The effects of whey and pumpkin seed oil on blood biochemical parameters of liver function and lipid profile in rats chronically drinking low concentrations of ethanol

摘要

We studied the effects of whey and pumpkin seed oil supplementation on the biochemical parameters in bloodserum of male rats after chronic ad libitum alcohol consumption. The levels of AST, ALT, total bilirubin, ALP, LDH,triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, triglyceride/HDL ratio, total cholesterol/HDL ratio (cholesterol ratio)and LDL/HDL ratio (index of atherosclerosis) were determined in rats after six weeks of treatment with: (i) ethanol (12%ethanol, ad libitum), (ii) whey (2 g/kg per day), (iii) pumpkin seed oil (2 mL/kg per day), (iv) both ethanol and whey, and(v) both ethanol and pumpkin seed oil. The results showed no changes in the levels of AST, ALT, total bilirubin, ALP, totalcholesterol, HDL and VLDL in alcoholic rats when compared to the controls (fed with a standard laboratory diet ad libitum)and rats supplemented with whey and pumpkin seed oil. Our results suggest that alcohol consumption in small doses for6 weeks changes lipid metabolism and significantly elevates the LDL/HDL ratio (index of atherosclerosis) but does notinduce extensive liver damage. Ethanol consumption in our experimental conditions lowered the triglyceride level as wellas the triglyceride/HDL ratio, suggesting lipid redistribution and the induction of some cardio-protective effect. However,ethanol induced a higher index of atherosclerosis. Pumpkin seed oil showed some protective potential in alcoholic rats bylowering the total cholesterol/HDL ratio, but it elevated the LDH. Whey consumption prevented elevation of the atherosclerosis index, pointing to its protective role, probably through the redistribution of lipids. However, whey in combinationwith ethanol elevated LDH.