Rice Bran Attenuates Liver Fibrosis Caused by Vitamin E Deficiency in the Pre-Aging Stage

Vitamin E (VE) is a fat-soluble vitamin and well-known as an antioxidant. VE deficiency is associated with various oxidative stress- and aging-related pathologies and sufficient VE intake is thought to help prevent these conditions. However, it has been unclear how VE deficiency in the pre-aging stage affects the liver. In the present study, 11-month-old mice were fed a VE-restricted diet for 3 months, when age-related changes began to appear, to examine the effects of VE deficiency on the liver. Compared to the livers of mice fed a standard diet, those fed a VE-deficient diet showed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)-like findings including fibrosis. Mice fed the VE-deficient diet mixed with 2% rice bran (RB) showed milder fibrosis than those fed the VE-deficient diet alone. These results suggest that VE deficiency in the pre-aging stage may cause MASH-like changes in the liver, particularly fibrosis, and that RB is an effective means of supplying VE.