Nutritional assessment and lipid profile in rats fed a diet supplemented with sunflower oil and coconut oil

Background. Coconut oil is traditionally recognized for its potential health benefits, particularly in metabolic regulation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a high-fat diet supplemented with coconut oil (CO) compared with sunflower oil (SO) on body weight, food intake, and plasma biochemical parameters in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods. Fifteen male Wistar rats (≈80 g) were divided into three groups: D1 (16% casein + 8% SO), D2 (16% casein + 32% SO), and D3 (16% casein + 28% SO + 4% CO). After two months, plasma glucose, total protein, albumin, triglyceri­des, total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL were analyzed using enzymatic assay kits. Results. Rats fed the coconut oil–supplemented diet (D3) showed significantly lower blood glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels, along with a notable increase in HDL cholesterol, compared with the control groups. Moreover, body weight gain and food intake were markedly reduced in the coconut oil group. Conclusion. These findings demonstrate that coconut oil supplementation exerts beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and weight regulation, suggesting its potential role as a functional dietary fat for managing obesity and metabolic disorders.