Lycopene Alleviates Lipid Dysregulation, Oxidative Stress, and Hypercholesterolemia in Obese Rats Subjected to a High-Fat Diet

Abstract

Obesity, driven by high-calorie diets, is a global health concern closely associated with chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and liver dysfunction. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of lycopene, a potent antioxidant found in tomatoes, in mitigating hyperlipidemia-induced metabolic disorders in male rats. Obese rats induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) showed significant increases in body weight (284.12 ± 4.33 g) and serum levels of total cholesterol (TC: 255.21 ± 2.24 mg/dL), triglycerides (TG: 199.23 ± 6.12 mg/dL), LDL-C (171.27 ± 4.84 mg/dL), and liver enzymes ALT (62.10 ± 3.80 U/L), AST (92.41 ± 1.48 U/L), and ALP (148.18 ± 0.55 U/L), alongside elevated inflammatory cytokines TNF-α (1279 ± 10.81 pg/mL) and IL-6 (859 ± 17.3 pg/mL). Treatment with lycopene (30 mg/kg b.w.) over 6 weeks significantly reduced body weight (237.94 ± 3.14 g), TC (180.85 ± 4.99 mg/dL), TG (137.13 ± 5.61 mg/dL), LDL-C (46.11 ± 2.67 mg/dL), and liver enzyme levels (ALT: 30.34 ± 5.07 U/L, AST: 71.19 ± 2.12 U/L, ALP: 126.30 ± 5.15 U/L). It also improved HDL-C (48.15 ± 2.35 mg/dL) and antioxidant markers such as SOD (40.62 ± 2.20 U/dL) and CAT (63.66 ± 4.73 U/g), whereas decreasing MDA (29.45 ± 2.33 mM/g), TNF-α (587 ± 12.9 pg/mL), and IL-6 (301 ± 16.7 pg/mL) followed by lycopene (25 mg/kg b.w.). Histological analysis showed a marked improvement in liver architecture, with reduced fat accumulation and inflammation. These findings suggest that lycopene supplementation effectively counteracts obesity-induced dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, and liver inflammation, supporting its potential role as a dietary therapeutic agent for metabolic and hepatic disorders. Future recommendations include conducting long-term clinical trials in humans to validate these findings, exploring optimal dosages for dietary lycopene supplementation, and investigating its molecular mechanisms of action.