Effect of enriched oil diets on some cardiovascular risk factors in rat's recovery from early undernutrition

Abstract

This study evaluates the role of soybean and olive oil in the recovery and evolution of some cardiovascular risk factors in rats undernourished in uterus and during lactation. Beginning at 20 days of age, for a period of 130 days, control (C) and malnourished (M) animals were fed three different diets: standard diet (C, M), standard diet enriched with soybean oil (CS, MS) and standard diet enriched with olive oil (CO, MO). Body weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides levels of pups were measured at periods of 15, 30, 90 and 150 days of age. Malnutrition produced a decreased body weight and experimental diets were ineffective in body weight recovery. The controls, however, displayed overweight. Blood pressure values, taken at different ages and under different diets were within normal limits. Plasma triglycerides increased up to 30 days of age with early undernutrition returning, thereafter, to normal limits. Plasma cholesterol level decreased in all animals with age, except in the CS and CO groups, which showed a significant increase in this parameter at 5 months.