Effect of coconut oil supplemented diet on some transferase activity in the plasma and tissues of albino rats

Abstract

Coconut oil supplemented diet on transferase activity specifically aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were investigated in the plasma, liver, kidney, and heart of albino rats. Control group was fed with growers mash and water only, the second group was fed with growers mash and 20% w/w coconut oil and third group was fed with 40% w/w coconut oil respectively. The rats were sacrificed after five weeks of feeding. The activity of AST and ALT was significantly (P<0.05) increased in the kidney, heart, liver and plasma of the rats fed with 20 % w/w and 40 % w/w Coconut oil supplemented diet when compared to the control group. The liver/body weight, heart/body weight ratio and mean body weight gain was significantly (p< 0.05) increased in both 20 % w/w and 4 0% w/w coconut oil fed rats relative to control rats. No significant difference (p >0.05) was observed in the kidney/body weight ratio of the albino rat. The result obtained suggests that consumption of supplemented coconut oil diet may inhibit enzyme activity and other metabolic functions.