Daily Intake of Smallanthus sonchifolius (Yacon) Roots Reduces the Progression of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver in Rats Fed a High Fructose Diet.

High-fructose diet is associated with an increased risk of dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) through chronic inflammation. The present study aimed to elucidate the potential benefit of daily consumption of Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) roots, rich in fructooligosaccharides (FOS), on the progression to liver fibrosis, in a rat model of NAFLD induced by a high-fructose diet. Male Wistar rats were fed a standard diet (CD, n = 6) or a standard diet plus 10% fructose solution (FD; n = 18). After 20 weeks, FD rats were randomly separated into the following groups (n = 6, each): FD; FD treated with yacon flour (340 mg FOS/body weight; FD + Y) and FD treated with fenofibrate (30 mg/kg body weight; FD + F), for 16 weeks. Daily intake of yacon flour significantly reduced body weight gain, plasma lipid levels, transaminase activities, and improved systemic insulin response in FD rats. In the liver, yacon treatment decreased fructose-induced steatosis and inflammation, and reduced total collagen deposition (64%). Also, yacon decreased TGF-β1 mRNA expression (78%), followed by decreased nuclear localization of p-Smad2/3 in liver tissue. Yacon significantly reduced the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Col1α1, and Col3α1 mRNAs (85, 44, and 47%, respectively), inhibiting the activation of resident hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). These results suggested that yacon roots have the potential to ameliorate liver damage caused by long-term consumption of a high-fructose diet, being a promising nutritional strategy in NAFLD management.