Objectives: This study assessed the effect of walnut (T. conophorum) consumption on some cardiovascular disease risk factors in type 2 diabetic Wistar.
Methods: The study employed both experimental designs involving the use of animal models and laboratory analysis of parameters. Walnut was cooked for 60 minutes at 100 degrees Celsius, oven-dried for 45 minutes at 50 degrees Celsius, and sun-dried for 20 hours. Thirty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups of six rats each. The groups were as follows: Control (C), Diabetes-Induced + Standard Diet (DIS) (Toxicity), Walnut Diet No Diabetes (WND) (Protective), Diabetes-Induced + Walnut Diet (DIW) (Therapeutic), and Walnut Diet + Diabetes Induction (WDD) (Prophylactic). Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced in groups DIS, DIW, and WDD via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin at 35 mg/kg body weight after 14 days of fructose-water solution (10% fructose). Rats in groups WND, DIW, and WDD were fed a 20 g/day walnut diet (prepared by combining ground walnut and standard feed in a 40:60 ratio). At seven-day intervals, blood glucose levels and body weight were measured. Plasma was drawn for biochemical analysis, and hearts were isolated and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for histo-architectural findings.
Results: The average blood sugar levels in groups WND (35.28 mg/dL), DIW (39.74 mg/dL), and WDD (37.62 mg/dL) were significantly different from group DIS (48.50 mg/dL) (p < 0.05), but not significantly different from group C (40 mg/dL). Walnut consumption improved glucose homeostasis in STZ-induced diabetic and non-diabetic conditions, resulting in lower blood glucose levels in the WND, DIW, and WDD groups. Average total cholesterol (TC) levels in C, DIS, WND, DIW, and WDD were 30.00 mg/dL, 105.50 mg/dL, 33.39 mg/dL, 28.63 mg/dL, and 25.22 mg/dL, respectively. TC in DIS was significantly higher compared to other groups (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Walnut consumption exerts an array of cardiometabolic protections in STZ-induced diabetic conditions.
Funding Sources: This study did not receive fund from any organization.
