Effects of the Water Extract of Fermented Rice Bran on Liver Damage and Intestinal Injury in Aged Rats with High-Fat Diet Feeding

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of the water extract of fermented rice bran (FRB) on liver damage and intestinal injury in old rats fed a high-fat (HF) diet. Rice bran (RB) was fermented with Aspergillus kawachii, and FRB was produced based on a previous study. Male Sprague Dawley rats at 36 weeks of age were allowed free access to a standard rodent diet and water for 8 weeks of acclimation then randomly divided into four groups (six rats/group), including a normal control (NC) group (normal diet), HF group (HF diet; 60% of total calories from fat), HF + 1% FRB group (HF diet + 1% FRB w/w), and HF + 5% FRB group (HF diet + 5% FRB w/w). It was found that the antioxidant ability of FRB was significantly increased when compared to RB. After 8 weeks of feeding, the HF group exhibited liver damage including an increased non-alcoholic fatty liver disease score (hepatic steatosis and inflammation) and higher interleukin (IL)-1β levels, while these were attenuated in the FRB-treated groups. Elevated plasma Leptin levels were also found in the HF group, but the level was down-regulated by FRB treatment. An altered gut microbiotic composition was observed in the HF group, while beneficial bacteria including of the Lactobacillaceae and Lachnospiraceae had increased after FRB supplementation. In conclusion, it was found that FRB had higher anti-oxidative ability and showed the potential for preventing liver damage induced by a HF diet, which might be achieved through regulating imbalanced adipokines and maintaining a healthier microbiotic composition.