Impact of Palm Oil Tainted Feed on Liver and Kidney Health in Wistar Rats: A Sub Chronic Study

Background: Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil obtained from the mesocarp (reddish pulp) of the fruit of the oil palm trees. The present study evaluated the effects of sub-chronic consumption of palm oil-tainted feed (POTF) on hepatorenal parameters in male Wistar rats.

Methods: Twenty-five (25) male Wistar rats with an average weight of 150±15g were used for the study. They were randomly selected into 5 groups of 5 rats each. Group 1 controlled and accessed only normal feed and water ad libitum. Groups 2 and 3 were fed with 10% and 20% POTF and water ad libitum respectively. Groups 4 and 5 were fed with 10% and 20% POTF + 0.02mg/ml and 0.04mg/ml of simvastatin respectively, and water ad libitum respectively. After 60 days of exposure/consumption of the POTF; blood samples were obtained from the study animals via cardiac puncture after proper sedation. The obtained data were analyzed with IBM SPSS version 25.

Results: The serum level of a liver enzyme-alanine transaminase (ALT) had no significant (P>0.05) change in all the test groups (groups 2, 3, 4, and 5) when compared to the control group. The level of aspartate transaminase (AST) was found to be significantly (p<0.05) raised in test group 3 when compared to that of group 1 (control). The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level was significantly (p<0.05) reduced in test group 3 but markedly (p>0.05) elevated in test group 4 when compared to group 2. The serum levels of total protein, albumin, and total bilirubin indicated no significant (P>0.05) difference except for conjugated bilirubin which was significantly (p<0.05) reduced in test group 2.

Conclusion: Except for greater doses, which can have some potentially harmful consequences, mild sub-chronic POTF consumption (10%) in the study animals did not negatively impact any liver enzymes or certain renal indices in the study models.