Ameliorative role of Vitamin D on prenatal and postnatal exposure of monosodium glutamate induced steatohepatitis in rat pups

Background: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a widely used flavor enhancer has been linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome, including progressive liver disease. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the most common hepatic disorder with an etiology related to changes in diet and lifestyle. Prenatal and postnatal exposure to MSG been shown to affect developing tissues in growing animals. Increased Risk of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis has been associated with Vitamin D deficiency. The present study was aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of vitamin D on MSG induced animal models of steatohepatitis in neonatal rats. Materials and Methods: Eighteen nulliparous female wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=6/group). Group-I received a daily oral dose of 5g/kg body weight of MSG. Group-II received the same dose of MSG along with calcitriol (0.2μg/kg BW). Group-III was treated with saline served as the control. The rats could mate, and treatment was given for the entire period of gestation and thirty days thereafter, during lactation. The histological changes in the liver was observed. Results: Pan-lobular microvesicular steatosis, lobular inflammation and ballooning of hepatocytes was observed in the MSG-treated group. These histotoxic changes were ameliorated in the vitamin D treated group. Conclusion: Vitamin D might be beneficial in the protection of the pre-and postnatal exposed MSG induced steatohepatitis. Further, induction of steatohepatitis in a shorter period could also make it an ideal study model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.