Abstract

CHANGES IN LIPID PROFILE AND BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) IN FRESH COCONUT WATER ADMINISTRATION ON WISTAR RATS

*K. E. Asemota., Uyovwiesevwa A. J., Ehebha S. E. and Omoirri M. A.

Abstract

Beyond its nutritional content, Cocos nocifera (Coconut) is reportedly an edible and rich dietary source of cytokinins with a well-defined anti-cancer, anti-aging and cardio-protective effects in humans. Current study investigated the hypolipidemic (lipid lowering) effect of fresh coconut water on selected serum lipid levels [Total cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TGs), Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), High Density Lipoproteins (HDL)] and body mass index (BMI) in albino wistar rats. Twenty (20) adult male wistar rats of between 160 – 200 g were procured and housed in the animal house of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State. acclimatized (for two weeks); following which they were grouped into two groups of ten (10) rats each (n=10). While control (Group I) rats received normal rat chow and water ad libitum, group II (Experimental) were fed with fresh coconut water (FCW) for a period of four weeks (28 days). For each week, body weights and BMI were determined to ascertain the effect of FCW, while simultaneously determining the serum lipid levels from blood collection and laboratory analysis. At the end of the process, obtained data were then subjected to statistical analysis using appropriate test statistics (automated with graph pad prism version 8). Study found a statistically significant decrease (at p < 0.05) weekly in lipid profile levels of experimental compared to control group, implicative of a durational dependent, hypolipideamic effect of FCW on the animals. Study also observed a statistically significant increase in body weights as the weeks progressed, signalling a weight/BMI gain in experimental than control animals. More sophisticated but similar study that considers various concentrations of FCW is recommended.

Keywords: Lipid, Cocos nocifera, Body Mass Index, Wistar rats.