Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) supplemented diet ameliorates blood glucose, renal tissue and antioxidant enzymes in diabetic rats

Untreated hyperglycaemia leads to kidney damage through oxidative stress of the kidney tissues with resultant
compromise of the antioxidant enzymes. According to research, Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) has been reported to
have hypoglycaemic and anti-diabetic properties. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the
ameliorative effects of VCO supplemented diet on blood glucose, renal tissues and antioxidant enzymes in
diabetic rats. The study was carried out on fifteen male rats weighing 150 g-200 g and divided into 3 groups as
follows: Normal control group (Group 1) and diabetic control group (Group 2) fed on normal rat chow, diabetic
test group (Group 3) fed on 10% VCO diet. Diabetes mellitus was induced by intraperitoneal injection of
alloxan (150 mg/kg). After 3days of diabetes induction, blood glucose was assessed and subsequently on 7th,
10th, 14th, 21st and 28th days. The result showed a significant increase in blood glucose on the 3rd, 7th and 10th day
in Group 2 and Group 3 compared to Group 1 as well as a significant decrease in Group 3 on 14th, 21st and 28th
days. The SOD and CAT activities in kidneys significantly increased (p