Moreover, HFHS-NO3-fed mice showed specific elevation of the HCC marker Spp1, which was 3.2-fold higher than chow-fed mice at 8-months-of age (p<0.01) and by 12-months, showed expression that was 11.1-fold higher than in chow-fed controls (p<0.0001) and 2.4-fold higher than HFHS-Cl fed mice (p<0.01; Fig. 5D). Here, SPP1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.