SILVA, T. D. O. L.; SILVA, THALES DANIEL OLIVEIRA DE LIMA E.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6696226875879968; SILVA, Thales Daniel Oliveira de Lima e.
Abstract:
Physical development is a delicate and extremely important process for the progression of life,
being influenced by nutrition, mainly by essential fatty acids, which have a fundamental role,
and the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) is an abundant source of this type. of fatty acids. This
study investigated the effects of maternal consumption of crude and refined Brazil nut oil on
somatic development and murinometric measurements in the offspring of Wistar rats. The pups
were divided into six groups, three groups with male pups (M) and three with female pups (F):
control (CT-M, n=13 and CT-F, n=11) – treated with distilled water; crude oil (OB-M, n=12
and OB-F, n=12) and refined oil (OR-M, n=14 and OR-F, n=15) both treated with 3000 mg/kg
of animal weight of crude and refined Brazil nut oil, respectively. Mothers were treated from
the 7th day of pregnancy and throughout lactation. Somatic maturation was evaluated during
lactation, from the first day of life, and murinometric measurements were performed with the
anesthetized animals at 45 days of age, prior to euthanasia. The results were expressed as mean
standard error (SME) and analyzed by One Way ANOVA, however, the results of somatic
maturation were expressed as median values of the day (Min-Max) and mediated by Kruskal-
Wallis followed by Dunn's Test. The alpha error for rejecting the null hypothesis was p < 0.05.
In somatic maturation, OR-F showed delay in opening the ear, opening of the ear canal and
appearance of epidermal hairs, and the OR-M group showed delay in opening the eyes. Females
showed a delay in the eruption of lower incisors compared to males. In relation to murinometric
measurements, the OR-M/OR-F groups presented greater measurements compared to the
respective controls and the OB-M group presented a greater length compared to all groups. The
OB-M group had a larger abdominal and chest circumference than its control group and the
OR-M group had a greater measurement of these circumferences compared to all groups. On
the other hand, the OB-F and OR-F groups had greater measurements of abdominal and chest
circumference compared to CT-F. Regarding the difference between genders, the male groups
obtained higher measurements compared to the female groups. Therefore, maternal
supplementation of crude Brazil nut oil had a positive effect on somatic development and
murinometric patterns, while refined oil delayed offspring somatic development and increased murinometric measurements, effects that could be harmful. Regarding gender, females showed
greater sensitivity to consumption of refined oil, which negatively influenced somatic
development and murinometry. More studies are needed to better investigate these effects and
identify which substances present in Brazil nut crude oil bring benefits in relation to refined oil.