Influence of Sprouted Legume-Based Diets on Hematological Indices in Albino Rat Models

This study evaluated the effects of sprouted legume-based diets on selected hematological indices of albino rats. Soybean (Glycine max), African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) and red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) were sorted, washed, soaked in water at a 1:4 ratio for 12 h, sprouted for 48 h under ambient temperature, washed, dehulled, oven-dried at 55 °C for 12 h, milled and sieved through a 0.5-mm sieve. The resulting flours were blended in nine ratios designated LB1–LB9 and used as protein sources in experimental diets. The diets were formulated to provide 10% dietary protein, with commercial rat chow (CRC) serving as the control. The feeding experiment lasted 21 days. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture into EDTA bottles and analyzed for white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), platelet count (PLT), hemoglobin (HB) and leukocyte count (LEU). Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, and means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test at p≤0.05. WBC values ranged from 6.50 × 10⁹/L in LB1 to 8.48 × 10⁹/L in LB9, while RBC ranged from 6.39 × 10¹²/L in LB3 to 7.47 × 10¹²/L in the control. PCV ranged from 39.61% in LB9 to 52.85% in LB5, platelet counts from 460.33 × 10⁹/L in LB9 to 695.17 × 10⁹/L in LB5, and HB from 13.20 g/dL in LB9 to 17.62 g/dL in LB5. LEU values ranged from 8791.67 cells/µL in CRC to 10233.33 cells/µL in LB9. Overall, the sprouted legume diets produced measurable differences in hematological indices, with several formulations showing values comparable with or higher than the control.

sprouted legumes; soybean; African yam bean; red kidney bean; hematological indices

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