Biomarkers of Metabolic Syndrome in Honey Fed Wistar Rats

U. E. Uzuegbu

Department of Medical Biochemistry, Delta State University, Abraka Nigeria.

ABSTRACT: Recent findings indicate that a high fructose diet induces features of metabolic syndrome in both humans and laboratory rats. Honey contains a high amount of fructose and its effects on the risk of metabolic syndrome have not been fully documented. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of the changes in risk biomarkers of honey feeding on metabolic syndrome. Forty-nine (49) Wistar rats (n=7/group) were fed for 4 weeks with semi-purified diet containing 65g/100g carbohydrate (control) and 20% (group B), 30% (group C) and 40% (group D) honey or fructose/glucose quantities equivalent to the amount in 20% (group E), 30% (group F) and 40% (group G) honey. After biochemical assay, it was observed that honey and fructose caused significant increase (P<0.05) in serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TAG), LDL-cholesterol, uric acid, glucose and body weight of the experimental animals, but reduced (P<0.05) HDL-cholesterol. Thus honey or fructose feeding has a measure of risk regarding metabolic syndrome. Like fructose, the consumption of honey may confer similar metabolic disorder. A considerable amount of research is required to completely appreciate the implications of the increased biomarkers of metabolic syndrome.

KEYWORDS: Metabolic syndrome; honey fructose; cholesterol; triacylglycerol; glucose

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