Edible dairy formula fortified with coconut oil for neuroprotection against aluminium chloride-induced Alzheimer's disease in rats

This study investigates the potential protective effects of a dairy formula fortified with virgin coconut oil (VCO) against aluminium chloride (AlCl3)-induced Alzheimer. Forty-two Wistar rats were allocated into seven groups which received the fortified formula, VCO, the standard drug (rivastigmine), AlCl3 and a combination of these variants with AlCl3. Different chemical, biochemical, behavioral and histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations were conducted in this study. Results showed that VCO contains 61.0% medium chain triglycerides, 49.8 mg eq./kg total phenolic compounds and its antioxidant activity (DDPH, IC50) was 53.7 mu g/ml. Compared to AlCl3 treated rats, the fortified dairy formula improved the cognitive abilities, increased the serum ketone levels, reduced lipid peroxidation, reduced matrix metallopmteinase (2 and 9) enzyme activity, reversed histological alterations in brain and activate immunohistochemical Nrf2/HO-1 signaling cascade. Overall, the results showed that the developed dairy formula fortified with VCO can induce beneficial effects for cognitive deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease.