Effect of lauric acid on some of the hematological parameters and indices in male Wistar rats exposed to sleep deprivation

Background and aim: Sleep deprivation is a prevalent issue affecting a substantial portion of the population, leading to numerous adverse health outcomes including alterations in blood parameters, increased inflammation, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress. Sleep deprivation is highly prevalent in the modern world, possibly reaching epidemic proportions. Lauric acid is the most abundant medium- chain fatty acid of coconut oil, which has been reportedly used for various health benefits. This study aimed at assessing the effect of Lauric acid on some hematological parameters and their indices in sleep-deprived male Wistar rats. Methodology: Sixteen male Wistar rats were assigned into 4 groups randomly, group 1 which served as the control group was given only food and water without sleep deprivation, the group 2 rats were deprived from sleep for a period of 20hrs daily for 7days according to a standard protocol and were not treated with, and the third and fourth groups were sleep deprived and were given lauric acid (at 50mg/k Lauric acidg and 100mg/kg respectively) 4hrs before sleep deprived protocol for a period of 20hrs daily for 7days. The animals were all sacrificed a day after the seventh day of the experiment and the blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture with a 5ml syringe into sample bottles for hematological analysis. Results: The results of the present study revealed a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the mean value of Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin concentration (Hb), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH) in the group subjected to sleep deprivation compared to the control group and non-significant decrease was also observed in the mean values of Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) in the sleep-deprived group compared to the control. The groups administered with 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of Lauric acid 4 hrs and subjected to sleep deprivation for 20 hrs daily for 7 days showed increased mean values in RBC, PCV, Mean Corpuscular Volume, Haemoglobin Concentration, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin and MCHC and were statistically significant (p < 0.05) except for RBC and MCHC compared to control group and the sleep deprived group. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study demonstrated significant decrease in PCV, Hb, MCV, MCH and a non-significant reduction in the mean values of RBC count and MCHC in the sleep-deprived male Wistar rats and the effects were significantly ameliorated in the groups treated with 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of Lauric acid 4 hrs before being subjected to 20 hrs sleep deprivation daily for 7 days.