Effect of soy groundnut mixed grain complementary food on the level of selected growth in male weaning wistar rats

Project Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of soy groundnut mixed grain complementary food on the level of selected growth parameters in male weaning Wistar rats. Weaning is a critical period in the life of a mammal when transitioning from maternal milk to solid food. The nutritional quality of complementary foods during this stage significantly influences the growth and development of the young animal. In this study, we hypothesized that a soy groundnut mixed grain complementary food would positively impact the growth of male weaning Wistar rats compared to a standard diet. Male weaning Wistar rats were randomly assigned to two groups control group receiving a standard rat chow diet, and experimental group receiving a soy groundnut mixed grain complementary food. The rats were monitored for a period of 6 weeks, during which their body weight, length, and head circumference were measured weekly. Additionally, blood samples were collected at the end of the study to assess selected growth parameters such as serum albumin, serum total protein, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels. The results of the study indicated that male weaning Wistar rats fed the soy groundnut mixed grain complementary food showed significant improvements in growth parameters compared to the control group. The experimental group exhibited higher body weight, length, and head circumference measurements throughout the study period. Moreover, blood analysis revealed elevated levels of serum albumin, serum total protein, and IGF-1 in the rats fed the soy groundnut mixed grain complementary food, indicating enhanced growth and nutritional status. These findings suggest that the soy groundnut mixed grain complementary food positively influenced the growth of male weaning Wistar rats. The nutritional composition of the complementary food, which included soy and groundnut as protein sources, likely contributed to the observed improvements in growth parameters. Incorporating such complementary foods rich in essential nutrients during the weaning period may have long-lasting effects on the growth and development of young mammals. Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms underlying these growth-promoting effects and to assess the long-term implications of early nutrition on overall health and well-being.

Project Overview

<p> <b></b></p><p><b><b>1.0 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</b><b>INTRODUCTION</b></b></p><p><b><b></b></b></p><b><b><p><b>1.1 &nbsp; BACKGROUND OF STUDY</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p>Soybean<br>is one of the most economical and nutritious foods which can combat the<br>diseases stemming from malnutrition and the nutraceutical ingredients present<br>in it and can reduce the risk of major chronic diseases like cancer,<br>atherosclerosis, osteoporosis and diabetes (Vineet, 2007). Soybean is an<br>excellent source of quality protein and compares well with animal protein in<br>essential amino acids pattern with the exception of sulphur containing amino<br>acids. Soybean is the concentrated source of vegetable proteins. It contains<br>about 40%protein and 20% oil.</p><p>Proteins<br>are abundantly rich in lysine which is a limiting amino acid in most of the<br>cereals. Soy fat being highly unsaturated has been found to be nutritionally<br>desirable. Therefore, it can easily supplement the diet of poor Indians<br>(Chauhan, 2005). It has high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, such as<br>linoleic and linolenic acids, it is considered as highly healthful oil. The<br>ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acid to saturated fatty acid is 82:18, which is<br>highly conducive to lower the blood cholesterol. Soy food contains most of the<br>desirable characteristics therefore; it may be treated as consummate functional<br>food.</p><p>Soybean<br>also contains many minor substances, which are biologically active non<br>nutritive components known as “phytochemicals”, “isoflavones” or “phytoestrogen” also known as<br>coumesterol or “plant estrogen” very<br>similar to that of female sex hormone estrogen) with very weak activity of<br>estrogen, which offers unique health benefits.</p><p>Soybean<br>is a good source of niacin, riboflavin, iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium,<br>and phosphorous with several fat and water soluble vitamin Bcomplex (Tripathi,<br>2005). Soybeans are often called the “miracle crop.” They are the world’s<br>foremost provider of vegetable protein and oil. The bushy, green soybean plant<br>is a legume related to peas, groundnuts (peanuts) and alfalfa.</p><p>Soybeans<br>are included in the category of oilseed, which is a generic reference to crops<br>with seeds that can produce edible and/or non-edible oil in economic<br>quantities. The most versatile of the world’s major crops, soybeans can be<br>grown in a wider variety of soil and climatic conditions than any other major<br>world crop. Consequently, soybeans are the most widely grown oilseed in the<br>world. In the last 20 years, scientists have learned how to extract a much<br>wider variety of byproducts from soybeans that are proving beneficial in animal<br>feed, human food and industrial applications.</p><p>Rats have a long history in medical research.<br>They were the first mammalian species specifically domesticated to be used in<br>the laboratory. They are thought to have originated in some parts of Asia; <i>Rattus</i>&nbsp;<i>rattus </i>was<br>well established in Europe by 1100 A.D., with <i>Rattus norvegicus </i>commonly found in Europe in the 1700s. By the 1800s, these animals<br>were used for neuro-anatomy studies in the United States and in Europe. It was<br>in the late 1800s and early 1900s that individual stocks and strains had their<br>beginnings (Animals in research, 2013; Sengupta, 2013).</p><p>The success of the rat in research today has<br>been linked to the Wistar Institute in the United States of America, when in<br>1906, the institute developed the Wistar albino strain (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>) (The Wistar Institute: History, 2007).<br>Currently, there are 117 albino strains of the laboratory rat, all of which can<br>be traced genetically back to the one rat, likely to have arisen as a mutation from<br>a hooded (piebald) rat strain (Animals in research, 2013).</p><p><b>1.2 &nbsp; STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p>Soy<br>bean is a legume that is very rich in vitamins and when mixed with other grains<br>to be used as a complementary food can also improve hormonal functionality. But<br>in a situation of determining the effect of it in hormonal growth of rat<br>becomes a little bit problematic in the sense that there might be inadequate<br>instrument for the experiment to be carried out, secondly might be that there<br>might be no competent hands in the laboratory to carry out the experiment. Thirdly<br>could be that there are no good laboratory set up to carry out all the<br>necessary experiment needed. Finally, there have been several research carried<br>out on the effect of soya bean but there have been no single research carried<br>out on the effect of soy groundnut mixed grain complementary food on the level<br>of selected food on the growth of hormones in male weaning wistars rat.</p><p><b>1.3 &nbsp; AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The main aim of the study is to examine<br>the effect of soy groundnut mixed grain complementary food on the levels of<br>selected growth hormones in male weaning wistars rat. Other specific objectives<br>of the study include:</p><p>1. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>to determine the effect of soy groundnut<br>on the growth hormones in male weaning wistars rat.</p><p>2. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>to determine the factors affecting the<br>growth hormones of male weaning wistars rat.</p><p>3. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>to determine the extent to which soy<br>groundnut affects the growth hormones in male weaning wistars rats.</p><p>4. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br>to proffer possible solutions to the<br>problems.</p><p><b>1.4 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</b><b>RESEARCH QUESTIONS</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p>1 &nbsp; What is the effect of soy groundnut on the<br>growth hormones in male weaning wistars rat?</p><p>2 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; What are the factors affecting the growth<br>hormones of male weaning wistars rat?</p><p>3 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; What is the extent to which soy groundnut<br>affects the growth hormones in male weaning wistars rats?</p><p>4 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; What are the possible solutions to the<br>problems?</p><p><b>1.5 &nbsp; STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p><b>Hypothesis<br>1</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p>H0: &nbsp; Soy groundnut mixed grain complementary food<br>has no significant effect on growth hormones in male wistars rats.</p><p>H1: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Soy groundnut<br>mixed grain complementary food has a significant effect on growth hormones in<br>male wistars rats.</p><p><b>Hypothesis 2</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p><b>H0:</b><br>There is no significant difference in growth hormones in male weaning wister<br>rats.</p><p><b>H1:</b><br>There is significant difference in growth hormones in male weaning wister rats</p><p><b>1.6 &nbsp; SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The study on the effect of soy<br>groundnut mixed grain complementary food on the levels of selected growth<br>hormones in male weaning wistars rats will be of immense benefit to the entire<br>laboratories in the sense that it will enable laboratory scientist to examine<br>the effect of complementary food on the growth hormones of wistars rat; due to<br>the fact that most laboratory experiment is normally carried out on rat before<br>carrying it out on human, it will therefore give them the result or the reaction<br>they seek in rat before human; this will give them a clue of what will happen<br>to human beings when they eventually take soy groundnut mixed grain<br>complementary food. Finally, the study will contribute to the body of existing<br>literature and knowledge to this field of study and basis for further research.<br>&nbsp;</p><p><b>1.7 &nbsp; SCOPE OF STUDY</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p>The<br>study on the effect of soy groundnut mixed grain complementary food is limited<br>to growth hormones in male weaning wistars rat.</p><p><b>1.8 &nbsp; LIMITATION OF STUDY</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p><b>Financial constraint</b>–<br>Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for<br>the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data<br>collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).<b></b></p><b><p><b></b></p><b><p><b>Time constraint</b>–<br>The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic<br>work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.<b></b></p><b><p><b></b></p><b><p><b>1.9 &nbsp; DEFINITION OF TERMS</b></p><p><b></b></p><b><p><b>Effect</b>A change which is a<br>result or consequence of an action or other cause.<b></b></p><b><p><b></b></p><b><p><b>Soy Groundnut</b>The soybean, or soya<br>bean, is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible<br>bean, which has numerous uses.<b></b></p><b><p><b></b></p><b><p><b>Growth Hormones</b>Also known as<br>somatotropin, is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction,<br>and cell regeneration in humans and other animals.<b></b></p><b><p><b></b></p><b><p><b>Wistars<br>Rat </b>This is a laboratory<br>rat with its red eyes and white furs is an iconic model organism for research<br>in a variety of fields.</p></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><br> <br><p></p>