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Objective: Paucity of data on effect of olive oil intake on various hematologic and metabolic parameters
in humans or animals have prompted us to assess the effect of oral administration of different doses of
this oil on various hematologic and metabolic parameters in pregnant rats.
Material and Methods: Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were given oral doses of 1 ml, 2 ml and 4 ml olive
oil twice per day in divided doses, for 20 days respectively. Control group of pregnant rats were given
normal drinking water. Oral feeding of oil was done continuously for the study period and at the end of
the study period the animals were lightly anaesthetized with ether and sacrificed to collect blood samples
for analysis. Various hematologic parameters such as red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell
(WBC) count, hemoglobin (Hg), platelets, lymphocytes and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
(MCHC) were analyzed by a Hematology Blood Analyzer while metabolic parameters such as
cholesterol, triglycerides, urea,uric acid,creatinine and protein were analyzed by specific analytical kits.
Activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were
assessed by specific analytical kits. Statistical analysis of data was performed using a SPSS data
analytical package.
Results: Oral administration of olive oil for 20 continuous days did not significantly alter any of the
hematologic parameters studied in Pregnant Rats, compared to control group even when the oil was
administered at a relatively massive dose of 4 ml/day. Administration of olive oil appeared to decrease
WBC, Hb , platelet and lymphocyte blood concentrations in treated rats , but statistically significant
difference (ANOVATest; p<0.05) was noted only in the case of platelet concentration. Olive oil
administration did not alter the concentrations of protein, cholesterol, urea, triglycerides, uric acid and
creatinine in treated groups of rats significantly (Student’s t-test, p>0.05) compared to those of control
rats. SOD level and GPX level in blood of oil- treated animal groups were not significantly different
(ANOVA test ; p>0.05) compared to control group. Conclusion: We conclude that oral administration of
olive oil in pregnant rats, even in massive doses does not cause any significant alterations in
hematologic and metabolic parameters and may offer potential benefit although a slight decrease in
platelet count was observed which needs further investigation. Further detailed studies are in progress
Keywords: Olive Oil, Hematologic Parameters, Metabolic Parameters, Oral Feeding, Pregnant Rats.