Beneficial effects of young coconut juice on preserving neuronal cell density, lipid, renal and liver profiles in ovariectomized rats. A preliminary study.

Abstract

Our previous study showed that young coconut juice (YCJ) at a high dose of 100 mL/kgBW had many health benefits e.g. it delayed Alzheimer’s pathologies, preserved neuronal cells, accelerated wound healing and prevented osteoporosis. However, such a large dose of YCJ over a period of time started to have unfavourable side effects e.g. the deposition of glycogen in the liver. Therefore, our aim in the present study was to investigate the lowest neuroprotective dose of YCJ that would cause the least side effects for long-term consumption by postmenopausal women, using ovariectomized (ovx) rats as a model for postmenopausal women. Three lower doses of YCJ (10, 20 and 40 mL/kg body weight) were applied. The results clearly showed that the OY10 group was the best dose to help to preserve neuronal cells in both the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex with cell numbers being higher than for the ovx group at various degrees of significance in each brain region. After 10 weeks of treatment, the circulating levels of BUN, creatinine, cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, LDL, AST, ALT, ALP, total protein, albumin, calcium and phosphorus of the OY10 group were not significantly different from those of the sham and ovx groups. This study has confirmed that feeding YCJ had beneficial effects on the serum lipid profile, and maintained liver and renal functions for up to 10 weeks after administration. YCJ consumption at 10 mL/kgBW/day for 10 weeks, however, did increase body weight and serum glucose when compared with the control groups. Therefore, supplementation with YCJ in postmenopausal women with a diabetic condition should only be allowed under supervision by a physician.

Keywords

• young coconut juice
• neuronal cell density
• lipid
• kidney
• liver