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A nano‐emulsion of lutein is more effective than regular lutein in reducing cholesterol‐induced liver injury in guinea pigs
Author(s) -
Murillo Ana Gabriela,
Norris Gregory H,
DiMarco Diana M,
Hu Siqi,
Luo Yangchao,
Blesso Christofer N,
Fernandez MariaLuz
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.913.2
Subject(s) - lutein , chemistry , triglyceride , cholesterol , medicine , steatosis , hyperlipidemia , liver injury , endocrinology , food science , carotenoid , biochemistry , diabetes mellitus
We developed a nano‐emulsion of lutein disolved in medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil with d‐alpha tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) as the surfactant. The average particle size was 223.6 nm, with a polidispersity index (PDI) of 0.5 and a zeta (ζ) potential of −17 mV. Then the efficacy of this nano emulsion was compared to regular lutein in preventing cholesterol induced liver injury in guinea pigs. Twenty‐four animals fed a hypercholesterolemic diet (0.025% cholesterol) were randomly assigned to either one of three groups: control, lutein (3mg/day of regular lutein) or nano (3mg/day lutein as nano‐emulsion). After 6 weeks the guinea pigs were sacrificed and their tissues were collected for analyses. As we hypothesized there was significantly more lutein in the tissues and plasma of the animals receiving the nano‐emulsion when compared to the other treatments (liver p< 0.001, plasma p< 0.001, adipose (P< 0.001) and eyes (p< 0.001) indicating a greater bioavailability of this carotenoid when a nano‐delivery system is used. In terms of liver health, the nano group showed reduced hepatic steatosis scores (P<0.05) and reduced hepatic total and esterified cholesterol accumulation (P<0.05). Alanine amino transferase (ALT), a marker for liver damage was also reduced in the nano group (P<0.05). Oxidized LDL in plasma, a marker of oxidative stress and atherosclerosis risk, was lower in the nano group (2.8±1.0) when compared to the control group (7.9±2.1) (P<0.05) and hepatic OxLDL was lower in both lutein and nano groups when compared to controls: 9.2 ± 4.3 ng/mL, 12.3 ± 4.3 ng/mL and 21.7 ± 14.4 ng/mL, respectively (P<0.05). Results indicate that giving lutein as a nano‐formulation increases this compound's bioavailability and this higher lutein concentration provides greater protection against cholesterol‐induced hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress than regular lutein.