EFFECTS OF BROWN RICE ON BODY WEIGHT AND LIPID PROFILE IN JUVENILE MALE WISTAR RATS (RATTUS NORVEGICUS)

ABSTRACT

Brown rice is a whole grain that contains all parts of the grain including the fibrous bran, the nutritious germ and the endosperm which is rich in carbohydrates. It contains high levels of manganese which help reduce body mass index and overall body weight. Brown rice also helps to increase high density lipoproteins (good cholesterol) and decrease low density lipoproteins (bad cholesterol). The aim of this study was to investigate possible effects of brown rice on body weight xiv and lipid profile in juvenile male wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). A total of 70 wistar rats with an average weight of 120g not more than 20 grams apart were used in this study. After acclimatization for two weeks, the rats were separated into two major groups; the control group and then the test groups which were then fed with fat diet for 15 weeks. The test groups were further subdivided into three groups. The first group was fed with brown rice diet, the second group was fed with white rice diet and the last group continued with the fat diet and this spanned for 5 weeks. During the course of the experiment, the weights of the rats were taken weekly and their body mass indices (BMI) ascertained. At the end of the experiment, samples of blood were collected to determine the lipid profile markers. Statistical analysis was done using Graph pad prism 8.01 using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare the means. Tukey post-hoc test was then used to check for the significance amongst the means. From the results gotten, there was no statistically significant difference amongst the means. In conclusion, from the above results, brown rice plays no significant role and hence has no effect in overall body weight and lipid profile.