Hepatoprotective effects of whey protein isolate against acute liver toxicity induced by dimethylnitrosamine in rat

In order to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of whey protein isolate against acute liver toxicity induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), a randomized experimental study was conducted. Forty-eight Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. Groups A and B consumed a diet containing casein, and group C received a diet containing whey protein isolate for 18 days. Group A was then given an intraperitoneal saline injection. It continued on the casein diet for another 4 days before being sacrificed. Each animal in groups B and C was given a single intraperitoneal injection of DMN (30 mg/kg) on the 18th day of the study. All groups continued their diets for 4 days before their euthanasia. The supply of whey protein diet resulted in a decrease in aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and malondialdehyde (MDA). Morphological and biochemical data suggested that a diet containing whey protein isolate decreased DMN-induced liver damage and, therefore, had beneficial effects on hepatic failure.