Diets containing Vernonia amygdalina leaves are Antihyperlipidemic and antiatherogenic in streptozotocin induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

The effect of consumption of diets containing Vernonia amygdalina (VA) leaves on lipid profile of diabetic wistar rats was investigated. Fifty (50) female wistar rats were randomly distributed into five groups of ten rats each. Group 1 (normal control) was fed with normal rat feed; Group 2 (diabetic control) was also fed with normal rat feed; Groups 3 and 4 (diabetic, diet-treated) were fed with diets containing 5% and 7.5% Vernonia amygdalina (VA) leaves respectively; Group 5 (diabetic, insulin-treated) was fed with normal feed and treated with insulin. The study lasted for a period of 28 days. Results revealed that treatment with VA-containing diets caused significant (P<0.05) increase in serum concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) when compared with the diabetic control. VA-containing diets, but not treatment with insulin significantly (P<0.05) reduced TC, TG, VLDLC, and LDLc. VA-containing diets also decreased atherogenic index (log (HDLc/TC) in the diet treated groups compared to the diabetic control. The VA-containing diets were more effective than insulin and showed no significant differences in all the lipid parameters when compared to those of the normal control. It could be concluded that diets containing Vernonia amygdalina leaves are antihyperlipidemic and antiatherogenic and i potential nutritional strategy against lipid abnormalities and cardiovascular diseases associated with diabetes mellitus.