Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0688-4 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
Title: Attenuating the Rate of Total Body Fat Accumulation and  Alleviating Liver Damage by  
Oral Administration of Vitamin D -enriched Edible Mushrooms in a Diet -induced Obesity 
Murine  Model is mediated by an Anti -inflammatory Paradigm Shift  
 
Version: 0 Date: 04 Apr 2017  
 
Reviewer: Eleonora Patsenker  
 
Reviewer's report:  
The study by Drori A et al. aimed to determine the immunomodulatory effect of oral 
administration of vitamin D -enriched mushrooms extracts on the high -fat diet (HFD) animal 
model of non -alcoholic steatohepatitis. Treatment with VitD enriched lentinula edod es (LE) 
extracts attenuated the rate of total body fat, decreased hepatic fat content and alleviated liver 
damage. Hepatocytes ballooning was improved, along with decreased serum TG, total 
cholesterol, increased HDL/LDL ratio and improved glucose levels. T hese effects were 
associated with a systemic immunomodulatory effects noted via increase of CD4/CD8 
lymphocyte ratio and a pro - to anti -inflammatory cytokine shift. The authors concluded that oral 
administration of vitamin -D enriched mushrooms extracts exe rts an immune modulatory 
hepatoprotective synergistic effect in NASH model.  
 
The study is well designed, thoroughly analysed and the paper is very clearly written. The 
conclusions are appropriate and supported by the convincing data. Only a small note rega rding 
the results part - not sure if the journal style allows to have this approach, having "Figure 1 
shows ... Figure 2 shows ..., etc". May be would look more vivid if to rearrange to rather 
standard description, for example: "Hepatocytes ballooning was significantly improved 
(Fig. 2C)" or smth like that.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Are the conclusions drawn adequa tely supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommende d, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments  to the editors.  
I am able to assess the statistics  
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
Acceptable  
Declaration of competing interest s 
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the pub lication of this  
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financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
3. Do you hold or are you cu rrently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is  yes to any, please give details below.  
 
'I declare that I have no competing interests'  
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