Impacto do consumo da castanha de caju em ratos wistar dislipidêmicos.

Abstract

Nutrition is a factor of great importance, being closely related to health and better quality of life. Dyslipidemias, also known as hyperlipidemias or hyperlipoproteinemia, are associated with increased blood lipid, especially cholesterol and triglycerides, leading to the onset of arteriosclerosis. he cashew nut almond has in its composition unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic, linoleic and linolenic, which when consumed help reduce Total Cholesterol (TC) and Low Density Protein (LDL), in addition to increasing Protein High Density (HDL). Given the above, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of cashews on the murinometric and biochemical parameters of dyslipidemic Wistar rats. 7 week old males were used. The animals were divided into three groups: Control group (CONT) (n = 10) - which received commercial feed ad libitum and water by gavage; Dislipidemic Group (DISLIP), which received in addition to the ration a emulsion with high fat content by gavage; Cashew Nut Group (CAST), which besides the ration, received emulsion with high fat and cashew nut by gavage. Daily weight was recorded, and weekly food intake. To evaluate the biochemistry, the following serum parameters were analyzed: CT, HDL, Triglycerides (TG), and Blood Glucose (GLIC). The measured murinometric parameters were: Abdominal Circumference (CA), Chest Circumference (TCo), Liver Weight and Fat, Body Mass Index (BMI), and Visceral Fat (Mesenteric, Retroperitoneal and Epididimal). Thus, we found that the body weight of the animals belonging to the CAST group was lower from the fourth week, when compared to CONT and DISLIP (p <0.05). In food consumption, it was observed that CAST had lower consumption when compared to the other groups (p <0.05). Regarding the murinometric parameters, DISLIP presented higher BMI value when compared to the others, and CAST higher than CONT (p <0.05). CAST presented lower AC and TCo values (p <0.05). DISLIP obtained higher liver weight, while the liver fat percentage was higher in CAST, compared to other visceral fat, CAST obtained the lowest value for all (p <0.05). In the biochemical exams, it was seen that the CAST had the highest GLIC when compared to the other groups, and it was also in the TC and HDL-C, being in the TG only higher when compared with the CONT, because the DISLIP presented higher value (p <0.05). From these results, we can see that the insertion of cashews in the hyperlipid diet helps to adjust the levels of HDL and triglycerides, reduces visceral fat, but without reducing total cholesterol and increasing serum glucose and liver fat.