Effect of Fish Oil on High Lipid Fed Albino Rats

Abstract

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of fish oil (Omega-3-fatty acid) on lipid profile of Albino rats. The rats were randomly separated into four group A, B, C and D comprises of males and females in the same group, the cholesterol was introduced by feeding the rats with margarine (butter) for eighteen days and 0.2ml of fish oil was used for the treatment for eleven days in the groups as follows, Group A fed with butter and treated with fish oil, Group B fed with butter and not treated with fish oil (control), Group C fed with normal diet and not treated with fish oil (control), Group D fed with normal diet but treated with fish oil. After the treatment the effect of fish oil on Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride, High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and bilirubin concentrations were analyzed. The toxic effect of the fish oil was also determined using biochemical enzymes markers. Treatment with fish oil shows significant (P<0.05) decrease on cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and Triglyceride levels while there was significant (P<0.05) increase in High Density Lipoprotein (HDL). The fish oil shows no toxic effect by lowering significant (P<0.05) the levels of ALP, AST and ALT. There was also significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the level of bilirubin.