Cardioprotective Effects of Insect Apis Melifera Based Complementary Foods Using an In-Vivo White Albino (BALB/c) Mice

Abstract Background- Cardiovascular disease is the cause of one-third of deaths worldwide and this status is likely to progress because of increasing CVD's risk factors like intake of cholesterol and saturated fat. There is no clear evidence that a poor diet in childhood is associated with CVD risk factor development and adverse vascular health in adulthood. Hence, it is important to look at the effects of complementary foods. Therefore, this study assessed the cardioprotective effects of insect bee larvae (Apis Melifera) based complementary foods in young white albino miceMethods- The experiment was conducted using a randomized control design. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23. A total of Seventy-five male white Albino mice were randomly assigned to five diets in triplicate. The diets were Diet 1= Casein diet; Diet 2= (57% Maize, 29% Teff, 14% Soybean); Diet 3= (58% Maize, 29% Teff, 13% Bee larvae); Diet 4=Commercial wean mix; and Diet 5= Basal diet alone. The study was conducted for 28 days with seven days of acclimatization. Diet and water were given ad libitum. The mice blood sample was collected from a cardiac puncture. Lipid profiles of TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C evaluations were analyzed using automated pentra C400 made in France. Results- The results showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.001) of lipid profiles between treatments. Biochemical (mg/dl) parameters showed Diet 3 were recorded high TG (167.79) and HDL-C (67.18) and low in LDL-C (71.73). Atherogenic indices of Diet 3 were low in CRI-I (1.84), CRI-II (1.07), and AC (0.84). LDL-C levels were positively correlated with all atherogenic indices, while HDL-C levels were negatively correlated. Atherogenicity indices showed significant positive associations (P<0.001) with one another; CRI-I vs CRI-II (r=0.919), CRI-I vs AC (r=1), CRI-II vs AC (r= 0.919). Nevertheless, AIP was positively correlated with CRI-I, CRI-II, and AC, however, this was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusions- Intake of insect bee larvae-based diet could have the potential to protect from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in infants and young children. However, further studies on the adverse effects of the developed complementary foods on clinical and histopathological trials should be conducted.