Modulation of the Lipid Profile, Hepatic and Renal Antioxidant Activities, and Markers of Hepatic and Renal Dysfunctions in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats by Virgin Coconut Oil

Abstract

Background: Research studies that holistically investigated the effect of administration of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) on diabetic humans or animals are limited in literature. Objective: To investigate the effect of administration of VCO on lipid profile, markers of hepatic and renal dysfunction, and hepatic and renal antioxidant activities of alloxan induced diabetic rats. Methods: Twenty-four male albino rats were used, and they were divided into four groups of six rats each. Group 1 (Normal Control, NC) received distilled water (1 mL/kg); Group 2 (VCO Control) received VCO (5 mL/kg); Group 3 (Diabetic Control, DC) received distilled water (1 mL/kg); Group 4 (Test Group, TG) received 5 ml/kg of VCO. Results: There were no significant differences in blood glucose, body weights, relative liver weights, relative kidney weights, hepatic and renal Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activities, Malondialdehyde (MDA), albumin, aspartate Amino Transaminase (AST), alanine Amino Transaminase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), urea, creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, Very Low Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) and Low Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) concentrations; significant increases in renal Glutathione (GSH), hepatic catalase, Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) and GSH but significant reduction in renal GPx and catalase activities of VCO control group compared with NC group. There were significant increases in blood glucose, relative liver and kidney weights, hepatic GPx, hepatic and renal MDA concentration, ALP, AST, ALT, urea, creatinine, uric acid, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL concentrations; and significant decreases in body weight, hepatic SOD and GSH activities and albumin concentration but no significant difference in hepatic catalase activity of DC group compared with NC group. Administration of VCO to diabetic rats positively modulated these parameters compared with the diabetic control. Conclusion: The study showed the potentials of VCO in the management of hyperlipidemia, renal and hepatic dysfunctions imposed by hyperglycemia and by oxidative stress in diabetic rats.

Coconut products alleviate hyperglycaemic, hyperlipidimic and nephropathy indices in streptozotocin-induced diabetic wistar rats

“…We found that virgin and filtered coconut oils, coconut water, coconut milk and metformin have all improved lipid profile by decreasing total-, LDL-, VLDL-cholesterols, and triglycerides and by increasing HDL-cholesterol in diabetic rats. In agreement with our findings, treatment of alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats by virgin coconut oil resulted in a reduction in diabetes induced total-, LDL-, VLDL-cholesterols, and triglycerides ( Eleazu et al 2019 ). In a randomised trial, coconut oil significantly increased HDL-cholesterol and significantly decreased LDL-cholesterol ( Khaw et al, 2017 ).…”

“…Moreover, following the treatment with coconut products the levels of these urinary parameters drastically lowered in diabetic rats, emphasizing the potential of these coconut products to reverse the effects of diabetes. In comparison to our data, it is shown that alloxan-Induced diabetic rats had significantly reduced urea, creatinine, uric acid after treatment with virgin coconut oil ( Eleazu et al 2019 ). Likewise, virgin coconut oil attenuated maximum physical activity-induced increase in urea, uric acid and creatinine in rats ( Sinaga et al 2019 ).…”

“…In STZ-induced diabetic rats, serum urea, creatinine, and total protein levels were significantly decreased following treatment with virgin coconut oil ( Akinnuga et al 2019 ). Likewise, urea, creatinine and uric acid were significantly downregulated in virgin oil treated alloxan-induced diabetic rats ( Eleazu et al 2019 ). These data are consistent with our finding of decreased creatinine, urea and total protein levels in diabetic rats treated with coconut products and supports the protective effects of these products against diabetes induced renal complications.…”

Atrazine derangement of GLUT-4 and Insulin metabolism and the ameliorative effect of Virgin coconut oil in male wistar rats

“…Following alloxan injections, a significant increase in FBG of alloxan-induced diabetic animals in comparison to NC+H2O, NC+VCO, and ATZ rats was noted. Similarly, several studies have documented a marked increase in blood glucose levels following alloxan induction [25,31,35,36,37]. It was observed that treatment of the diabetic group with 10ml/kg of VCO for two weeks brought about a significant drop in fasting blood glucose levels.…”

“…Lastly, 50 μl of Stop Solution was then added to each well which changes the color from blue to yellow, and the intensity of the color is measured at 450 nm. [31]. Triggering the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn cause the destruction of the beta cells and eventually result in a condition of insulindependent diabetes, has been documented as the primary mechanism of action of alloxan-induced diabetes [32].…”