Effect of Coconut (<i>cocus Nucifera</i>) and Palm Kernel (<i>eleasis Guinensis</i>) Oil Supplmented Diets on Serum Lipid Profile of Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the effect of coconut and palm kernel oil supplemented diets on the lipid profile of Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: Three different groups of seven rats each were respectively fed three different diets for a period of 90 days. Group A animals were fed with rat pellet supplemented with 10% coconut oil, while Group B animals were fed rat pellet supplemented with 10% palm kernel oil. Group C animals which served as the control were fed normal rat pellet. At the end of the feeding period, animals were anaesthetized under chloroform vapor, dissected and blood obtained via cardiac puncture into tubes. Serum was separated and used for assay of lipid profile using standard kit methods. The results obtained were analyzed statistically using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Serum total cholesterol level of palm kernel oil fed group (115.75±13.71mg/dl) and the coconut oil fed group (94.35±4.32mg/dl) were significantly higher (P