THE EFFECTS OF FRESH AND THERMOXIDIZED PALM OIL DIETS ON SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES IN THE RAT

The effects of fresh and thermoxidized palm oil diets on some haematalogical indices in the rat were investigated in albino rats (Wistar strain). The animals were divided into three groups namely, the first group fed on thermoxidized palm oil (TPO) diet, a second group fed on fresh palm oil (FPO) diet and a third fed on normal rat feed (control) only respectively for 14 weeks. Each of the palm oil diets contained 15% (w/w) thermoxidized or fresh palm oil. The packed cell volume (PCV) of the TPO group (44.87 ± 0.8%) was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than that of the FPO group (52.50 ± 0.4%) and control group (54.75 ± 1.3%). The haemoglobin (Hb) concentration of the TPO group (11.66 ± 0.8g/dl) was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than that of control group (13.14 ± 0.4g/dl) and the FPO group (12.88 ± 0.8g/dl). The red cell count (RBC) of the TPO group (6.06 x 10⁶ ± 0.4 x 10⁶ per mm³ of blood) was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than that of control group (7.28 x 10⁶ ± 0.4 x 10⁶ per mm³ of blood) and the FPO group (7.19 x 10⁶ ± 0.2 x 10⁶ per mm³ of blood). The white blood cell count (WBC) of the TPO group (3.42 x 10³ ± 0.1 x 10³ per mm³ of blood) was significantly (p< 0.001) higher than that of control group (2.39 x 10³ ± 0.1 x 10 per mm³ of blood) and FPO group (2.51 x 10 3 ± 0.1 x 103 per mm³ of blood). There were no significant differences between the heamatological indices of the fresh palm oil (FPO) and control groups. Our results suggest that chronic consumption of thermoxidized palm oil diet may result in anaemia and leucocytosis in the rat.