Normolipidemic Effect of Antioxidants in Low Cholesterol-Modified Poultry EggΨ on Zn-induced Dyslipidemia and Liver Pathology in Wistar Rats

Abstract

A low cholesterol (CH)-modified poultry egg (ME Psi) containing more vitamin E, lenolenic acid, and minerals Cu and Mg but low total lipid (TL) and Zn contents than the conventional egg evaluated to reduce the severity of dyslipidemia induced by excessive Zn in the diet. The experimental data was recorded on male rats fed on normolipidemic (NL) semi-synthetic basal diet containing 20 mg Zn/kg diet in control group I, Zn supplemented dyslipidemic diet-A (Zn-DL-A) and B (Zn-DL-B) containing 40 and 80 mg Zn/kg diet in groups II and III, and ME Psi-mixed Test diet-A (Zn-DL-A + 4 ME Psi) and Test diet-B (Zn-DL-B + 4 ME Psi) in groups IIEM and IIIEM, respectively, for 180 and 90 days. Data recorded on liver and blood lipid profiles showed reduction in the concentration of TL, CH, triglycerides, and glycogen (GG) in liver consequently leading to their rise in blood serum including rise in VLDL-c and LDL-c but fall in HDL-c in groups II and III rats that reversed after ME Psi treatment resulting in rise of their levels in the liver and fall in the blood of groups IIEM and IIIEM rats, respectively. Mineral status in the liver showed a rise in Zn but fall in Cu and Mg levels in groups II and III that was reversed after ME Psi treatment resulting in fall in Zn and rise in Cu and Mg concentration in the liver of groups IIEM and IIIEM rats. Hepatopathogical studies showed reduction in the dilatation of long citernal profile of endoplasmic reticulum and increase in GG and TL granules in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes of groups IIEM and IIIEM after ME Psi treatment than those of groups II and III rats. It was concluded that the inclusion of ME Psi would be helpful in reducing dyslipidemia by correcting the ionic imbalance generated by excessive Zn intake in rats or by drugs, even in chronic diseased conditions without aggravating risk factors for heart diseases in humans that need further studies.