α-Lipoic acid promotes preneoplastic growth in rat liver

α-lipoic acid (α-LA) is a thiol containing antioxidant widely used in a number of conditions related to liver diseases. However, little is known about its effect on the hepatocarcinogenic process. Herein, we investigated the effect of α-LA on the development of rat preneoplastic enzyme-altered foci generated by a model of hepatocarcinogenesis consisting of initiation with a single dose of diethylnitrosamine (DENA) and promotion by feeding a choline-methionine deficient (CMD) diet. The results showed that α-LA administered in drinking water at concentration of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2% for 6 weeks significantly increase…