THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIGH CONSUMPTION OF FRESH WHOLE MILK OR YOGURT AND THE RISK FOR BOTH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AND LIVER DISORDERS IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC WISTAR RATS

Abstract

A rapid increase in the prevalence of hyperlipidemia was recorded recently. The link between consumption of milk or dairy products with higher risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and liver disorders particularly in those individuals with hyperlipidemia is still controversial. The present study was conducted to show the relationship between increased consumption of milk and yogurt either of cow or buffalo origin and the risk for cardiovascular diseases and liver disorders in hyperlipidemic rats. An animal experiment was conducted on six groups each comprising six rats after a period of eight weeks for induction of hyperlipidemia. Then, four groups of the hyperlipidemic rats were fed on 30% of milk (either buffalo or cow) or yogurt (either buffalo or cow) for another 8 weeks in addition to control negative and control positive groups. Results for the hyperlipidemic groups which received milk or yogurt revealed a reduction in most of serum lipid parameters, atherogenic index, malondialdehyde while increased HDL-C concentration. Also, a reduced activity of liver enzymes ALT, AST and LDH-5 and the cardiac enzyme CPK was noticed for the same groups in comparison with the group of control positive. Histopathological examination for liver and aorta confirmed the aforementioned biochemical changes. Thus, it can be concluded that increased milk or yogurt consumption did not increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases or liver disorders in hyperlipidemic rats. On the contrary, it improves the enzyme activity of both liver and heart and the atherogenic index, also it improves the disturbed serum lipid parameters of hyperlipidemic rats.