EFECTS OF STEVIOSIDE-SUPPLEMENTED BISCUITS ON THE KIDNEY FUNCTION OF RABBITS

Abstract

Diabetes is one of the four major type of non-communicable diseases that make the largest contribution to morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to WHO, about 422 million people globally had diabetes, with most living in the developing countries. Diabetes are closely associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Worldwide, the prevalence of kidney disease and the metabolic syndrome is becoming a significant medical concern and public health burden. The prevalence of CKD has reached epidemic status in 10–12% of the populations, and more than 50% of elderly worldwide. The prevalence of diabetes is increasing in Bangladesh in both urban and rural areas. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) plant is an exotic plant in our country. Stevia leaf is sweet in taste. Its leaves contains different types of steviol glycosides such as ‘stevioside’ which is 250 to 300 times sweeter than sucrose. It is used as a natural sweetener and has no adverse effects on health. Stevioside provides zero calories in a wide range of beverages and foods. Some diabetic foods (e. g., cake, candy, and bread) prepared with artificial sweetener such as saccharin, aspartame etc. are available in Bangladesh, but these sweeteners has serious adverse effects on health. Therefore, we aimed to formulate a stevioside-supplemented biscuit using stevioside as a natural sweetener and to evaluate the effects of this biscuit on kidney function of the rabbit. We have prepared a stevioside-supplemented biscuit using stevioside as a sugar substitute and also prepared other two types of biscuit using sugar and saccharin to compare the results. Then we fed these three types of biscuits to three separate groups of rabbits and observed their effects on the kidney function of rabbits. We measured levels of creatinine, albumin, uric acid, urea and serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and chloride). Biochemical tests were performed by spectrophotometer and automatic electrolyte analyzer. The results revealed that the creatinine level was in normal range (0.97–1.13 mg/dl) in stevioside-supplemented biscuit. Stevioside-supplemented biscuit showed the high albumin content (3.50- 3.24 g/dl) than that of sugar (3.34-3.17 g/d) and saccharin (3.33- 3.02 g/dl). Stevioside-supplemented biscuit also contained less urea level (36.36 mg/dl) and uric acid (0.61 mg/dl) than that of sugar (urea= 47.2; uric acid =1.03 mg/l) and saccharin (urea=50; uric acid =1.4). Our electrolytes analysis showed that stevioside fed rabbit’s had good level of sodium (143-139 mmol/l), potassium (3.6-3.7 mmo/l), and chloride (103.6-102.5 m moil/l) than that of sugar and saccharin fed rabbits. Altogether, stevioside-supplanted biscuit showed the best results than sugar and saccharin-supplemented biscuits. Therefore, stevioside biscuit can be considered as the best sugar alternative biscuit for the diabetic patients