High-Fiber Starch Protects Liver from Damage Through Hydrogen Production
- Authors
- Hiroki Tanabe, Yumi Sasaki, Tatsuro Yamamoto, Shuhachi Kiriyama, Naomichi Nishimura
- Journal
- Bioscience of Microbiota, Food and Health
- Year
- 2012
- DOI
- 10.12938/bmfh.31.103
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Japan
- Health Condition
- Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
- Body System
- Hepatic
TL;DR
A special type of starch, known as high amylose cornstarch, may help reduce liver damage caused by a temporary loss and restoration of blood flow.
Key Finding
High amylose cornstarch supplementation increased intestinal hydrogen production and significantly reduced liver damage markers in rats exposed to ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Summary
Researchers fed rats a diet containing 20% high amylose cornstarch (a type of resistant starch that the body ferments in the colon) for two weeks, then subjected them to a procedure that temporarily cut off blood flow to the liver and then restored it. Rats eating the cornstarch diet produced more hydrogen gas in their intestines and showed less liver damage afterward, measured by lower levels of liver enzymes in their blood.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests that resistant starch may support liver protection through increased intestinal hydrogen production, but human studies are needed to determine if this applies to people. The findings are preliminary and limited to an animal model of acute liver injury.
Abstract
We examined whether feeding high hydrogen generating resistant starch could suppress subacute hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. Rats were fed a control diet with or without 20% high amylose cornstarch (HAS) supplementation for 14 days. On day 12, rats were subject to ischemia-reperfusion treatment. Portal hydrogen concentration was higher in the HAS group compared with the control group. Increased plasma alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities due to ischemia-reperfusion treatment tended to decrease, and a significant reduction was observed by HAS feeding when compared with the control group. In conclusion, HAS, which enhances hydrogen generation in the hindgut, alleviated subacute hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.