Functional Crackers Enriched with Chia, Sweet Potato, Banana, and Almond Mitigate Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemia and Oxidative Stress, Reducing Cardiovascular Disease Risk

This study formulated and evaluated novel functional crackers supplemented with chia seed ( Salvia hispanica L.), sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas ), banana ( Musa paradisiaca ), and almond ( Prunus dulcis ) to address diet-induced hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress, key contributors to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Two formulations were developed, of which CSBA-FC2 —containing a higher proportion of functional ingredients—was selected for detailed analysis. Nutritional profiling revealed that CSBA-FC2 was rich in protein (18.76 ± 0.006%), dietary fiber (18.86 ± 0.018%), and essential minerals, including iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and selenium. Furthermore, the CSBA-FC2 formulation is notably gluten-free and sugar-free, enhancing its appeal as a health-conscious food option. Fatty acid analysis via GC-FID identified α-linolenic acid as the dominant component (35.82 ± 0.36%), while HPLC-DAD detected major polyphenolic compounds such as (-)-epicatechin (198.53 ± 0.63 mg), trans-ferulic acid (30.84 ± 0.33 mg), quercetin (49.93 ± 0.34 mg), p-coumaric acid (156.25 ± 0.27 mg), and rutin hydrate (13.90 ± 0.25 mg) per 100g. Sensory evaluation demonstrated high acceptability (overall score: 8.58 ± 1.57), and microbiological assessments confirmed product safety over six months of storage. In vivo experimentation using high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats showed that CSBA-FC2 supplementation significantly improved lipid profiles, reduced body weight, BMI, organ weights, and hepatic enzyme levels (AST and ALT), suppressed cardiac hypertrophy, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT and SOD) in both kidney and liver tissues. The findings indicate that CSBA-FC2 is a palatable functional food with significant cardioprotective potential. The synergistic effects of its bioactive constituents support lipid regulation, oxidative stress attenuation, and overall metabolic health.