Olasope Tolulope M., Fadupin G.T., Olubamiwa O.O., Jayeola C.O.
Diabetes mellitus is a significant global public health concern, requiring innovative approaches for its management and prevention. Cocoa powder, known for its cardiovascular benefits, may also hold potential in diabetes treatment. This study evaluates the effects of cocoa powder on diabetic albino rats. Sixty mature albino rats, averaging 200g, were housed in metabolic cages and assigned to one of ten groups, including normal and diabetic controls, and eight treatment groups receiving 1-4% cocoa powder mixed-feed. Diabetes was induced via intraperitoneal injection. We measured feed consumption, water intake, body weight, and fasting blood glucose, analyzing the data with SPSS version 17.0. Results indicated a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose and water intake, alongside increased body weight in diabetic rats receiving cocoa treatment compared to controls (P<0.05). Notably, rats fed with 4% cocoa powder exhibited the lowest water intake (29.6±8.41ml) and fasting blood glucose (101±3.26mg/dl). In normal rats, 4% cocoa powder resulted in the lowest body weight (204±11.6g). Both diabetic and normal treatment groups showed decreased feed intake compared to normal controls. These findings suggest cocoa powder effectively lowers blood glucose, mitigates polydipsia, and reverses weight loss in diabetic conditions.