# Biomarkers Characterizing the Onset of Dietary-Induced Hepatocellular Injury and Visceral Obesity in a Rat Experimental Model: Possible Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Steviol Glycosides

## TL;DR

This study examines how different high-calorie diets affect liver health and obesity in rats, and whether steviol glycosides can reduce inflammation.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific biomarkers of liver injury and visceral obesity in a rat model and explores the anti-inflammatory potential of steviol glycosides.

## Key findings

- High-calorie diets induce hepatocellular injury and visceral obesity within five weeks in rats.
- Steviol glycosides may reduce serum nitric oxide levels, suggesting anti-inflammatory effects.
- Supplemented diets showed mixed results on lipid profiles and liver enzyme levels.

## Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study is to compare the potential of a high-fat diet, a high-carbohydrate diet, and a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet to induce liver injury and visceral obesity within a period of five weeks, identify the pattern and degree of hepatic changes at the tissue level, identify the earliest metabolic markers of specific liver changes induced by each type of diet, and to test the possible beneficial effects of steviol glycosides in a rat experimental model. Methods: Wistar rats (n = 56) were divided into seven groups as follows: group BD (before diet), group SD (standard diet), group HFD (high-fat diet), group HCHD (high-carbohydrate diet), group HFHCHD (high-fat high-carbohydrate diet), group SDS (standard diet supplemented with Stevia extract), and group HFDS (high-fat diet supplemented with Stevia extract). Results: Total cholesterol concentrations (2.02 ± 0.22 mmol/L) increased in the HFD group (2.56 ± 0.82 mmol/L) and in the HFDS group (2.89 ± 0.48 mmol/L). The VLDL values before diets were 0.27 ± 0.11 mmol/L and increased most significantly in the HFHCHD group—1.14 ± 0.62 mmol/L. The baseline ALT values (88.4 ± 10.6 U/L) increased in the HFD group (128.13 ± 19.5 U/L) and the HFDS group (127.00 ± 17.74 U/L). Similar increases were registered in the AST/ALT ratio and ALP. Total bilirubin (7.10 ± 1.39 μmol/L) increased in HFD group (27.86 ± 17.01 μmol/L). Serum NO had the lowest values in groups fed diets supplemented with steviol glycosides. All high-calorie diets induced hepatocellular injury. The mass of the perirenal fat depot and cross-sectional area of adipocytes were highest in HFD, HFHCHD, and HFDS groups. Conclusion: High-calorie diets have the potential to induce visceral obesity and hepatocellular injury within a very short period of time, which produces characteristic histological changes and specific biochemical profile. Steviol glycosides may alleviate some aspects of the inflammatory response, but findings about lipid profile parameters and liver enzymes are controversial.