Food & Nutrition

Arab Journal of Food & Nutrition
± 10.4) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those fed 5 % tamr (145.2 ± 3.6), and
were insignificantly different (p > 0.05) from control group (168.2 ± 7.1) in serum
levels.
Rats fed different khalal and tamr diets with cholesterol showed significant
decrease (p < 0.05) in serum levels of TG and HDL – C LDL – C ratio and
significant increase (p < 0.05) in serum levels of LDL – C and glucose, TC TG ratio
as well as atherogenic index compared to those fed diets without cholesterol.
Regardless of cholesterol, rats fed khalal diets had significantly higher (p < 0.05) TC
levels and atherogenic index than those fed control diet. In this context, 5 % khalal
diets fed to rats resulted in higher TC, HDL – C, LDL – C and glucose levels
compared to those fed 5 % tamr diets. However, Ratios of HDL – C LDL – C of rats
fed 5 % and 10 % khalal diets were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those fed 10 %
tamr diets.
Trend analysis which tests the data response curve to additional levels of either
khalal or tamr revealed quadratic trends (r 2 = 0.249 and r 2 = 0.245, p < 0.05
respectively) for serum level of HDL – C in rats fed cholesterol – free diets. An
ascending linear trend (r 2 = 0.348, p < 0.01) for athergenic and a quadratic trend (r 2 =
0.206 p < 0.05) for serum VLDL – C level were obtained in khalal – cholesterol
supplemented diet groups. Regardless of cholesterol, a similar trend (r 2 = 0.114, p <
0.05) for serum TC level was found. Serum level of glucose of rats fed tamr diets with
cholesterol showed also a quadratic trend (r 2 = 0.202, p < 0.05).
The results of this study may provide support for a favorable effect of date palm
fruit consumption on certain blood variables in rats. The apparent effect was mainly on
serum levels of TC, LDL – C, HDL – C and glucose. However, khalal and tamr
variability affect these parametes. Compared to tamr, khalal induced an increase in
serum levels of TC, LDL – C, HDL – C and glucose, as well as the atherogenic status.
The data also indicated these effects were more evident at 5 % khalal and 5 % tamr.
These results cannot be simply explained on the basis of macronutrient composition of
date palm fruits. They may be attributed to micro – components of dates and the
chemical changes that might occur during ripening stages. However, because of the
lack of studies dealing with the effect of date palm fruit consumption on blood lipid
profile, the results of the present study demands further investigations in animals and
humans.
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Volume 259 11, No. 25, 2011