ABSTRACT

Sixty (60) albino rats of the wistar strain were used to investigate the effect different vegetables extracts modified diets; shared into two groups, one part fed with high sucrose diet while others were fed with normal ratchow. Electrolytes status were analysed in the plasma, liver and heart after four weeks of feeding.   The liver being the organ where major metabolisms take place and the major site for glucose storage revealed a significant (p<0.05) increase in sodium in rats fed with high sucrose diet only (HSO) while those fed with vegetable juice extracts displayed moderate electrolytes content. Thus, vegetables extracts modified diet may be a good approached to improved electrolyte imbalance induced by excess sugar intake.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     Introduction

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     Sucrose

2.1     Vegetables

2.1.1  Classification of vegetables

2.1.2  Vernonia amygdalina

2.1.3  Telferia occidentalis                                                     

2.2     Electrolytes

2.2.1  Electrolyte imbalance

2.2.2  Sodium

2.2.3  Potassium

2.2.4  Calcium

2.2.5  Chlorides

CHAPTER THREE

3.0     Materials and Methods

3.1     Materials

3.2     Methods

3.2.1  Diet and composition

3.2.2  Feeding and grouping of animals

3.2.3  Animal Sacrifice

3.2.4  Homogenate preparation

3.3     Biochemical analysis

3.4     Statistical Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR                                                                

4.0     Results

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0     Discussion and Conclusion

5.1     Discussion

5.2     Conclusion