Haematological studies on rats fed with repeatedly heated oils

Nutritional and metabolic trials were conducted on 120 albino rats maintained on standard feed and water ad libitum. Experimental rats, in addition. also received 1.0 ml of fresh cottonseed refined oil. hydrogenated vegetable fat (shortening) and mustard oil and the same after 7. 21 and 42 days of frying of potato chips for 28 days. The cardiac blood samples collected after the trials were analyzed for hematological parameters. The total haemoglobin (Hb), total erythrocyte count (TEC), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemogbolin concentration (MCHC) were estimated. The results showed that forced feeding of extra oil either as fresh or after repeatedly frying had deleterious effects as follows: Hb, TEC, and PVC were reduced. whereas, MCV, MCH. and MCHC revealed nutritional megaloblastic anaemia due to malabsorption through intestine. The situation became more grave when oils were used after increasing number of frying. The repeated frying showed an increasing trend in refractive index of oils. total soluble solids, specific gravity and viscosity with increasing number of fryings. Positive correlation was also observed of peroxide values and the free fatty acids (FFA) with the level of media abuse.