Ascorbic acid supplementation and gradual withdrawal as strategies to attenuate hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress in male Wistar rats.

• Grant number: 25/18598-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutrition Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Debora Estadella
• Grantee: Renan Oliveira Furlan
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic disease that impairs the function of multiple organs and systems, posing a significant threat to overall health. Caloric excess resulting from diets high in saturated fats, sodium, and sugars, referred to as obesogenic diets (ODs), is associated with metabolic disturbances, oxidative stress, peripheral inflammation, and neuroinflammation, ultimately leading to hepatic dysfunction and impaired energy homeostasis. Currently, obesity affects more than 30% of the global population, underscoring its epidemic nature. As a strategy to mitigate the deleterious effects of ODs, discontinuation of this dietary pattern is recommended. However, abrupt withdrawal may trigger adverse responses like those observed in caloric restriction protocols, such as withdrawal symptoms, binge eating, anxiety, and worsening of oxidative stress. In this context, a gradual withdrawal from the diet, combined with supplementation of ascorbic acid (AA), a potent antioxidant with hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, has been proposed as a promising alternative, inspired by models used in the treatment of chemical dependency. Therefore, this project aims to investigate the effects of abrupt or gradual withdrawal from an obesogenic diet, with or without AA supplementation, on the reversal of metabolic and hepatic damage induced by this dietary pattern. (AU)