γ-Tocopherol attenuates liver injury in diabetic (db/db) mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (260.7)

Oxidative stress and inflammation during diabetes contribute to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We hypothesized that antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of γ-tocopherol (γ-T) would protect against liver injury associated with NAFLD. Diabetic (db/db) mice were fed a diet containing γ-T at 0 or 500 mg/kg and wild-type mice (WT) were fed no γ-T for 8 wk prior to examining parameters of NAFLD, oxidative damage, and inflammation. Db/db mice fed γ-T had higher hepatic γ-T (7.2±0.9 vs 2.8±0.3 pmol/mg) and γ-carboxyethyl-hydroxychroman (313±54 vs 15±0 pmol/mg) relative to db/db controls. Db/db mice had greater liver and adipose mass, serum lipids, and glucose relative to WT; these were unaffected by γ-T. Histological scoring indicated that γ-T did not affect hepatic steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning, or inflammatory infiltration observed in db/db mice. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were higher in db/db mice compared to WT, but were normalized in db/db mic...