Gene expressions of lipid homeostasis
Antioxidant status and liver damage
TBARS values and TEAC levels in serum and livers, respectively, are shown in Fig. 3. Alcohol consumption increased (p < 0.05) serum and liver TBARS values in rats, but supplementing Tau decreased (p < 0.05) these levels in alcohol-fed rats. Regarding the antioxidant levels, alcohol consumption resulted in lower (p < 0.05) TEAC levels in serum and livers, but an improved (p < 0.05) TEAC level was only observed in the livers of alcohol-fed rats co-treated with Tau. The serum liver-damage indices (AST, ALT, and APT) and cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) were increased (p < 0.05) by alcohol consumption; however, co-treatment of Tau decreased them in alcohol-fed rats (Fig. 4). Similar patterns were also seen in MMP-9 activity and the ratio of MMP-9 to MMP-2 where increased MMP-9 activity and the ratio of MMP-9 to MMP-2 in alcohol-fed rats’ livers were decreased by Tau supplementation (Fig. 5).