Consumption of Goat Carcass Singed with Petrol Fire or Scrap Tyre Fire Increases Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Male and Female Wistar Rats

Introduction: Goat is a hollowed horn animal of the family Capra aegagrus. In the preparation of goat meat, goat is slaughtered and the carcass dehaired using different methods depending on cultures and countries. Removal of hair by shaving with sharp objects such as razor blade or knife is a traditional method practiced, mostly in the northern and south western part of Nigeria. Purpose: The present study was designed to investigate the effect of consumption of goat carcass dehaired using razor blade, petrol fire or scrap tyre fire on lipid profile and oxidative stress markers in male and female Wistar rats. Methodology: A total of 42 rats consisting 18 males and 18 females were divided into four groups (1- 4) with 2 sub-groups male and female of 6 rats in each group. Group 1 was normal control, fed with normal rat chow. Group 2 was fed with diet prepared using goat carcass dehaired with razor. Group 3 and 4 were fed with diet prepared using goat carcass singed with petrol fire or scrap tyre fire respectively. Feed and water were given ad libitum and feeding lasted for 28 days after which the animals were fasted overnight, sacrificed the next morning and blood collected into plain tube for sera. Sera harvested were stored frozen and analyzed the following morning for lipid profile, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress markers using standard methods. Results: Results obtained showed that diet prepared using razor to dehair goat carcass for meat did not alter lipid profile nor cause lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress as the parameters monitored were not significantly different (P< 0.05) compared to the normal control. Diets prepared using petrol fire or scrap tyre fire caused unfavorable alterations in lipid profile, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress markers compared to groups on razor diet and normal rat chow. Scrap tyre fire group had more deleterious effect compared to petrol fire group. The females appeared to withstand alterations in lipid profile, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress due to consumption of diet prepared using goat meat obtained by processing with petrol fire or scrap tyre fire than the males. Contribution to Knowledge: In conclusion, consumption of goat carcass singe with petrol fire or scrap tyre increases lipid profile and oxidative stress markers in male and female Wistar rats. Further studies are recommended to generate enough evidence as this could be a matter of serious public health hazard.