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Effects of quail (Coturnix japonica) egg diet on both the blood sugar and the lipid profile of alloxan induced diabetic albino rats

Umera AE, Ejezie FE, Ibegbu MD, Ikekpeazu JE, Onyekwelu KC, Ejezie CS

Quail eggs have been found useful in folk medicine in treatment of some diseases, but its consumption is not as common as chicken eggs amongst humans. This study was aimed at determining the dietary effects of quail eggs on blood sugar and lipid profile of alloxan induced diabetic rats. Quail egg samples were analysed for its various nutritional compositions using the Association of Official Analytic Chemistry (AOAC) methods. Quail eggs were administered to thirty six (36) alloxan induced diabetic rats, which were divided into nine (9) different groups of four (4) rats each per group at varied doses for a duration of seven (7), fourteen (14) and twenty one (21) days. Their blood sugar and lipid profile were determined using standard methods. Proximate analysis showed that quail egg could be a good source of protein, lipid and has high moisture content while it has minimal ash and carbohydrate contents. Rats treated with two (2) raw quail eggs showed the highest blood glucose lowering capacity and weight gain when compared with the insulin treated rats. Evaluation of the blood glucose at intervals (d 7, d 14, and d 21) showed that quail eggs could serve for mid-term and long term treatment of diabetes, but did not have any significant effects on the serum lipid profile of diabetic rats. It could be concluded that intake of quail egg diets either alone or as part of a therapeutic regime, could have beneficial effect in the prevention and management of diabetes mellitus.