1Laboratório de Nutrição Experimental, Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina-MG, Brazil.
2Laboratório de Tecnologia e Biomassas do Cerrado, Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina-MG, Brazil.
*Corresponding Author: Tania Regina Riul, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, MGT 367 Highway (Km 583), Campus JK, nº 5000, Alto da Jacuba, Diamantina-MG, Brazil, Email: taniriul@yahoo.com.br
Online published on 25 January, 2022.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional effects of supplementation with virgin coconut oil (VCO) in Wistar rats over a sub-chronic period (6 weeks).
Twelve Wistar rats were used and randomly assigned to receive (n = 6): Control - lab chow; Coconut oil (CO) - lab chow with added virgin coconut oil (20%). Food and caloric intake, weight gain,food efficiency, body mass index, femur and tibia length, bone mineral composition and blood biochemistry were evaluated.
The CO group showed an energy intake closed to Control group. Also, the supplementation with VCO generated a decrease in total blood cholesterol as compared to the Control group. However, the CO group showed accumulation of fat mass, shorter femur length and anxiogenesis inrelation to the Control group. These results indicate few beneficial effects from the sub-chronic useof VCO and indicate that its consumption in large quantities for long periods should be questioned.
Cholesterol, Medium–chain triglycerides, Obesity, Satiety, Saturated fatty acids, Virgin coconut oil, Wistar
