Protective Effects of Omega Supplement on Induced Hepatic Mal-Function by Thioacetamide in Male Rats

Background: Exposure to thioacetamide causes hepatotoxicity and hepatocellular carcinoma in human, while fish oil omega-3 supplement has anti-inflammatory effects. Objectives: In this study, the protective effect of fish oil omega-3 supplement against induced hepatic mal-function by thioacetamide in rat is investigated. Methods: In this experimental study, 42 male rats were divided into 6 groups of seven. The control group, the sham 1 group receiving 0.4 mL/kg olive oil as the solvent of fish oil omega-3 supplement, the sham 2 group inter peritonealy receiving a dose of 150 mg/kg thioacetamide at the end of the experiment, the experimental groups 1, 2 and 3 orally receiving a daily dose of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg fish oil omega-3 supplements respectively for 3 month followed by an inter peritoneal dose of 150 mg/kg thioacetamide at the end of the experiment. The serum levels of SGOT, SGPT, ALP, GGT, LDH, albumin, bilirubin and total protein were measured. Following hematoxylin-eosin staining, liver tissue samples were pathologically studied. The data were analyzed by SPSS-18 program and using one way ANOVA and Tukey as post hoc test. Results: The mean concentration of SGPT and bilirubin showed a significant decrease in the experimental group 1 compared to the group receiving thioacetamide. Similarly, the mean level of Albumin showed a significant reduction in experimental groups 1, 2 and 3 receiving thioacetamide. Also, the mean concentration of GGT in the experimental groups 1 and 2 compared to the group receiving thioacetamide decreased significantly; whereas, the mean levels of LDH, ALP, SGOT and total protein showed no significant changes in the experimental groups 1, 2, and 3. Finally, the tissue changes in all three experimental groups improved compared to the group receiving thioacetamide, and these effects were dose-dependent (P 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that fish oil omega-3 supplement has a protective effect on induced hepatic malfunction by thioacetamide in rat.