Impact of supplementation with native cerrado fruit oil on the composition of breast milk of lactating Wistar rats

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of baru oil (Dipteryx alata Vog) supplementation on maternal milk and offspring of female Wistar rats. Animals were divided into three groups (n = 12), supplemented with baru oil, soybean oil, or olive oil, at a daily dose of 1,000 mg/kg during pregnancy and lactation. The body weights and food intake of rats were measured weekly and analyzed. Milk collection was performed manually from the 12th to the 21st day of lactation. After weaning, rats and pups were euthanized after a 6-h fast. Blood was collected from the animals, five sites of adipose tissue were removed from each mother rat, and the mesenteric site was removed from the pups. It was observed that breast milk from the group supplemented with baru oil had higher concentrations of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic and oleic acids. However, there was no statistical difference between the group supplemented with Baru and soybean oil or olive oil group. Supplementation of the three types of oils did not interfere with body weight gain, animal consumption, serum parameters, liver weight, and adipose tissue sites. However, it showed antiatherogenic activity.