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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #223180
Title: High Dose Lycopene Supplementation Increases Hepatic CYP2E1 Protein and Inflammation in Alcohol-Fed Rats

Author
item VEERAMACHANENI, SUDIPTA - JM USDA HNRCA @ TUFTS
item AUSMAN, LYNNE - JM USDA HNRCA @ TUFTS
item Choi, Sang-Woon
item Russell, Robert
item Wang, Xiang-Dong

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/12/2008
Publication Date: 7/1/2008
Citation: Veeramachaneni, S., Ausman, L.M., Choi, S., Russell, R., Wang, X. 2008. High Dose Lycopene Supplementation Increases Hepatic CYP2E1 Protein and Inflammation in Alcohol-Fed Rats. Journal of Nutrition. 138(7):1329-1335.

Interpretive Summary: Excessive alcohol intake results in liver inflammation which may be prevented by antioxidant supplementation. The effect of supplementing the antioxidant lycopene has not been investigated in alcohol induced inflammation. Furthermore, it is not known if the effects of lycopene are dependent on the dose in which it is consumed. In this study, we tested the effects of two doses of lycopene (1.1 or 3.3 mg/kg body weight per day) on liver inflammation in rats that were fed with or without alcohol for 11 weeks. We found that rats fed both alcohol and lycopene accumulated higher amounts of lycopene in the liver compared to rats that were fed the same dose of lycopene without alcohol. In addition, rats fed both the higher dose of lycopene and alcohol had higher amount of cytochrome p4502E1 protein and tumor necrosis factor alpha, both of which are elevated with inflammation. Furthermore, these rats also had an increased number of inflammatory cells in the liver. Similar effects were not observed in animals that were fed the high dose of lycopene without alcohol. Our data indicate an interaction between excessive alcohol intake and high dose lycopene consumption and suggest a need for caution among individuals consuming high amounts of both alcohol and lycopene.

Technical Abstract: Recent in vitro evidence suggests that the antioxidant lycopene can prevent alcohol induced oxidative stress and inflammation. However, in vivo knowledge of possible interactions between escalating doses of lycopene and chronic alcohol ingestion are lacking. In the present study, we investigated potential interactions between alcohol ingestion and lycopene supplementation and their effect on hepatic lycopene concentration, cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) induction, and inflammation. Fischer 344 rats (6 groups, n = 10 per group) were fed either a liquid ethanol Lieber-DeCarli diet or a control diet (isocaloric maltodextrin substituted for ethanol) with or without lycopene supplementation at two doses (1.1 or 3.3 mg/kg BW per day) for 11 weeks. Hepatic and plasma concentrations of lycopene isomers were assessed by HPLC analysis. Expressions of hepatic CYP2E1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- alpha) and the incidence of hepatic inflammatory foci were examined. Results show that both plasma and hepatic lycopene concentrations were greater in alcohol-fed rats vs. control rats supplemented with identical doses of lycopene. In contrast, alcohol-fed animals had lower concentrations of lycopene cis isomers in the plasma and the liver, compared with control animals fed the same dose of lycopene. Notably, lycopene supplementation at the higher dose significantly induced hepatic CYP2E1 protein, TNF- alpha mRNA, and the incidence of inflammatory foci in the alcohol-fed rats, but not in the control rats. These data indicate an interaction between chronic alcohol ingestion and lycopene supplementation and suggest a need for caution among individuals consuming high amounts of both alcohol and lycopene.