Morphometric Changes Due To β Carotene on Wistar Rats Fed Dietary Fat

Beta-carotene (βC), an antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables is responsible for the yellow color of these plants. The aim of the present research was to investigate the morphometric changes on Wistar rats fed high dietary fat and βC. Thirty (30) male Wistar rats were randomly grouped into 6. Group A was the Control and received distilled water, Group B received high-fat diet of 60% fat and 40% rat chow, Group C received 300mg/kg body weight (BW) of βC, Group D received high-fat diet for 12 weeks and was treated with 300mg/kg BW of βC for 2 weeks, Groups E received 300mg/kg BW of βC for 2 weeks and then received high-fat diet for12 weeks while Group F received high-fat diet for 12 weeks and was treated with 150mg/kg BW of βC for 2 weeks. At the end of 16 weeks, the weights, head-tail lengths were measured and the animals humanely sacrificed, the weights of the liver measured. The results showed that increase in high-fat diets did not sequel increase in the body weight and liver weight in the treated groups. When compared to Groups D and F, Group C showed increased body and liver weights but these were lower than that observed in Group A. The liver weight was increased in animals feed dietary fat alone when compared to Group A. The result showed that Lee index was higher in Groups D and F when compared to Groups B and E. The results of the present study suggest that β carotene extract can be very effective in treating weight gain due to high fat diets.