PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF COCONUT OIL ON RENAL NECROSIS OCCURRING IN RATS FED A METHYL-DEFICIENT DIET

Weanling rats fed a methyl-deficient diet develop renal necrosis with acute renal failure. The aim of this experiment was to explore further the role of coconut oil in this experimental model. Weanling Wistar m ale rats were fed methyl-deficient and their controls were fed methyl- supplemented diets. Coconut oil was fed at 14% and 20%, the latter con centration with and without 1% safflower oil (rich in linoleic acid); other groups received similar diets bur instead of coconut oil, a mixt ure of hydrogenated vegetable oil and cent oil (rich in unsaturated fa tty acids) was employed. Coconut oil fed at a 14% concentration did no t evidence any protective outcome in relation to the renal lesions. Co conut oil at a 20% concentration showed a protective effect, mainly wh en the diet included safflower oil. The renal protective effect was ev idenced by less or no mortality and increased survival time in the met hyl-deficient mts receiving coconut oil, as well as by a reduced incid ence (%) and severity of the renal lesions as evaluated by renal weigh t, and type (tubular and cortical necrosis or repair) and extent (grad e) of the renal damage.;the lack of a protective outcome when coconut oil was fed at 14%, along with the fact that in those rats receiving c oconut oil at 20% the protection was greater when the diet was supplem ented with 1% safflower oil, indicates that the protective effect shou ld be attributed to the type of fatty acids coconut oil has and not to their shortage of essential fatty acids.