Effect of Nigella Sativa Supplementation in Diet on Metabolic Syndrome in Aged Rats

Metabolic syndrome is a serious health problem that is increasing worldwide particularly in aged people due to increased fructose intake in processed foods as well as physical inactivity. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with ground seeds of Nigella sativa on the criteria of metabolic syndrome in aged rats. The present study was carried out on 52 aged Wistar male albino rats (18-20 months). Rats were allocated into the following 3 groups: Control rats C (n=20) fed standard rat diet; metabolic syndrome group M (n=14) fed high fructose diet ( 60 % of diet in the form of pure fructose) and metabolic syndrome/Nigella sativa group M/NS (n=18) fed high fructose diet as M group but mixed with ground seeds of Nigella sativa (1.7 g/ Kg diet) to achieve daily intake of Nigella sativa (180 mg /Kg b.w). Throughout the study, rats were examined for daily food intake and weekly body weight. After 4 weeks, rats were subjected to estimation of the following parameters; final body weights, body mass index (BMI) and serum levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c , VLDL-c and adiponectin. Insulin resistance was estimated by calculating HOMA-R. Histopathological examination of rat livers, kidneys and brains was also done. Obtained results revealed that visceral fat weight increased significantly in M group compared to C group and decreased significantly in M/NS group compared to M group. Both M and M/NS groups had significant increase in serum levels of fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, LDLc. VLDL-c and HOMA-R as well as significant decrease in serum adiponectin compared to C group. However M/NS group showed significant decrease of serum levels of fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, LDL-c and HOMA-R as well as significant increase of serum adiponectin compared to M group. Histopathological examination revealed vascular congestion in the liver and kidneys, necrosis of hepatocytes and renal tubular cells as well as focal cerebral hemorrhage in M group and almost normal histological picture in M/NS group. In conclusion; Nigella sativa seeds co-feeding with high fructose diet improved some criteria of metabolic syndrome in aged rats. [Nehal M. Bahgat and Ghada Z.A. Soliman . Effect of Nigella Sativa Supplementation in Diet on Metabolic Syndrome in Aged Rats. Journal of American Science 2011;7(7):577-583]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.americanscience.org.