UNSATURATED FAT AND LOW-ENERGY INTAKE INDUCE WHEREAS AN INCREMENT IN ENERGY-INTAKE AMELIORATES FATTY LIVER DURING PROLONGED ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION BY RATS

Two groups of rats were fed liquid diets containing 35% of energy as f at and either 36 or 26% of energy as alcohol to examine the effect of fat and energy intake on alcoholic fatty liver production. After 4 wk, five rats in each group were killed for analysis of liver triglycerid e concentration, and then the alcohol diets fed to remaining rats were switched. All remaining rats were killed for hepatic triglyceride det ermination after another 4 wk. Rats initially fed the 36% alcohol diet or those switched to this diet ingested less energy, exhibited alcoho lemia and slow growth, and developed fatty livers. Rats initially fed the 26% alcohol diet or those switched to this diet ingested significa ntly more energy, high amounts of alcohol and fat, exhibited low alcoh olemia and faster growth than when they were fed the 36% alcohol diet. Fatty liver was absent in rats fed the 26% alcohol diet but was induc ed when they were fed the 36% alcohol diet. Fatty liver in rats initia lly fed the 36% alcohol diet regressed completely when the rats were s witched to the 26% alcohol diet. Additional studies employing 36% alco hol diets containing 35% of energy as fat, derived from either corn oi l or olive: oil, revealed that unsaturated fat and not specifically li noleate plays a role in the induction of fatty liver. Thus, nutritiona l factors regulate the induction or regression of fatty liver and alco holemia in alcoholic rats.