Favourable Lipid Modulatory And Renal Protective Effects Of Ginger And Fish Oil In Hypercholesterolemic Male Rats

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia is one of the most important risk factors for atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, the therapeutic effects of ginger and fish oil supplementation on serum lipid profile and kidney functions in high cholesterol diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats have been evaluated. The animals were divided into 4 groups of 12 rats each. Group I served as the control. Rats in groups II, III and IV were fed with an atherogenic diet for 8 weeks, group III received atherogenic diet supplemented with 5% ginger, group IV received atherogenic diet supplemented with 10 % fish oil. The treatment with ginger and fish oil results in significant reduction in elevated serum total cholesterol, triglycerides(TG), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and elevation in high density lipoproteins (HDL), marked modulation of atherogenic index (AI) has been noted. Also, there was significant reduction in serum urea, uric acid and creatinine levels which was markedly elevated by atherogenic diet. We concluded that dietry supplementation with ginger and/or fish oil have favorable effects on serum lipid parameters and kidney functions in hypercholesterolemic male rats.