Effects of acacia (acacia mangium) honey in obese-induced male sprague dawley rats / Zulaikha Badrul Hisham

A variety of carbohydrate-containing diets have been correlated to obesity and modified lipid metabolism; despite that, the effects of honey in controlling body weight have not been completely elucidated. This study was principally designed to determine the effect of subacute administration (2 months) of Acacia honey (AH) on physical and biochemical factors of male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Sixteen SD rats (180 ± 20 g) were divided equally into 4 groups (n=6) and were fed with standard chow and high fat diet (HFD) ad libitum for 2 months. Treatment group of AH was administered with a single dose of 2000 mg/kg of body weight and another group treated with orlistat was given 24 mg/0.5 ml of orlistat every day. Weight gain was assessed every day and total food intake was quantified after 2 months. Blood samples were obtained every month for analyses of serum concentrations of glucose, lipids and markers of liver and kidney function. Body weight gain was lower for rats fed honey, but higher in food consumption compared to HFD group. No significant change in energy efficiency ratio compared to HFD. Serum concentrations of triglyceride and cholesterol were lower (P < 0.05) by 6.3 mmol/L and 6.45 mmol/L respectively. Glucose level also reduced (P < 0.05) by 2.1 mmol/L and the level of ALT was reduced (P < 0.05) by 24 U/L. These results imply that in comparison with HFD group, honey may lower weight gain apparently due to high energy efficiency and encourage lower level of triglycerides.