Impact of a Whole Wheat (Triticum asstivium L) Diet on Fetal Parameters in Sprague-Dawley Rats During Pregnancy

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of wheat-based diet on the fetal parameters of Sprague-Dawley rats. Materials and Methods: Forty adult female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats weighing between 150-160 g were used. The estrous cycles of the rats were studied for the first 16 days to establish cyclicity. Regular estrous cycling rats of twenty, were randomly divided into 2 groups (A and B) of 10 rats each. Rats in (group A) were fed with wheat diets and the control (group B) with normal rat chow for 4 weeks, after which the rats were mated with male SD rats of proven fertility on the estrous day (heat period) of estrous cycle. The feeding continues and the rats were sacrificed on the 18th day of gestation by decapitation and fetal parameters were evaluated. Results: There was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the weight of the wheat diet pregnant rats at the end of the experiment when compared to the control rats. There was no statistically significant different (P < 0.05) in the average number of the fetuses between the weight diet group (6) and the control group (7). There was also an increase in the crown-rump length, umbilical cord length, fetal weight and placental weight of the fetus when compared with the control, however, the increase was not statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The short time-consummation of wheat-based diet may not have a significant detrimental effect on the progression of pregnancy in rats and no negative effect on fetal outcomes.