Comparison of radiation effects on weight of rabbits after consumption of fresh and thermoxidized palm oil diets

Abstract

This study, investigated the effects of radiation on weight change in rabbit following consumption of diets mixed with fresh and thermoxidised palm oil, common diets among the people in the tropics. Two groups of rabbits each were fed with normal diets (Control group 1), Fresh palm oil diets (FPOD) and thermoxidised palm oil diets (TPOD), respectively, while one batch of each group (Control group 2R, FPOD 2R and TPOD 2R, respectively) were subjected to X-irradiation. Weights of the experimental animals were taken over 12 weeks of feeding, followed by another ten weeks after a break of seven weeks to allow for recovery of the animals. Results showed that FPOD diets produced a weight enhancement effect on the animals, with 14.86% weight increase in 12 weeks of feeding against 13.05% for the control group 1 animals. This reduced after X-irradiation to a weight gain of 8.85% for the control group 2R and 7.08% for the FPOD 2R group. TPOD groups showed poorer weight response at -3.75% for the group 1 and -3.32% for the irradiated group 2R. Repeating the experiments after the rest period showed the same pattern of results but at slightly lower values. The results are statistically significant at P < 0.0001, suggesting that X-radiation aggravates weight loss in TPOD subjects, but its effect on FPOD and Control diets subjects are reversible.

Global Journal of Mathematical Sciences Vol. 6 (1) 2007: pp. 29-34