Effect of lipoic acid on redox regulation,digestive and absorptive function in intestine of mice fed high fat diet

AIM:To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of lipoic acid (LA) on redox regulation and digestive function in intestine of C57BL/6 mice fed high fat diet (HFD).METHODS:C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n=8).The control group consumed an ordinary diet.The other two experimental groups were fed with a high fat diet, high fat plus 0.1% LA.After 6 weeks, the activities of digestive enzymes were examined.In order to evaluate the antioxidant status of the mice, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in intestinal homogenate were measured.To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of LA, the gene expression profiles in intestine were examined using the GeneChip microarray system.RESULTS:A depressed antioxidant defense system, accompanied by digestive and absorptive function impairment, was observed in HFD-fed mice.These changes were partially restored in the LA-treated group.DNA microarray analysis of intestine showed that LA ingestion up-regulated the expression of genes related to free-radical scavenger enzymes, digestive enzymes and transporters.CONCLUSION:Treatment with LA improves redox homeostasis and the function of intestine in mice fed HFD.The mechanism may involve preventing oxidative stress by scavenging ROS directly and increasing those of free-radical scavenger enzymes gene expression indirectly.