Schizandrin A can improve diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Researchers from Pukyong National University and Kyungpook National University in South Korea investigated the effects of schizandrin (SCH) A supplementation on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Their findings appeared in the journal Nutrition Research.

• SCH A is a lignan found in the fruits of plants from the Schisandra genus.
• The researchers hypothesized that SCH A would exert protective effects against a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet-induced NAFLD by regulating lipid metabolism and oxidative stress.
• To test this hypothesis, they studied male C57BL/6J mice fed a HFHC diet with or without SCH A for 15 weeks.
• They noted no significant differences in food intake, body weight, fat mass and plasma total cholesterol level between the two groups.
• The researchers found that SCH A supplementation significantly decreased the following:
  • Plasma free fatty acid levels
  • Triglyceride levels
  • Hepatic free fatty acid content
  • Hepatic triglyceride content
  • Hepatic cholesterol content
  • Hepatic lipid droplet accumulation
  • Activity of hepatic enzymes involved in fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis
  • Hepatic lipid peroxidation
• On the other hand, SCH A significantly increased the following:
  • Plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels
  • Hepatic B-oxidation- and fatty acid oxidation-related gene expression
  • Fecal excretion of free fatty acid and triglycerides
  • Expression of genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis in the liver
  • Activity of hepatic antioxidant enzymes activity

Based on these results, the researchers concluded that SCH A alleviates HFHC diet-induced NAFLD by regulating hepatic lipid metabolism, oxidative stress and fecal lipid excretion.

Journal Reference:

Jeong MJ, Kim SR, Jung UJ. SCHIZANDRIN A SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVES NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN MICE FED A HIGH-FAT AND HIGH-CHOLESTEROL DIET. Nutrition Research. April 2019;64:64–71. DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2019.01.001