OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of chronic consumption of di- and triheptanoin on hepatic steatosis (HS) in rats. METHODOLOGY: Wistar rats were submitted to a diet AIN-93 with 0, 30 or 50% of its oil substituted with an oil rich in di- and triheptanoin, groups TAGC(7)0, TAGC(7)30 and TAGC(7)50 respectively, for nine months. The control group received Labina(R). Liver histology, hepatic lesion and function proofs, glycemia and lipid profile, were performed. Variance analyses, F-test, Dunnet s test and uni- and multivariate regression analyses were performed (p<0.05). RESULTS: TAGC(7)0, TAGC(7)30 and TAGC(7)50 developed HS; 80% of severe cases in TAGC(7)0, as against 40% in TAGC(7)50. The absolute (ALW) and relative (RLW) liver weights were higher in TAGC(7)0 and TAGC(7)30, and glycemia was greater in TAGC(7)30 and TAGC(7)50, than in the Control. Total cholesterol, LDL-c, LDL-c/HDL-c and total proteins were higher in the Control. The experimental oil reduced RLW and showed a tendency in the reduction of body weight, ALW, percentage of hepatic lipids and the severity of HS. The explanatory variables in relation to HS were final weight, glycemia, albumin, HDL-c, LDL-c, LDL-c/HDL-c, VLDL-c and alkaline phosphatase. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that di- and triheptanoin have a hepatoprotector effect against HS, in rats, in a dose-dependent manner.

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