Fish oil rich in ?-3 fatty acid alleviates long-term high fructose consumption-induced fatty liver and kidney dysfunction in rats

Abstract

Excessive fructose intake leads to fatty liver and kidney dysfunction, with associated inflammation and metabolic disturbances. This study evaluated the effects of fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acid on these conditions in rats fed a high-fructose diet. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: normal diet, high-fructose (HF) diet, and high-fructose diet with 5% fish oil supplementation. The experiment lasted for 21 weeks. Fish oil supplementation significantly reduced blood levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in HF-fed rat. It also improved liver function markers and kidney function indicators. Mechanistically, fish oil suppressed fructokinase expression, activated phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), and decreased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-g expression, reducing triglyceride synthesis-related proteins in the liver. In the kidneys, fish oil supplementation increased p-AMPK and PPARg, while decreasing inflammatory and oxidative stress markers and fibrosis-related protein a-smooth muscle actin. Histological analysis confirmed that fish oil alleviated liver degeneration and kidney fibrosis. These findings suggest that fish oil not only helps regulate blood lipid levels but also alleviates fructose-induced liver and kidney damage, suggesting its potential as a dietary intervention for metabolic disorders caused by excessive fructose consumption.