Effect of acid load (Citric acid) on Diabetes-Induced rats

Citrus fruits were known to be efficient traditional remedies since the old days. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of a component of citrus fruit, namely citric acid, on blood glucose, triglyceride and HDL levels and body weight in diabetes mellitus-induced rats. Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided equally into three groups and labelled as positive control, negative control and citric acid group, respectively. The rats were acclimatised to the environment for 3 weeks and given normal diet. Positive control and citric acid groups were fasted for 18 hours without food or water before the induction of diabetes using alloxan monohydrate (lOOmg/kg body weight) through intraperitoneal injection. The baseline blood glucose level was also measured in all groups by drawing the blood sample from the tail. Blood glucose level was measured again after 3 days to ensure that both groups develop diabetes. Blood glucose level of >9mmol is considered diabetic. Citric acid group was given citric acid for 4 consecutive weeks to observe its effects on the levels of blood glucose, HDL, triglyceride and body weight. HDL, triglyceride and cholesterol levels were measured using lipid strips before the rats were sacrificed. Their livers were harvested and weighed. Results showed significant reduction in body weight of citric acid group rats after week 4. Serum triglyceride level of citric acid group was significantly lower than the positive control group, however, there was no significant difference in the HDL level. At 4^th week of treatment, blood glucose level in the citric acid group was significantly lower than the positive control group. In conclusion, citric acid, a component of citrus fruits exhibited beneficial effects by reducing body weight and the levels of triglyceride and blood glucose.