Changes During Nitrogen Balance of Biochemical Nutritional Parameters of Rats (<i>Rattus Norvegicus</i>) Fed with Different Food Formulations Containing <i>Moringa Oleifera</i>

Abstract

Blood chemistry parameters are an efficient and reliable way to assess nutritional status. Serum contains many substances, such as proteins, enzymes, lipids and minerals. These substances which constitute the biochemical blood parameters provide information about the state of tissues and organs in the body as well as the metabolic state of the individual. Understanding the effects of a food formulation on these biochemical parameters is necessary for the vulgarisation of that formulation. The aim of this study is to explore variations in biochemical parameters in rats (Rattus norvegicus) fed with different food formulas containing Moringa oleifera during a nitrogen assessment. Rats of wistar strain were fed for 15 days with five food formulations in which Moringa oleifera leaf powder has been incorporated respectively at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% in partial or total substitution to soybean meal and codified L3P, L3P25, L3P50, L3P75 and L3P100. Blood samples were taken just before the experiment and two weeks of individual feeding in dry and gray tubes for the determination of blood biochemical parameters. The results indicated that only albumin and albumin/globulin ratio were significantly increased in the L3P50 rats. Regarding lipid parameters, High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol showed a significant increase in all formulated foods. Aspartate Aminotransferase (ASAT) levels decreased significantly in all formulations, while the other biochemical blood nutritional parameters showed no significant difference. Our formulations based on Moringa increase blood levels of certain protein and lipid parameters, do not alter mineral levels and cause a decrease in the level of ASAT in rat.