Abstract:

Purpose: To observe the effects of dietary 5’-nucleotides on the gut microbiota of rats with alcoholic liver injury.
Methods: Male Wistar rats were given either alcohol or glucose by gavage for 7 weeks. A subgroup of rats was also fed
with diets including 0.04% or 0.16% 5’-nucleotides. Body weights, liver to body weight ratio, and the levels of serum
alcohol concentration, transaminase activities, triglycerides and total proteins were tested. Stool cultures were performed
at the 7th week, and the colony-forming units per gram stool were determined. Results: The alanine aminotransferase,
triglycerides, lactate dehydrogenase and total bilirubin were significantly elevated, and total proteins, albumin and
globulin were significantly decreased in alcoholic live injury group when compared to vehicle or glucose groups. Dietary
5’-nucleotides could increase body weights and the ratio of liver weight to body weight, and decrease the levels of serum
ethanol, alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, lactate dehydrogenase and total bilirubin in rats with alcoholic live injury.
Total protein, albumin and globulin were significantly increased in nucleotide groups when compared to alcoholic live injury
group. Nucleotide groups had significantly increased number of benefical lactobacilli, and reduced number of pathogenic
Escherichia coli and enterococci. Conclusion: Dietary 5’-nucleotides could improve ethanol-induced liver injury, and the
mechanism may be associated with regulation of the gut microbiota.

Key words: 5’-nucleotides, alcoholic liver injury, gut microbiota, alanine aminotransferase, alcoholic steatohepatitis