Moderate alcohol consumption aggravates high-fat diet induced steatohepatitis in rats

Aims: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is developed in the absence of chronic alcohol consumption. However, it remains unknown whether moderate alcohol consumption aggravates hepatic inflammation under a pre-existing NASH conditions. Methods: In the present studies, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed ad libitum with Lieber-DeCarli high-fat diet (71% energy from fat) for 6 weeks to induce NASH. Afterwards the animals were continuously fed with either high-fat diet (HFD, 55% total energy from fat) or high fat diet plus alcohol (HFA, 55% energy from fat and 16% energy from alcohol) for additional 4 weeks. Steatosis he…