Haloacetamides exacerbate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease induced by a high-fat diet in C57BL/6J mice.

This article investigates the impact of haloacetamides (HAcAms), a class of nitrogenous disinfection byproducts (DBPs) found in chlorinated drinking water, on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression in obese mice fed a high-fat diet. Using C57BL/6J mice exposed orally to environmentally relevant and elevated concentrations of HAcAms-DBPs for up to 16 weeks, the study found that co-exposure significantly exacerbated liver injury, lipid accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis compared to a high-fat diet alone. Molecular analyses revealed that HAcAms-DBPs promoted hepatic de novo lipogenesis, disrupted lipid and glucose metabolism, and increased pro-inflammatory and fibrotic markers, suggesting these DBPs may act as environmental risk factors that worsen NAFLD in obese populations. The findings highlight the need for further research on chronic HAcAms exposure and its potential health risks, particularly among individuals with obesity.