Fresh Raffia Palm Wine, Fermented Soya Bean Milk Supplementation, Enzymatic Antioxidant and Lipid Peroxidation Biomarkers in Lactating Female Wistar Rats

Aim: Lactation is the most crucial period characterized by intensive caloric requirements to boast up female’s nutritive system and breastfeeding life. Current study evaluated the effects of fermented soya bean milk (FSBM) and fresh palm wine (FPW) supplements on endogenous antioxidant enzymes activities and lipid peroxidation biomarker in thirty five (35) lactating Wistars rats.

Methods: Animals were obtained from the Experimental Research Animal House of University of Calabar, Nigeria. At parturition, the animals were randomly divided into five groups containing five (5) rats (n=5). Oral treatment done as follow: Group I: Control group, was given normal feed of protein content 20mg/kg and distilled water (1 ml/kg), Group II: Metoclopramide (5 mg/kg), Group III: 10ml /kg of FPW. Group IV: Three (3) sub-groups of group four (4) received 10%, 20% and 40% of FSBM respectively, Group V: Co-administration of 40% FSBM plus FPW (10ml /kg) supplements .Treatment was done every six hour daily for a duration of ten (10) days.

Results: Serum malondialdehyde concentration, a biomarker of Lipid peroxidation was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in metoclopramide treated group than control group, FSBM and FPW supplemented groups. There was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in serum activities of four endogenous antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) in metoclopramide treated group when compared to control group, FSBM and FPW supplemented groups.

Conclusion: while fermented soya bean milk and fresh palm wine supplementation increased lactation and endogenous enzymatic antioxidant activities without lipid peroxidation, Metoclopramide at 5 mg/kg concentration increased lactation with lipid peroxidation.