ABSTRACT
Aims: To investigate the effect of food blends (plantain, soybean and ginger) on the blood glucose, lipid profile and haematological indices on streptozotocininduced diabetic rats.Methodology: A total of 35 rats of mean body weight 219.07g separated into7 groups (5 per group) where inducedby a single intraperitoneal (I.P) injection of streptozotocin(0.1g dissolved in 5mlof freshly prepared sodium citrate buffer 0.1M, pH 4.5) at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight after fasting for 12hoursand fed with flours/blends. The flours were produced from plant materials for different treatments/blends (blend A=100% unripe plantain, B=80% unripe plantain, 14% soybean, 6% ginger, C=70% unripe plantain, 26% soybean, 4%ginger, D= 60% unripe plantain, 38% soybean, 2% ginger, E= 50% unripe plantain, 50% soybean) and the phytochemicals and minerals content were determined.Blood glucose was determined at 5 days interval for 25days.Diabetes was confirmed inrats with blood glucose concentrations >200mg/dl. After 25 daysrats were anaesthetized with chloroform vapour and blood samples collected by cardiac puncture for haematology and lipidprofile determination.Results:The results showed that unripe plantain, soya beans and ginger in adequate proportion(C=70% unripe plantain, 26% soybean, 4%ginger or D= 60% unripe plantain, 38% soybean, 2% ginger) could help to reduce blood glucose, improve haematological parameters and lipid profile. Significant reduction was observed in the blood glucose level of rats fed blends C and D from 286 to 85mg/dl and 307 to 90mg/dl respectively at the end of experiment. These results also demonstrated that the inclusion of ginger at 6% causes rise in blood glucose level. Total cholesterol (TC) increased in all the blends. However, the lowest concentration of TC was observed in blends C and D. The highest packed cell volume (60%) and Haemoglobin (20g/dl) level observed in rats fed blend C was significantly higher than the normal control fed conventional feeds. The increase in packed cell volume (PCV) (50%) and Hb (17g/dl) in diabetic rats demonstrated that the formulated blend C was able to raise PCV and Hb above 50% and 17g/dl (Normal controlNC) respectively. Significant increase (P<0.05) in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) was also observed in all the blends with blend C having the least (4.0mg/dl) close to NC (2.0mg/dl). Conclusion:From the results it is evident that blend C will manage and improve the health status of diabetic patients