BACKGROUND: Natural cocoa and cocoa products are increasingly attracting the attention of many investigators and the general public because of their potential nutritional and medicinal properties and other claims. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to evaluate the effect the consumption of natural cocoa powder has on some biochemical and hematological indices in the rat, as a way of establishing the biochemical basis for some of the claims made for the consumption of cocoa and its products. METHODS: Male Wistar albino rats were fed natural cocoa powder in an aqueous suspension for 48 days, Biochemical and haematological indices were then determined from blood samples. RESULTS: The treatment had no significant effect on ALT, AST, ALP, uric acid, total protein, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels. However, there were significant reductions in the total cholesterol level (2.52 ± 0.07 mmol/L) versus (1.88 ± 0.23 mmol/L), LDL - cholesterol level (1.09 ± 0.03 m mol/L) versus (0.74 ± 0.06 m mol/L), and in triglyceride level (1.28 ± 0.15 m mol/L) versus (1.08 ± 0.04 m mol/L) after treatment (p <0.05). The results further indicated significant increases in white blood cell (7.53 ± 0.19 × 10(3)/mm(3)) versus (10.40 ± 1.66 × 10(3)/mm(3)) and platelet counts (379± 112.0× 10(3)/mm(3)) versus (583.8±11.4× 10(3)/mm(3)). CONCLUSION: The administration of natural cocoa powder to rats caused significant reductions in total serum cholesterol levels, LDL-cholesterol levels and triglycerides with a significant increase in white blood cell counts.
BACKGROUND: Natural cocoa and cocoa products are increasingly attracting the attention of many investigators and the general public because of their potential nutritional and medicinal properties and other claims. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to evaluate the effect the consumption of natural cocoa powder has on some biochemical and hematological indices in the rat, as a way of establishing the biochemical basis for some of the claims made for the consumption of cocoa and its products. METHODS: Male Wistar albino rats were fed natural cocoa powder in an aqueous suspension for 48 days, Biochemical and haematological indices were then determined from blood samples. RESULTS: The treatment had no significant effect on ALT, AST, ALP, uric acid, total protein, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels. However, there were significant reductions in the total cholesterol level (2.52 ± 0.07 mmol/L) versus (1.88 ± 0.23 mmol/L), LDL - cholesterol level (1.09 ± 0.03 m mol/L) versus (0.74 ± 0.06 m mol/L), and in triglyceride level (1.28 ± 0.15 m mol/L) versus (1.08 ± 0.04 m mol/L) after treatment (p <0.05). The results further indicated significant increases in white blood cell (7.53 ± 0.19 × 10(3)/mm(3)) versus (10.40 ± 1.66 × 10(3)/mm(3)) and platelet counts (379± 112.0× 10(3)/mm(3)) versus (583.8±11.4× 10(3)/mm(3)). CONCLUSION: The administration of natural cocoa powder to rats caused significant reductions in total serum cholesterol levels, LDL-cholesterol levels and triglycerides with a significant increase in white blood cell counts.
Authors: Sussi B Baech; Marianne Hansen; Klaus Bukhave; Mikael Jensen; Sven S Sørensen; Lars Kristensen; Peter P Purslow; Leif H Skibsted; Brittmarie Sandström Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2003-01 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Isaac Julius Asiedu-Gyekye; Samuel Frimpong-Manso; Benoit Banga N'guessan; Mahmood Abdulai Seidu; Paul Osei-Prempeh; Daniel Kwaku Boamah Journal: J Toxicol Date: 2016-08-17
Authors: Isaac Julius Asiedu-Gyekye; Charles Antwi-Boasiako; Seth Oppong; Stella Arthur; Joseph Edusei Sarkodie Journal: J Intercult Ethnopharmacol Date: 2016-07-23