BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL IN RATS FED ON CASSAVA (MANIHOT UTILISSIMA) COMPONENTS

The effect of consumption of the different cassava (manihot utilissima) components on the blood glucose level of Wistar rats was studied. Male rats (n=28) with weights between 165g 260g were equally and randomly assigned into a control group and three experimental groups of n=7 per group. The cassava components used were the cassava fiber (popo gari), grated, roasted cassava tuber (gari) and cassava starch. The rats in the experimental groups were given the normal rat chow with inclusion of 50% cassava components thoroughly mixed with the feeds on a 20g feed/day basis for 8 weeks. The control group received equal amount (20g) of normal rat chow daily without the inclusion of any cassava components for the same period. All the rats were given water ad libitum. The rats were sacrificed by anaesthetizing them using chloroform after the 8 weeks of the experiment. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture into fluoride oxalate for the estimation of blood glucose levels. There was a significant increase in weight, from 254±10.6gto304±17.1gat the end of the study for animals in the control group which was significantly decreased in the experimental group fed with 50% inclusion of cassava fiber in their diet, from 274±12.1g to 234±4.0g after the study. However, there was no significant difference in the weight of animals in the other experimental groups at the end of the study. The blood glucose levels in the experimental groups were significantly increased when compared to that of the control group. The blood glucose levels in the control and experimental groups (with inclusion of 50% popo gari, gari and starch in their diet) were 115.5±3.1mg/dl, 137.5±11.0 mg/dl, 151.4±11.2mg/dl and 167.9 ±16.3mg/dl respectively. The findings indicate that rats in the experimental groups showed decreased weights and increased blood glucose levels. Therefore, inclusion of 50% cassava components in diet may have adverse effect on weight and blood glucose