Influence of dietary fiber from coconut kernel (Cocos nucifera) on the 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced lipid peroxidation in rats

The influence of dietary fiber from coconut kernel isolated by the neutral detergent fiber method on the antioxidant status in rats treated with the c olon specific carcinogen I,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) was studied in rats fe d a high-fat diet for 15 weeks. The DMH-treated fiber group showed higher l evels of lipid peroxides than the control group treated with DMH at the pre neoplastic and neoplastic stages. Free fatty acid levels were found to decr ease significantly in the DMH-treated control group, whereas it was near no rmal in the fiber groups. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activity also w ere found to be increased in the liver; intestine, proximal colon, and dist al colon. Glutathione levels in all the tissues studied showed significant decreases in the fiber group. The results suggest that coconut kernel fiber can protect cells from loss of oxidative capacity with the administration of the procarcinogen DMH. (J. Nutr. Biochem. 10:555-560, 1999) (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1999. All rights reserved.