Effect Of Some Dietary Lipid Administration On Some Serum Minerals And Electrolyte Levels In Wistar Albino Rats:- Osuocha, Grace C

ABSTRACT

Minerals and electrolytes are essential for proper functioning ofthe body systems. This work was conducted to determine the level of some serum minerals and electrolytes such as calcium, chloride, iron and zinc. Rats having an average weight of 165.75g were divided into four groups and fed on diet without lipid (control group) and soya bean oil (0.5ml), olive oil (0.6ml), or margarine (0.55ml) for 21 days. Rat fed on diet containing soya bean oil had a significant increase (p<0.05) in serum calcium (mg/dl) levels while rats fed on olive oil and margarine had a significant decrease (p<0.05) as compared to the control group. Diet with margarine caused significant increases (p<0.05) in serum zinc (pg/dl) levels whereas the group fed on olive oil had significant decreases (p<0.05) in serum zinc than in the control group. There were no significant differences in the serum zinc levels for the group fed with soya bean oil as compared with the control group. Serum Iron (mmol/1) levels had significant increases (p<0.05) by feeding rats on diet containing margarine,' olive oil and soya bean oil. Rats fed on soya bean oil and olive oil had significant increases (p<0.05) in serum chloride (mmol/1) levels. While margarine fed rats had no significant effect as compared to the control group. Results demonstrated that dietary intake of soya bean oil enhances serum calcium levels while margarine and olive oil had the opposite effect. Soya bean oil had no effect on serum zinc, margarine increased serum zinc while olive oil had an opposite effect. Soya bean oil and olive oil improved serum chloride while margarine had no effect. Soya bean oil, margarine, and olive oil increased serum iron levels.