Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) confers an increased risk of cardiovascular\ndiseases. NAFDL is associated with atherogenic dyslipidemia, inflammation and renin-angiotensin\nsystem (RAS) imbalance, which in turn lead to atherosclerotic lesions. In the present study, the impact\nof a natural dietary supplement (NDS) containing Curcuma longa, silymarin, guggul, chlorogenic\nacid and inulin on NAFLD and atherosclerosis was evaluated, and the mechanism of action was\nexamined. C57BL/6 mice were fed an HFD for 16 weeks; half of the mice were simultaneously\ntreated with a daily oral administration (os) of the NDS. NAFLD and atherogenic lesions in aorta\nand carotid artery (histological analysis), hepatic expression of genes involved in the NAFLD (PCR\narray), hepatic angiotensinogen (AGT) and AT1R mRNA [removed]real-time PCR) and plasma\nangiotensin (ANG)-II levels (ELISA) were evaluated. In the NDS group, steatosis, aortic lesions\nor carotid artery thickening was not observed. PCR array showed upregulation of some genes\ninvolved in lipid metabolism and anti-inflammatory activity (Cpt2, Ifng) and downregulation of\nsome genes involved in pro-inflammatory response and in free fatty acid up-take (Fabp5, Socs3).\nHepatic AGT, AT1R mRNA and ANG II plasma levels were significantly lower with respect to the\nuntreated-group. Furthermore, NDS inhibited the dyslipidemia observed in the untreated animals.\nAltogether, these results suggest that NDS prevents NAFLD and atherogenesis by modulating the\nexpression of different genes involved in NAFLD and avoiding RAS imbalance.
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