Calcium and vitamin D3 combinations improve fatty liver disease through AMPK‑independent mechanisms

Purpose Some research fndings suggest that calcium plus
vitamin D (VitD) might have a preventive effect on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease development. Moreover, contradictory evidence also exists regarding calcium and VitD
defcient diets. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of
four different dietary calcium and VitD3 (cholecalciferol) levels on the development of high-fat, high-fructose
(HFHFr) diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation.
Methods Thirty male Wistar rats were fed with normal or HFHFr diet containing low calcium (0.2%) and
VitD
3 (250 IU/kg) (LCD), normal calcium (0.5%) and
VtD
3 (1000 IU/kg) (CN), high calcium (1.2%) and VitD3
(4000 IU/kg) (HCD) or very high amount of calcium
(2.4%) and VitD3 (10,000 IU/kg) (VHCD). After 60 days,
anthropometric, metabolic and hepatic parameters were
evaluated. The effect of the experimental diets on liver
AMPK phosphorylation was also investigated.
Results Rats fed on high calcium plus VitD3 diets, especially VHCD, demonstrated lower adiposity, serum liver
enzymes, hepatic lipid accumulation and steatosis. The
LCD diet also decreased hepatic lipid content and fatty