Tarfa M Peter, Onesmus Mahdi and Elizabeth Samaila Banu
Gombe State University, Nigeria Northwest University, Nigeria
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Neurol Neurosci
The astrocytic proliferation following chronic consumption of thermoxidized and fresh palm oil diets was studied on the brainstem of growing mice. 30 mice were divided into three groups A, B and C. 15 g of thermoxidized palm oil was mixed with 85 g of mice chow (15% w/w) and given to the group C animals. 15 g of fresh palm oil was mixed with 85 g of mice chow (15% w/w) and administered to the group B animals while group A animals were fed with normal mice chow. The astrocytes in the brainstem of mice in the thermoxidized palm oil group significantly increased in number (hyperplasia) and size (hypertrophy) when compared with animals in the control and fresh palm oil groups due to the presence of concomitant evolution of toxic byproducts (free radicals, peroxides, etc.). If the results obtained in mice are applicable to man, there is reason for concern regarding adverse consequences of chronic consumption of thermoxidized palm oil diet. This may be dangerous to health since it may result in astrocytic proliferation in brainstem, thereby making the animals susceptible to loss of motor function like control of cardiovascular system, respiration, gastrointestinal tract, eye movement, etc.
Tarfa M Peter is presently working as a Professor at Gombe State University, Nigeria