The Effect of a Dietary Supplement with Alpha Lipoic Acid and Other Neutraceuticals on Weight Control and Serum Lipid Profile in Sprague Dawley Rats

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a major health problem and a risk factor for morbid conditions such as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome. Dietary modifications and pharmacological agents, among others, are measures often used by individuals to decrease body fat. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a dietary supplement (MS01) on weight control and serum lipid profile in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: A total of twenty-four SD rats were randomly put into 4 groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 was fed on a normal diet (NCD) and groups 2 - 4 fed on a high-fat diet (HFD) for 30 days. The rats on the HFD were treated with the dietary supplement (MS01), at low (group 3, MS01/L) and high (group 4, MS01/H) doses. The other HFD-fed rats received distilled water and served as a control of the treatment (group 2). The doses of MS01/L and MS01/H administered orally to the SD rats were 4 mg/kg and 8 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The weights of the rats were measured at the end of every week to determine the weight gain. Blood samples from the animals were collected by cardiac puncture at the end of the experiment. Serum lipid profiles (total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C)) were assayed using an automated blood chemistry analyser. Additionally, the heart, liver and kidney of rats in the various groups were harvested and weighed at the end of the 30-day period. Results: Rats in group 2 (fed with HFD plus distilled water) showed a significant increase in weight (99.08% weight gain, p<0.001) compared to the rats fed with normal diet after the 30-day period. Rats administered MS01 showed a significant reduction in weight (84.87% and 84.83%, p<0.001 for MS01/L and MS01/H, respectively) compared to the rats fed with normal diet. However, the decrease in weight observed for rats administered with MS01 was not found to be dose-dependent (MS01/L vs MS01/H p>0.05). It is noteworthy, however, that there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) among groups with respect to feed intake over the period (14.74 ± 5.60, 13.52±1.59, 13.17±1.59 and 12.72±1.86 for NCD, control HFD, MS01/L and MS01/H, respectively). The serum total cholesterol (2.08 ± 0.47), triglyceride (1.56 ± 0.81) and HDL-cholesterol (0.98 ± 0.19) was found to be significantly higher (p<0.05) in control HFD rats compared to rats fed with the normal diet (1.51 ± 0.18; 0.75 ± 0.22; 0.59 ± 0.64 respectively). Also, serum concentration of triglyceride was significantly increased (p<0.01) in the rats treated with MS01/L (2.28 ± 1.09) compared to rats treated with MS01/H (0.84 ± 0.48) and control HFD rats (1.56 ± 0.81). The effect of the dietary supplement on treated groups was found not to be dose-dependent (MS01/L vs MS01/H p>0.05). The organs (heart, liver, kidneys) tissue weight of rats fed with the control high fat diet only, showed an increase (0.35±0.04; 2.72±0.4; 0.325±0.055) compared to the rats fed with the normal diet (0.30±0.02; 2.12 ±0.1; 0.275±0.035) respectively but was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Moreover, the organs (heart, liver, kidneys) tissue weight of rats treated with the high dose of the dietary supplement was noted significantly inferior (0.26±0.02;1.88 ±0.1; 0.245±0.025) compared to the rats treated with a low dose of the dietary supplement (0.30±0.06; 1.93±0.3; (0.25±0.045) and the rats that fed the control high fat diet only (0.35 ±0.04; 2.72 ±0.4; 0.325±0.055) respectively. Despite the difference in means for tissue weight of rat organs (heart, liver and kidneys) both treated and untreated groups, the rat body weight to organ ratio showed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) among all groups. Conclusion: The dietary supplement MS01 (both low and high doses) was found to be effective in limiting weight gain in the SD rats fed on a high-fat diet after the 30-day period. However, the supplement did not significantly decrease the serum lipid profile of the SD rats. Further studies, probably over a longer period is recommended to ascertain the possible effect of this dietary supplement MS01 on serum lipids.