Serum Lipid Profile of Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats Fed Triticum aestivum-based Diet

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder in which carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism is not properly regulated by insulin. Many indigenous medicinal plants have been successfully used to manage diabetes. However, the use of dietary management is most advocated. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antihyperlipidemic potential of wheat-based diet in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Forty (40) albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were grouped into four with ten (10) animals in each. Diabetes was induced by the intra-peritoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate (150mg/kg body weight). Group A consists of (non-diabetic) rats fed yam based-diet; group B, (diabetic) rats fed yam flour-based diet and treated with metformin; group C (diabetic) rats fed wheat-based diet while rats in group D (untreated) were fed yam based-diet for four (4) weeks. There was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the concentration of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and a significant increase (p <0.05) in the level of HDL cholesterol. It is considered that feeding diabetic patient with Triticum aestivum (wheat)-based diet would assist in the management of diabetes mellitus.