Biochemical evaluation of chitosan in rats fed high fat-high carbohydrate- diet

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to evaluate the potential of chitosan at a dosage of 27, 180 and 270 mg/Kg b.w, which equivalent to 300, 2000 and 3000 mg/day human age recommended doses, respectively in rats fed high fat-high carbohydrate [HFHC]- diet for six weeks. The obtained results demonstrated that HFHC-fed rats displayed a significant increase in blood glucose, serum lipid profile, atherogenic index, ALT, AST, ALP, total bilirubin, malondialdehyde, urea, creatinine and uric acid compared to the normal control rats. However, the concomitant administration of chitosan with HFHC-diet for 8 weeks led to a dose-dependant improvement in these pathological changes. The low and medium doses of chitosan were exhibited mild to moderate effects. Only a dose of 270 mg chitosan /Kg b.w was able to maintain these changes at near normal levels and demonstrated its hypolipidaemic and hypoglycaemic activities