Fructose-induced inflammation, insulin resistance and oxidative stress: A liver pathological triad effectively disrupted by lipoic acid

Fructose administration induces hepatic oxidative stress, insulin resistance, inflammatory and metabolic changes. We tested their potential pathogenic relationship and whether these alterations can be prevented by R/S-α-lipoic acid. Wistar rats received during 21days a commercial diet or the same diet supplemented with 10% fructose in drinking water without/with R/S-α-lipoic acid injection. After this period, we measured a) serum glucose, triglyceride, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), insulin glucose ratio (IGR) and Matsuda indexes and b) liver oxidative stress, inflammatory markers and insulin signaling pathway components. Fructose fed rats had hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, higher HOMA-IR, IGR and lower Matsuda indices compared to control animals, together with increased oxidative stress markers, TNFα, IL1β and PAI-1 gene expression, and TNFα and COX-2 protein content. Whereas insulin receptor level was higher in fructose fed rats, their tyrosine-residue phosphorylation was lower. IRS1/IRS2 protein levels and IRS1 tyrosine-phosphorylation rate were lower in fructose fed rats. All changes were prevented by R/S-α-lipoic acid co-administration. Fructose-induced hepatic oxidative stress, insulin resistance and inflammation form a triad that constitutes a vicious pathogenic circle. This circle can be effectively disrupted by R/S-α-lipoic acid co-administration, thus suggesting mutual positive interaction among the triad components.