Short-term consequences of daily consumption of the quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) diet in normal and diabetic rats

Background and Aim: Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (Quinoa) is a nutrient-dense pseudocereal with potential therapeutic benefits for metabolic disorders, including diabetes mellitus. However, the safety and efficacy of varying concentrations of dietary quinoa on metabolic and histological parameters in diabetic and non-diabetic models remain underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of different quinoa supplementation levels (0%, 20%, 40%, and 80%) on glycemic control, lipid metabolism, hepatic and renal function, hematological indices, and organ histopathology in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to eight groups (n = 6 each) based on diabetic status and dietary quinoa concentration. Diabetes was induced using low-dose STZ (25 mg/kg). Animals received the respective quinoa-enriched diets for 30 days. Blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, lipid profiles, liver/kidney function markers, and complete blood counts were analyzed. Histological assessments of liver and kidney tissues were also performed. Results: Diabetic rats receiving 40% and 80% quinoa diets exhibited significant reductions in fasting blood glucose (p < 0.05) and alanine transaminase levels (p < 0.01), indicating improved glycemic and hepatic function. Very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased significantly in all quinoa-fed diabetic groups, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased notably in the 20% quinoa group (p < 0.05). Normal rats showed no adverse changes across biochemical or hematological indices. Histological analysis confirmed the absence of morphological abnormalities in hepatic and renal tissues in all groups. Conclusion: Short-term dietary quinoa supplementation, particularly at 40% and 80% inclusion levels, effectively improves glycemic and lipid profiles and mitigates liver enzyme elevations in diabetic rats without compromising health parameters in normal controls. The findings support quinoa’s potential as a safe dietary adjunct in managing diabetes-related metabolic dysfunctions.