The industrial developments, the decline of physical activity coupled with the adoption of modes of eating unhealthy with adherence to a dietary pattern rich in foods with high energy density and low nutrient concentrations, increased consumption of ultra-processed foods and excessive consumption of nutrients such as sodium, fats and sugar is directly related to the increase in obesity and other chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Thus the intake of high caloric diet is greater than recommended, and has long-term negative consequences. Bixin from annatto seeds has been widely used by the food industry, as a dye, and is one of the most effective suppressors of biological molecular oxygen and can contribute to protecting cells and tissues against to the deleterious effects of free radicals. In the present work we evaluated the hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effect of bixin in rats treated with a high calorie diet. The rats were divided into four groups of six animals each: Control group (C), which received a standard diet, BC Group, which received standard diet plus bixin, Group H which received a high calorie diet and HB Group which received a high calorie diet plus bixin. After the trial period (8 weeks) blood samples and liver tissue were collected for biochemical tests. The bixin favored the maintenance of the enzymes glutathione reductase and peroxidase and prevented lipid peroxidation. The bixin showed no lipid-lowering effect. Our results indicate that bixin protects the liver from damage caused by high calorie diet, and this protection may be primarily related to the antioxidant activity of the substance

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - FMVA