Fish oil rich in ω-3 fatty acid alleviates long-term high fructose consumption-induced fatty liver and kidney dysfunction in rats

Shing-Hwa Liu, Graduate Institute of Toxicology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
Ruoh-Wenn Hung, Department of Food Science, College of Life Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
Ting-Yu Chang, Graduate Institute of Toxicology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
Meng-Tsan Chiang, Department of Food Science, College of Life Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, TaiwanFollow

Keywords

Fish oil, Fatty liver, High-fructose, Kidney dysfunction, AMPK

Abstract

Excessive fructose intake leads to fatty liver and kidney dysfunction, with associated inflammation and metabolic disturbances. This study evaluated the effects of fish oil rich in ω-3 fatty acid on these conditions in rats fed a high- fructose diet. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: normal diet, high-fructose (HF) diet, and high- fructose diet with 5% fish oil supplementation. The experiment lasted for 21 weeks. Fish oil supplementation significantly reduced blood levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in HF-fed rat. It also improved liver function markers and kidney function indicators. Mechanistically, fish oil suppressed fructokinase expression, activated phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), and decreased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)- γexpression, reducing triglyceride synthesis-related proteins in the liver. In the kidneys, fish oil supplementation increased p-AMPK and PPARγ, while decreasing inflammatory and oxidative stress markers and fibrosis-related protein a-smooth muscle actin. Histological analysis confirmed that fish oil alleviated liver degeneration and kidney fibrosis. These findings suggest that fish oil not only helps regulate blood lipid levels but also alleviates fructose-induced liver and kidney damage, suggesting its potential as a dietary intervention for metabolic disorders caused by excessive fructose consumption.

Abstract Image

Recommended Citation

Liu, Shing-Hwa; Hung, Ruoh-Wenn; Chang, Ting-Yu; and Chiang, Meng-Tsan (2025) "Fish oil rich in ω-3 fatty acid alleviates long-term high fructose consumption-induced fatty liver and kidney dysfunction in rats," Journal of Food and Drug Analysis: Vol. 33 : Iss. 4 , Article 4.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.38212/2224-6614.3573