%0 Journal Article
%T Virgin Coconut Oil: Remedial Effects on Renal Dysfunction in Diabetic Rats
%A A. M. Akinnuga
%A S. O. Jeje
%A O. Bamidele
%A E. E. Amaku
%A F. O. Otogo
%A V. E. Sunday
%J Physiology Journal
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/495926
%X Renal dysfunction is now a prevalent complication of diabetes mellitus. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the remedial effects of virgin coconut oil (VCO) on renal dysfunction in diabetic rats. Fifteen albino Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups that comprise normal control group (Group I) and diabetic control group (Group II) fed with normal rat chows and a diabetic test group (Group III) fed with 10% VCO diet. Group II and Group III were made diabetic by single intraperitoneal injection of 150£¿mg/kg of freshly prepared alloxan monohydrate. After 72 hours of alloxan injection, fasting blood glucose was tested to confirm diabetes mellitus. After 3 weeks, the animals were anaesthetized and sacrificed to collect blood samples for renal function analysis. The creatinine, urea, and blood urea nitrogen values of Group II were significantly different from those of Group I and Group III at . Also, there was significant difference ( ) in total protein value between Group II (4.42£¿£¿¡À£¿£¿0.47£¿mg/dL) and Group I (5.78£¿£¿¡À£¿£¿0.12£¿mg/dL) as well as Group III (5.86£¿£¿¡À£¿£¿0.19£¿mg/dL), but there was no significant difference between that of Group I and Group III (5.78£¿£¿¡À£¿£¿0.12£¿mg/dL and 5.86£¿£¿¡À£¿£¿0.19£¿mg/dL, resp.). Thus, VCO is effective in preventing renal damage in diabetic patients. 1. Background Diabetes is a metabolic disease caused by excess glucose in the blood and is characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, action, or both [1]. In diabetes, the level of glucose is persistently raised above normal range (80¨C100)£¿mg/dL. Untreated diabetes mellitus causes various histopathological changes in different organs [2, 3] and incidences of diabetic nephropathy and renal dysfunction are on the increase [4¨C6]. Renal dysfunction is the reduced capacity of the kidney to excrete metabolic products which accumulate in the body system and can be detected via renal function test. Therefore, due to numerous degenerative effects of untreated diabetes mellitus on human system, numerous researches have been carried out and still ongoing for the management and treatment of diabetes mellitus. Management of diabetes mellitus usually involves adjustment of the diet of the individual, exercise at regular interval, health education, measurement of blood glucose level on a regular level, and, in case of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), supplementary therapy with insulin. However, recent studies have shown that virgin coconut oil (VCO) has varied degree of beneficial properties such as antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal,
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/physiology/2014/495926/