regression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with zinc and selenium co-supplementation after disease progression in rats

background: studies have shown that zinc and selenium deficiency is common in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (nafld). however, the effects of zinc and selenium co-supplementation before and/or after disease progression on nafld are not clear enough. the aim of this study was to compare the effects of zinc and selenium co-supplementation before and/or after disease progression on nafld prognosis. methods: forty male sprague–dawley rats (197±4 g) were randomly assigned to 4 dietary groups: normal-fat diet (nfd; receiving 9% of calories as fat), high-fat diet (hfd; receiving 82% of calories as fat), supplementation before disease progression (s+hfd), and supplementation after disease progression (hfd+s). the diets were implemented over a 20-week period in all the groups. biochemical and histologic parameters were compared between the 4 groups, and between-group comparisons were also carried out. results: there were significant differences in the average food dietary intake (p<0.001), weight (p<0.001), fasting blood sugar (p=0.005), triglyceride (p<0.001), total cholesterol (p<0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p=0.002), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p=0.001), alanine aminotransferase (p<0.001), and aspartate aminotransferase (p<0.001) between the 4 dietary groups. serum triglyceride and total cholesterol were significantly lower in the hfd+s group than in the s+hfd group (p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). fat accumulation was significantly reduced in the hfd+s group (p<0.001). conclusion: zinc and selenium co-supplementation after disease progression improved biochemical and histologic parameters in an experimental model of nafld.