The Potential of Dahlia Tuber Inulin as a Low-Fat Creamer and the Effects on Lipid Profiles, Liver Function, and Liver Histopathology in Rats

Inulin is a prebiotic food ingredient fermented selectively by various colonic bacteria but not digested by the host. Dahlia tuber from Bukittinggi City, West Sumatera, was reported to contain 84.08% inulin. Inulin has unique properties, such as its ability to form gels, emulsions, probiotics and creamer substitutes. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze dahlia tuber inulin creamer, and the effect of the administration on lipid profiles, liver function, and liver histopathology in rats. A total of sixteen male rats aged 2-3 months old and weighing 150–200 grams were divided into four categories. Group I was given only standard feed, Group II was administered inulin creamer, Group III received creamer without inulin, and Group IV was given a commercial creamer. Lipid profile and liver function analyses were performed with the DiaSys® kit using a 500 nm UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The results showed that liver histopathological assessment used NAFLD Activity Score (NAS). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and continued with the LSD test. In addition, Kruskall-Wallis test was used to compare serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentration, and liver inflammation grading with a statistically significant p <0.05. Administration of inulin creamer could prevent increases in triglyceride concentrations, total cholesterol, serum AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase) concentrations, and the degree of inflammation in the liver. Meanwhile, the administration of inulin creamer did not affect LDL cholesterol, HDL, or ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) concentrations. Inulin creamer had excellent potential to be developed as a low-fat creamer.