Protective Role of Black Tea Extract against Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis-Induced Skeletal Dysfunction

Aim . This paper aimed to examine the chemoprotective actions of aqueous black tea extract (BTE) against nonalcoholic steatohepatitis- (NASH-) induced skeletal changes in rats. Material . Wistar rats (body wt. 155–175 g) of both sexes, aged 4–5 months, were randomly assigned to 3 groups; Group A (control), Group B (60% high-fat diet; HFD), and Group C (HFD + 2.5% BTE). Methods . Several urinary (calcium, phosphate, creatinine, and calcium-to-creatinine ratio) serum (alkaline phosphatase and serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase), and molecular markers of bone turnover (receptor activator of NF- κ B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and estrogen) were tested. Also, several bone parameters (bone density, bone tensile strength, bone mineral content, and bone histology) and calcium homeostasis were checked. Results . Results indicated that HFD-induced alterations in urinary, serum, and bone parameters as well as calcium homeostasis, all could be significantly ameliorated by BTE supplementation. Conclusion . Results suggest a potential role of BTE as a protective agent against NASH-induced changes in bone metabolism in rats.