Differential Metabolomic Analysis of Liver Tissues from Rat Models of Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Liver Disease

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a life-saving therapy for patients with intestinal failure, but parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD) limits its long-term use. The present study is aimed at determining which pathways are altered most notably in a rat model of PNALD. We randomly assigned male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats into two different groups, whereby they received either enteral nutrition (EN) or PN. Liver tissues were harvested from all rats 7 days later for metabolomic profiling. The composition of primary conjugated bile acids was altered, the synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids was reduced, the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA was blocked, and the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine was inhibited in rats with PNALD. Riboflavin, which is involved in the electron transfer process in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, was remarkably decreased in PNALD rats. A deficiency of polyunsaturated fatty acids, riboflavin, choline, and taurine might be involved in the progression of PNALD. The implications of these findings for the field of medicine are that supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids, riboflavin, choline, and taurine might have potential as therapeutic strategies for PNALD and also shed light on the mechanisms of PNALD.