Consumo materno de óleo de castanha do Brasil (Bertholletia excelsa) uma avaliação do desempenho de memória, saúde hepática e parâmetros físicos na prole de ratos Wistar

Abstract

Vegetable oils, when consumed in the maternal diet, can interfere with learning and memory processes and improve physical parameters in the offspring. Brazil nut oil (Bertholletia excelsa) is an important source of essential fatty acids and antioxidants. During the extraction process, crude oil is initially obtained, followed by a refining step aimed at removing impurities and undesirable substances. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of consuming crude and refined Brazil nut oil. Nineteen primiparous Wistar rats (90 days old; 250 ± 50 g) were previously mated to obtain the neonates. The rats were randomized into three groups that received treatments by gavage: the control group (CG), which received distilled water; the crude oil group (CO); and the refined oil group (RO), both treated with 3000 mg/kg body weight of crude or refined Brazil nut oil. Supplementation was administered by gavage from gestational day 7 to postnatal day 21 (end of lactation). Throughout the experimental period, the dams had free access to standard chow (Presence Purina®, São Paulo, Brazil) and water. Litters were standardized to eight pups, preferably four females and four males. For each group, we used: Control – CG-M and CG-F (13 males and 11 females); crude oil – CO-M and CO-F (12 males and 12 females); and refined oil – RO-M and RO-F (14 males and 15 females). During lactation, the fatty acid profile of maternal milk was evaluated. Reflex maturation, short- and long-term memory consolidation using the object recognition test, and locomotion were assessed during adolescence in the offspring. In addition, murinometric and biochemical parameters, oxidative stress markers, hepatic histology, and cardiovascular and coronary indexes were evaluated. It was observed that RO exhibited a predominance of monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in maternal milk, as well as in the offspring’s brain tissue in both sexes, when compared with CG and CO. The CO group showed accelerated reflex maturation in female offspring. Locomotion was reduced during the second exposure in RO and CG animals of both sexes. Short- and long-term object recognition exploration rates were higher in the CO group compared with CG, and in RO compared with the other groups. Crude oil increased body weight, total and mesenteric fat, and elevated coronary and cardiovascular risk indexes in both sexes, whereas refined oil reduced retroperitoneal fat and lowered these indexes. Both oils altered plasma triglycerides and cholesterol, with a better lipid profile observed in the refined oil group, particularly due to increased HDL. In females, the CO-F group exhibited higher glycemia, while RO-F showed lower glucose levels. Offspring exposed to crude oil showed increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), greater deposition of saturated fatty acids, and reduced MUFA and PUFA in the liver. In conclusion, the quality of Brazil nut oil consumed during gestation and lactation exerts a decisive influence on the cognitive, metabolic, and hepatic programming of the offspring. Refined oil demonstrated greater metabolic safety and a more favorable physiological profile, whereas crude oil was associated with adverse effects, including unfavorable lipid and hepatic alterations. The administered dose was tolerated in the animal model, although its effects varied according to the type of oil processing. These findings reinforce that lipid processing is a key determinant of biological responses; however, extrapolation to humans requires further investigation.