STEATOSIS AND COLLAGEN CONTENT IN EXPERIMENTAL LIVER-CIRRHOSIS ARE AFFECTED BY DIETARY MONOUNSATURATED AND POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS

Background and Methods: We used thioacetamide administered orally to i nduce cirrhosis in rats, and after these had recovered for 1 and 2 wee ks we examined the effects of dietary supplementation with monounsatur ated and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, or with a combination of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, on the extent of steatosis and c ollagen content in the liver. Results: Nodular cirrhosis, increased co llagen content, and lipid accumulation were established after 4 months of treatment with thioacetamide. When the animals were fed a diet ric h in oleic acid for 2 weeks, the steatosis and fibrosis decreased. Sup plementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fairy acids favored reductions i n collagen content but did not reduce the fat accumulation. With a die t supplemented with a mixture of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids we found no r eduction in either lipid accumulation or collagen content. Conclusions : Fibrosis and steatosis may be influenced by dietary fat, and monouns aturated far appears to influence favorably the histologic recovery of the damaged liver.