Abstract
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a major global health concern characterized by hepatic lipid accumulation, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress. Postbiotic chitosan nanoparticles offer a promising therapeutic strategy. Postbiotics-loaded chitosan nanoparticles represent a compelling therapeutic approach worth exploring. This study investigated the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum-Chitosan Nanoparticles (LCN) on serum lipid profiles and antioxidant capacity in a rat model of NAFLD. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: G1 (negative control, standard diet), G2 (positive control, high-fat diet to induce NAFLD for two months), G3 (NAFLD + L. plantarum oral administration), and G4 (NAFLD + LCN oral administration). Serum lipid profile - triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) — were measured alongside oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Nanoformulation treatment in G4 significantly lowered TG, TC, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and MDA relative to G2, while restoring normal levels of HDL-C and SOD activity.. These findings indicate that LCN exerts meaningful hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects in NAFLD rats, pointing to their potential as a novel nutraceutical intervention.