Bergamot polyphenols hold the potential to aid the liver in managing excess fat and compromised metabolism, according to findings from researchers at the University of Magna Graecia. In a study involving mice afflicted with Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), induced by a diet rich in high-calorie snacks, supplementing with bergamot extract led to marked reductions: liver fat infiltration, as well as circulating triglyceride and glucose levels were notably lowered. This research has been published in the journal Nutrients.
The scientists subjected the mice to a 15-week high-calorie “human-like” diet, designed to mirror excessive intake of sugary and fatty foods. A subset of these animals additionally received the polyphenolic fraction of bergamot (BPF) dissolved in their drinking water. The control group, without the supplement, developed severe fatty liver disease: organ mass and fat content more than doubled, accompanied by rising levels of triglycerides, glucose, and cholesterol. However, in the BPF-treated group, the liver became lighter, the overall fat load and the size of lipid droplets within the cells decreased significantly, while blood levels of triglycerides and glucose fell.
Tissue analysis revealed that the bergamot polyphenols not only inhibit fat production within the liver but also boost autophagy—a cellular “housekeeping” process responsible for recycling superfluous lipids and damaged cellular components. Concurrently, the production of short-chain fatty acids, specifically butyrate, which are regarded as crucial protective metabolites against metabolic disturbances, was restored in the mice’s intestines.
The authors emphasize that while these outcomes suggest a promising avenue for preventing MASLD through nutritional supplements, the data currently exists only from one strain of mice. Further clinical trials are necessary before these findings can translate into practical advice for human application.
About the Author
