Reproductive & Biomarker Response to a Daily Dose of Instant Noodle Seasoning in Male Albino Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

The effect of a daily consumption of Instant noodle seasoning containing the Monosodium glutamate (MSG) on rat was evaluated, The parameters investigated include; Alkaline aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) white blood cell (WBC), protein, platelets, lymphocytes and Serum electrolytes; sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) chloride (Cl), bicarbonate (HCO3 - ). Sperm count was also investigated. The results revealed the following, the mean PCV was 29 and 25.13on week 1 and week 4, with an average control of 30.69, mean Hb was 10 in week 1 and 6.57 in week 4, RBC had an average control of 5.28 while week 1 had a mean of 4.77 and week 4 3.67, there was a significant difference (P<0.05) for PCV and Hb. The mean WBC and Lymphocyte were 6 and 61 in the first week, and 5.8 and 60.17 on the fourth week, with an average control of 5.28 for WBC and 77.53 for lymphocytes. Platelet had a mean of 251 on the first week and a mean of 532 on the fourth week with a significant difference across the group in WBC and platelets (P<0.05). The mean serum Na, K and Cl reduced from 140.67, 4.13 and 100.67 in week 1 to 116, 2.5 and 98 in week 4 with a significant difference (P<0.05) across the group when compared to the average control for Na and K. HCO3 had a mean of 23.67 in week 1 and a mean of 22.67 in week 4 in the treated group. AST had a mean of 24 in week 1 which increased to 41.67 in week 4 while ALT increased from a mean of 4.00 in week 1 and 28 in week 4 with a significant difference (P<0.05) across the group. The mean serum protein was 51.93 in week 1 and a 74.29 in week 4. The mean sperm count was 800, 299.67, 450.67 and 501 for week 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The results indicates that daily consumption of Instant noodle seasoning may cause liver damage, and kidney dysfunction and has been discovered to have negative effects on blood and sperm cells.