Obesity, a state caused by an imbalance in energy intake and expenditure, is an established risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a group of diseases in which excess fat accumulates in the liver of people who drink little or no alcohol. The prevalence of NAFLD is increasing. It is estimated to be the most common liver disease in the world, affecting 800 million to 100 million people in the United States alone. It was recently discovered that the obesity rate among American adults is 42%, and the impact on health is profound.
NAFLD is an obesity-related disease that affects approximately 25% of adults worldwide. The FDA has not approved a single drug to treat the disease. So far, only lifestyle and dietary changes have been recommended.
Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) is a small berry with a tangy, sour flavor and rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants have been found to have anti-inflammatory effects, and black currants may be part of recommended dietary changes to prevent obesity or help those suffering from obesity-related diseases. While blackcurrants are used in a variety of uses, including jams, juices, and syrups, and are popular in many parts of the world, it's likely that many Americans are less familiar with this berry.
From 1911 to 1966, the U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibited the commercial cultivation of black currants. Black currants have been found to spread a fungus (Cronartium ribicola). The fungus causes white pine blister rust, a tree-killing disease that affects the country's lumber industry. Even after the federal ban ended, blackcurrant cultivation remained prohibited in many states, including Connecticut until 1983. Research into fungicides and pine varieties that were immune to the disease, in addition to research finding that blackcurrants could be grown safely at a sufficient distance from white pines, all led to most states relaxing the rule in the early 2000s. limit.
The study examined the effects of blackcurrant consumption on macrophage phenotypes and white blood cells that adapt to different tissue environments. M1 macrophages are commonly found in inflamed tissues and their presence exacerbates inflammation. The study compared mice on a lean meat diet and a high-fat/high-sugar diet to mice eating black currants. While mice on the lean diet had no changes in M1 macrophages, mice on the obese diet saw reduced expression of pro-inflammatory genes. The study goes even further to suggest that while blackcurrant may not alter macrophage phenotypes, it may inhibit many obesity-related inflammatory factors beyond macrophages.
Blackcurrants are rich in polyphenols, a type of antioxidant commonly found in plants. prompts more research into other types of polyphenols and understanding their role in NAFLD.
Polyphenols are commonly found in plant-based foods and beverages. Polyphenols have been extensively studied for their role in preventing various diseases, so people are starting to learn more about them to build a concept of how they may provide protection in NAFLD.
The literature summarizes the concept of how polyphenols affect obesity and how they may prevent disease.
One new direction is to study the role of histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4), an enzyme that removes acetyl groups from histones, thereby altering DNA accessibility for gene expression. Obesity causes many changes in gene expression, the process that directs DNA to assemble products (most commonly proteins) in our bodies. This experiment is about epigenetic regulation, the regulation of gene expression while the DNA remains unchanged. If we know how HDAC4 behaves in obesity, then we can learn more about how it contributes to the development of obesity-related diseases.
