Unripe banana flour (Musa cavendishii) promotes decrease in weight gain and elimination of fecal cholesterol in Wistar rats

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the chemical composition of unripe banana flour from Southeast Brazil and verify its nutritional, physiological and biochemical properties in adult Wistar rats. Design/methodology/approach Analysis of soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, moisture, ash, lipids, proteins, carbohydrate, resistant and total starch and energy was obtained. In all, 18 male Wistar rats were given different concentrations of unripe banana flour (0, 10 and 20 per cent) and these assessments were performed: feed, caloric and water intake; weight gain; coefficient of food efficiency; weight of organs; body, tibia and femur length; total mineral of bones; and biochemistry of blood, hepatic fluids and feces. Findings Unripe banana flour showed a potential for weight control as well as increased fecal cholesterol excretion. These results showed the potential of unripe banana flour for obesity treatment and lipid excretion. Nevertheless, plasma triacylglycerol levels increased in the animals that received the largest amount of banana flour (20 per cent w/w), possibly because of the large amount of resistant starch in the flour, indicating the need for additional studies to confirm the mechanisms responsible for this increase. Originality/value Unripe banana flour may promote beneficial health effects (such as weight control and increased elimination of cholesterol in feces); however, the large amount of resistant starch present may be responsible for an increase in blood triacyglycerol.

Coconut Oil Promotes Greater Satiety and Reduces Blood Cholesterol, But Induces Obesity, Anxiety and Impaired Bone Formation in Adult Wistar Rats

“…This decrease may be due to the presence of MCTs, by increasing the excretion of bile acids in the feces (Li et al 2018). In particular, the decrease in LDL-c levels reduces the risk of atherosclerosis (Escobar et al 2019;Singh et al, 2019). Therefore, even with the increase in fat mass, the animals in the CO group had lower levels of total cholesterol, which was a beneficial effect of adding VCO to the diet.…”

“…Total food intake was calculated by add up daily intake during the treatment period (López-Espinoza et al 2015) and total caloric intake was estimated as described by Escobar et al (2019). The animals were weighted weekly and weight gain was calculated by subtracting the initial weight from the final weight obtained on the 42nd day (Galindo et al 2019).…”

“…The animals were weighted weekly and weight gain was calculated by subtracting the initial weight from the final weight obtained on the 42nd day (Galindo et al 2019). The feed efficiency was calculated by the ratio of weight gain on total food intake (Escobar et al 2019). Body length was evaluated on the 43 rd day and the Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated using the equation: BMI = final weight/body length² (Escobar et al 2019).…”

“…The rats were fasted for 12 hours, anesthetized (xylazine 20 mg.kg -1 ; ketamine 40 mg.kg -1 ) and euthanized by exsanguination. About 2 mL of blood serum were collected to determine the glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol using Labtest ® kits (Escobar et al 2019).…”

“…The organs (spleen, heart, liver, kidneys, adrenals, testes) and abdominal adipose tissue (epididymal, retroperotonial and visceral) were removed, cleaned and weighted. The femur and tibia were measured with a digital capillary caliper and the mineral content was determined as described previously (Escobar et al 2019).…”