Silver nanoparticles modulate high fat high carbohydrate diet induced metabolic changes in rats via reducing lipid peroxidation, PDGF-β and insulin resistance

Objective(s): Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is strongly linked with insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes through various metabolic changes. The current study was designed to investigate the modulatory effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on metabolic and inflammatory changes activated during NAFLD. Materials and Methods: Three doses of AgNPs (100, 150, and 200 μg/kg/day for 4 weeks) were tested in a high-fat high carbohydrate diet (HFHCD) induced NAFLD model in rats. Results: Sinificant (P 0.05) improvement in dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and insulin levels by AgNPs was observed and more notably in the group that received 200 μg/kg/day AgNPs. Acute phase inflammatory protein C-reactive protein and monocytes chemoattractant protein-1 were significantly (P 0.05) lowered by AgNPs. Inline, lipid peroxidation and PDGF-β levels were significantly (P 0.05) reduced in groups that received different doses of AgNPs. Furthermore, AgNPs especially in the large dose (200 μg/kg/day) significantly decreased (P 0.05) the measured level of the inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) compared with the HFHCD group level. Conclusion: Collectively, results propose the ability of AgNPs to modulate metabolic changes accompanying NAFLD through reducing lipid peroxidation and targeting inflammatory cytokines mediating insulin resistance.