Antihyperlipidemic and Hypolipidemic Effects of a Cocoa Liquor with High Antioxidant Properties on Wistar Rats (Ratus norvegicus)

Abstract

Previous studies on cocoa liquor have demonstrated that a blend of raw (30%) and fermented/roasted (70%) cocoa beans yield a cocoa liquor with the desired sensory attributes for chocolate production, as well as high antioxidant potential. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the in vivo hypolipidemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of this cocoa liquor on male Wistar rats fed with a high-fat diet. To achieve this, the cocoa liquor was characterized and incorporated into the rats' diet at a concentration of 50%. The experimentation was conducted with 30 animals aged 10 weeks and weighing between 160-185 g, divided in five groups of six rats each. Two groups for antihyperlipidemic test, two groups for hypolipidemic test, and a control group. After one month of experimentation, the animals were sacrificed, blood was collected for serum extraction, and biochemical analyses were performed. The results show that the cocoa liquor has a high content of polyphenols, flavonoids, iron and zinc, indicating a high antioxidant potential. The hypolipidemic test showed that consumption of this cocoa liquor led to a significant decrease in total cholesterol levels by 7.48%, LDL-C by 20.68%, triglycerides by 3.94%, and a substantial increase in HDL-C by 48.62% compared to the control group receiving no cocoa liquor, with an improvement in the atherogenic index of 37.73%. Additionally, the presence of cocoa liquor in the diet led to a decrease in ALT by 49.39% and AST by 43.87% compared to the untreated control group. Similarly, an improvement in urea and creatinine levels was observed following consumption of the cocoa liquor. Furthermore, the results of the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of the cocoa liquor demonstrated its ability to prevent the onset of hyperlipidemia. We can conclude that consumption of cocoa liquor made from raw and fermented/roasted cocoa beans (30/70) has hypolipidemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects while protecting vital organs such as the heart, liver and kidney of Wistar rats. Therefore, it can be recommended for use in the formulation of chocolate products for overweight or obese individuals.