Abstract
Thirty-two rats were divided into 4 groups and were fed on four kinds of liquid diets for 3 weeks. The first group was fed on a control diet similar to the average Japanese diet. The second group was kept on a similar diet except that sucrose was replaced isocalorically with alcohol up to 36% of toatl calories. Twelve mg of choline chloride per day were given to the first and the second groups. The third group was fed on a low protein choline-deficient diet. The diet of the fourth group was identical with that of the third group except that sucrose was replaced isocalorically by alcohol up to 36% of total calories.
Total hepatic lipids were found to be 53.8mg/g in the first group, 99.2mg/g in the second, 88.9mg/g in the third and 190.3mg/g in the fourth. Hepatic triglycerides were 8.2mg/g in the first group, 38.8mg/g in the second, 30.1mg/g in the third and 102.6mg/g in the fourth. Histological examination also showed the same tendency. Thus, a large amount of alcohol itself produces fatty liver, and associated dietary deficiency further accelerates its development.
