Comparative Effects of Cocos Nucifera Oil and Ketogenic Diet on Obese Sprague Dawley Rats

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of formulated ketogenic diet (KG) and coconut (hot and cold pressed) oils on obese Sprague 
Dawley rats. Thirty rats weighing between 180-200g were divided into six groups of five rats each. Group 1 was fed with the 
standard rat chow (normal control) while groups 2 to 6 were fed with high fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks to induce obesity. 
Thereafter, the obese animals were treated for another 2 weeks on the following formulated diets: group 2 was maintained on 
HFD only, groups 3 to 6 were placed on cold-pressed coconut (CPC) oil diet (HFD+CPC), hot-pressed coconut (HPC) oil diet 
(HFD+HPC), KG diet (HFD+KG) and orlistat (FATNIL®) (20mg/kg), an established anti-obesity agent respectively. After the 
expiration of 4 weeks, there were significant (p < 0.05) increase in body weight, body mass index (BMI) and adiposity index 
(AI). Also, there was increase in low density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerol (TAG) levels in the 
HFD fed groups. However, after 2 weeks of intervention treatment, there was significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the body weights, 
BMI, AI, HDL cholesterol and TC levels of the rats in the HFD+CPC, HFD+KG and orlistat treated groups. The CPC oil, KG 
and orlistat diet treated groups showed marked decrease in serum transaminases activities, catalase activity, superoxide dismutase 
(SOD) activity and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) level. This study revealed that CPC oil and short term consumption of KG 
diet demonstrated a lipid-lowering effect and reduction in indicators of obesity.