Fig. 2

Effects on liver in Control-, NASH-, HFD- and HFr-fed rats. a Throughout the study, liver density continuously declined in all four diet groups, with the effect being more pronounced in the NASH-group. Both halfway through the study period and at the week 16 time point the decline in liver density was significantly greater in NASH and HFD compared to Control and in NASH compared to HFD and HFr. b Liver triglyceride content was significantly elevated in NASH- and HFD-fed rats compared to Control and HFr. Additionally, HFD-fed rats had significantly higher hepatic TG levels compared to NASH-fed. Hepatic TG levels in rats fed HFr did not differ from those fed the Control-diet. c Hepatic cholesterol levels were significantly elevated in NASH-fed animals compared to Control, HFD, and HFr. d The level of liver glycogen was significantly lower in both NASH and HFD compared to Control and HFr. a Comparisons between groups: *Control vs. NASH; ^†Control vs. HFD; ^¤NASH vs. HFD; ^#NASH vs. HFr. Statistical significance: ****p < 0.0001; ^†p < 0.05; ^¤¤¤¤p < 0.0001; ^####p < 0.0001. b–d. Statistical significance: **p < 0.01; ****p < 0.0001. TG triglyceride, TC total cholesterol, NASH NASH-diet, HFD high-fat diet, HFr high fructose diet. Results are shown as mean ± SEM