Preventative and Treatment Effects of Whey Protein Hydrolysates and Arginine on Fatty Liver Condition Induced in Mink by Dietary Orotic Acid

Abstract

Fatty liver disease is one of the most severe health concerns for mink and believed to occur through the same mechanism as nursing sickness. Orotic acid (OA) plays a critical role in lipid metabolism and can increase hepatic lipids by regulation of different lipid metabolic pathways. This study was conducted to identify particular pathways and regulatory control points involved in fatty liver development, and evaluate the effectiveness of arginine and whey protein hydrolysates (WPH) for prevention and treatment. A total of 45 mink were used in 9 treatments. The experimental diets consisted of 1% OA, 2% L-arginine and 5% of whey protein hydrolysates. At the end of the experimental period, the mink were anaesthetized, sampled for histological, biochemical and molecular assays. Based on results, it is evident that 1% orotic acid induced simple steatohepatitis can be reversible within 10 days of diet containing 2% arginine or 5% WPH or combination.