found fewer inflammatory cells in mice fed with mixed oil. RNA-seq results indicate that mixed oil reduced FFAs transportation into the liver via decreasing liver fatty acid-binding protein 2 expression, inhibited oxidative phosphorylation via tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 6 downregulation, and alleviated inflammation via downregulating inflammatory cytokine. The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry results showed that the mixed oil promoted bile acid conjugated with taurine and glycine, thus activating G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 for improved lipids metabolism. In conclusion, the lard and soybean oil mixture alleviated NAFLD.

Automated summary

This study found that a mixture of lard and soybean oil can reduce the occurrence of NAFLD and improve related indicators. The mixed oil acts through mechanisms such as reducing fatty acid transportation, inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation, and alleviating inflammation.