Effects of sub-acute exposure to Sudan IV-adulterated palm oil on hematology-related parameters in male albino rats

Abstract

Palm oil (PO), the most consumed edible oil, is persistently adulterated with Sudan IV dye (S4D). We investigated the potential hematological derangements occasioned by ingesting S4D-adulterated PO. Thirty male albino rats were grouped into five (n = 6); Control, PO (10%), PO + S4D (100 mg), PO + S4D (250 mg), and S4D (250 mg). Rats received unadulterated or S4D-adulterated PO through diet for 21 days. Exposure to S4D (alone and via adulterated PO) provoked significant (p < 0.05) reductions in the packed cell volume, hemoglobin, red and white blood cell counts, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils, while monocyte population was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated. The erythropoietin gene expression was downregulated, while monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 was upregulated in the kidneys of S4D-exposed groups compared to control and PO-alone groups. Notably, these hematological parameters were not significantly different (p > 0.05) in the unadulterated PO-exposed rats compared to the control. These results reveal the potential hematotoxic and immunotoxic effects of adulterating PO with S4D.