Assessment of Kidney Function and Lipid Profile in Albino Rats Exposed to Azo-Dye Adulterated Palm Oil

Abstract

Food is an important factor in human existence which makes exposure to adulterants in food an important environmental factor challenging the biological system. In West Africa, the manufacturing and processing of palm oil are done without proper hygienic monitoring; it is therefore almost impossible to detect fraud in the system. A major disadvantage associated with the use of adulterants in palm oil is that the adulterants have not undergone adequate research and the degree of health hazards they can pose to humans when consumed. This study was designed to evaluate the toxic effects of Azo dye adulterated palm oil on kidney function and Lipid profile in albino rats exposed to Azo-dye adulterated palm oil. Twenty-five albino rats were divided into five groups and treated as thus: Group I (control), Groups II and III were treated with only 1 ml/kg of unadulterated and adulterated palm oil respectively, while Groups IV and V were treated with only 50 mg/kg of Sudan III and IV dyes respectively for 28 days. Renal function tests, and lipid profiles were determined using analytical test kits. Data obtained were statistically analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by tukey test using Graph Pad prism 9.0.0. The results were presented as mean ± standard error of mean (SEM). Differences between means of treated and control groups values at P ≤ 0.05 at 95% confidence interval were considered significant. The results showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in creatinine, urea concentrations, Sodium ion (Na+) and Potassium ion (K+) in groups treated with adulterated palm oil, Sudan III, Sudan IV (groups III, IV and V respectively) when compared with control groups. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in low density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and Triacylglycerol (TAG) was observed in treated groups when compared with control groups while a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in high density lipoprotein level (HDL) observed in treated groups when compared with the control group. This suggests that adulterated palm oil can induce renal damage and alter lipid profile.