Effects of Dietary Apple Polyphenols Supplementation on Hepatic Fat Deposition and Antioxidant Capacity in Finishing Pigs

Abstract

Excessive fat deposition in the liver could lead to fatty liver and an increased risk of many metabolic diseases. Apple polyphenols (APPs), the major antioxidants in apples, possess wide-ranging beneficial biological functions. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of APPs on hepatic fat deposition and antioxidant capacity in finishing pigs, and their mechanisms. Results showed that APPs improved lipid profiles, increased antioxidant enzyme activities and reduced the fat deposition in the liver. In the liver, SOD1, CAT, GPX1, GST, NF-E2-related nuclear factor 2 (Nrf2), hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1b (CPT1b), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) mRNA levels were increased by APPs, while Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) mRNA level, C16:0 and C20:4n-6 proportions and Δ9-18 dehydrogenase activity were decreased. In conclusion, this study indicated that APPs might be an effective dietary supplementation for improving lipid profiles, increasing antioxidant capacities and decreasing fat deposition in the liver.