Effects of commercial non-dairy tea whitener consumption in comparison to milk on lipid profile, histopathology, and liver enzymes in animal model

Abstract

The pandemic of obesity and other diet-related non-communicable diseases are serious threats to the wellbeing and financial prosperity around the globe. It has been documented that the consumption of processed foods with high levels of refined sugars and fats are the main cause contributing to this phenomenon. The present work was therefore conducted to assess the effects of the consumption of non-dairy tea whiteners (NDTW’s) on lipid profile, histopathology, and liver enzymes of rats for a period of three months. To this end, 30 albino Wister rats (7 weeks old, 130 ± 5 g) was divided into five groups namely control (G1), fed with whole milk (G2), and groups fed with defined dose of commercial NDTW’s (G3, G4, and G5). All rats were provided feed and water ad libitum during the experimental period. At trial completion, the rats were decapitated, and samples (blood, liver) were collected and subjected to blood chemistry (lipid profile) and liver histopathological analyses. Results indicated that as compared to milk, powder NDTW consumption increased the level of cholesterol (69%), triglycerides (98%), and LDL (84%), whereas HDL was non-significantly affected. On the other hand, liquid NDTW consumption led to the increase in triglyceride levels for all NDTW, and yielded 130% increase as compared to milk, which might have been attributed to composition of NDTW. Additionally, liver and renal functional tests yielded non-significant results. The present work concluded that the consumption of NDTW contributed towards derangement and elevation in lipid profile parameters as compared to milk, particularly if consumed for longer period of time.