Effect of Salmon Fish on Lipid Profile of Male and Female Albino Rats

Abstract

Increased serum lipid levels are associated with the increased risk of many metabolic disorders including cardio vascular disease (CVD), obesity and diabetes mellitus. The objective of the current study was to determine whether feeding salmon diet with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) will alter serum lipid profile in male and female rats after three months of feeding. Although many studies have focused on the role of salmon fish on human health the results remain controversial. Consequently, the question of whether or not salmon fish are beneficial or harmful to lipid profile remains unresolved. Male and female Wistar albino rats were used in the present study. Each sex was randomly divided into two groups (n= 20 per group). Control group: fed on the rodent diet AIN-93G which was recommended by the American Institute of Nutrition for growth, pregnancy and lactation. Salmon diet treated group: each rat was fed individually on cooked salmon fish diet 0.34 0.69 gm/ rat which is equivalent to 200 gm / 70 kg human body weight then were all given AIN-93G diet ad-libitum for three months. At the end of the experimental period the results showed that compared to the control group salmon diet significantly decreased serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) and significantly increased serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) level however no effects were detected on serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), glucose, insulin and body weight in male rats. Also in female rats salmon diet significantly decreased serum levels of TC and TG but no effect on HDL-C, LDL-C, glucose, insulin and body weight was observed. These results suggest that salmon meal play a protective role from cardio vascular disease (CVD) by decreasing lipid profile. Key words: salmon, omega-3, lipid profile, body weight, albino rats.