Irvingia gabonensis fat: nutritional properties and effect of increasing amounts on the growth and lipid metabolism of young rats wistar sp

BACKGROUND: Dietary saturated fatty acids (SFAs) are generally considered to increase plasma cholesterol. It has also been claimed that they increase cardio-vascular disease, although the claim that some of SFAs can increase HDL-cholesterol is poorly documented. Irvingia gabonensis kernels after being dried and crushed they are generally used to prepare a sticky and aromatic soup very much consumed in Cameroun and West Africa countries. This study was therefore aimed at evaluating the effects of dika nut fat on the growing and lipids metabolism of young rats. METHOD: For The nutritional evaluation related to the performances of growth and the analysis of increasing amounts of dika nut fat (0; 5.1; 7.34 and 13.48%) in young rats of wistar sp. The animals were taken individually out of metabolic cage for each ration 5 repetitions per sex (males and females) were carried out. RESULTS: The results obtained during the 3 weeks of treatment shows that the performances of consumption were positive. A highly significant increase (P < 0,01) of serum cholesterol and triglycerides in the high dose fat groups (13,48%) of dika fat were observed compared to control groups. However, this rise of cholesterol is due to that of HDL-cholesterol without any change in the quantity of LDL-Receptor. In parallel, the weight of the vital organ did not vary much compared to control, except for males where we observed a significantly reduction (P < 0,01) in the weight of the liver for the three diet tests. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the increasing amount of dika nut fat alter significantly cholesterol and triglyceride at high dose diet, but also increase HDL-cholesterol.