Effect of Antioxidant-rich Nutraceuticals in the Management of High Fat Diet-induced Obesity in Albino Rats

Background: Obesity, a metabolic disorder caused by an imbalance in energy intake and energy expenditure, is a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular heart diseases (CHD) and some types of cancer. This research was designed to investigate the effect of antioxidant rich- nutraceuticals in the management of high fat diet-induced obesity in rats.

Method: Induction of obesity was achieved by feeding rats with a formulated high fat diet (HFD) for ten (10) weeks. Rats were subsequently group administered 250mg/kg body weight and 500mg/kg body weight of the nutraceutical respectively while apple cider vinegar of 5ml/kg body weight was administered to the standard group.

Result: Supplementation showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in the glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein- cholesterol, malondialdehyde and increased in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and antioxidant status as compared with untreated high fat diet groups. However, there was no significant difference between supplementation of 500mg/kg and the standard group treated with 5ml/kg of Apple cider vinegar.

Conclusion: Antioxidant rich nutraceuticals could provide a protective effect against oxidative stress in obesity and remedy complications associated with obesity by reversing the damage to near normal.