Dried yogurt and quinoa attenuate neurodegeneration and cranial bone alterations in protein-deficient rats: a histopathological and radiological study

Bircan Alan; Vatan Kavak; Doğan Kurt

Dried yogurt and quinoa attenuate neurodegeneration and cranial bone alterations in protein-deficient rats: a histopathological and radiological study

Abstract

Aims: This study focuses on experimental studies conducted on rats to explain the effects of malnutrition and poor nutrition, dry yogurt diet, and quinoa diet on skull measurements. Methods: Newborn rat pups were divided as a 2% protein diet, a 12% protein diet, a 24% protein diet, a dry yogurt diet, and a quinoa diet. The diets were isocaloric and were administered from day 22 prenatal, the weaning period, until 90 days of age. Skull measurements were taken from lateral and anterior skull X-rays. Results: In the 22nd day of the 2% protein diet fed offspring rats, the average brain weight was 1.1550±0.094 and the average brain weight was 1.470±0.080 on the 90th day, p=0.001. The average body weight of the 22nd day of the 2% protein diet-fed baby rats was 19.20±3.238 and the average body weight was 95.461±6.233 on the 90th day. p=0.001. Significant changes in cranial structure were observed in 90-day-old rats fed diets containing 24%, 12%, and 2% protein, as well as dry yogurt and quinoa. Bone measurements were significantly shorter in low-protein diets. Skull length, facial length, nasal bone length, and Orbit length optic canal suture results in the 2% and 24% protein modeling were: 2.66±0.03-4.07±0.1, p<0.0001. 1.74±0.1-2.72±0.0, p<0.0001. 0.82±0.0-1.45±0.1, p<0.0001, and 0.11±0.0-0.13±0.1, p<0.0001, respectively. Conclusion: Dried yogurt and quinoa supplementation significantly enhanced body and brain weights in rat pups compared to 2% and 12% protein diets, particularly reversing the deficits observed in protein restricted cohorts.

Keywords

References

Terreros G, Pérez MÁ, Muñoz-LLancao P, D'Espessailles A, Martínez EA, Dagnino-Subiabre A. The neuroprotective role of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) supplementation in hippocampal morphology and memory of adolescent stressed rats. Nutrients. 2024; 16(3):381. doi:10.3390/nu16030381
Hu Y, Zhou J, Cao Y, Zhang J, Zou L. Anti-aging effects of polysaccharides from quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) in improving memory and cognitive function. J Funct Foods. 2022;94:105097. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2022. 105097
Pannerchelvan S, Rios-Solis L, Wasoh H, et al. Functional yogurt: a comprehensive review of its nutritional composition and health benefits. Food Funct. 2024;15(22):10927-10955. doi:10.1039/d4fo03671a
Adams MS, Mensink RP, Joris PJ. Effects of dietary proteins on cognitive performance and brain vascular function in adults: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Nutr Res Rev. 2025;38(2):450-464. doi: 10.1017/S0954422424000271
Roshankhah S, Sadeghi E, Jalili C, Salahshoor M. Impacts of low-protein diet on the hippocampal CA1 neurons and learning deficits in rats. Adv Hum Biol. 2019;9(2):124-128. doi:10.4103/AIHB.AIHB-31-19
Lau-Cam CA. Protective role of taurine and structurally related compounds against diabetes-induced oxidative stress. In: Preedy VR, ed. Diabetes: Oxidative Stress and Dietary Antioxidants. 2nd ed. Academic Press. 2020:351-359. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-815776-3.00036-X
Prado EL, Dewey KG. Nutrition and brain development in early life. Nutr Rev. 2014;72(4):267-284. doi:10.1111/nure.12102
Chertoff, MSJ. Protein malnutrition and brain development. Brain Disord Ther. 2015;4(3):1-6. doi:10.4172/2168-975X.1000171

Garn SM, Rohmann CG, Behar M, Viteri F, Guzman MA. Compact bone deficiency in protein-calorie malnutrition. Science. 1964;145(3639):1444-1445. doi:10.1126/science.145.3639.1444
Bonjour JP. Dietary protein: an essential nutrient for bone health. J Am Coll Nutr. 2005;24(6 Suppl):526S-536S. doi:10.1080/07315724.2005.10719501
Lightfoot PS, German RZ. The effects of muscular dystrophy on craniofacial growth in mice: a study of heterochrony and ontogenetic allometry. J Morphol. 1998;235(1):1-16. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-4687(199801)235:1<1::AID-JMOR1>3.0.CO;2-F
Tatli M, Guzel A, Kizil G, Kavak V, Yavuz M, Kizil M. Comparison of the effects of maternal protein malnutrition and intrauterine growth restriction on redox state of central nervous system in offspring rats. Brain Res. 2007;1156:21-30. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2007.04.036
Kavak V, Babacan F, Celik F, Bilici A, Kara IH. The effect of ligation of the uterine artery and early postnatal food restriction-animal models for growth retardation on the rat. Liet Bendrosios Prakt Gydytojas. 2010; 14(2):98-105.
Alamy M, Bengelloun WA. Malnutrition and brain development: an analysis of the effects of inadequate diet during different stages of life in rat. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2012;36(6):1463-1480. doi:10.1016/ j.neubiorev.2012.03.009
Bonjour JP. Protein intake and bone health. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2011;81(2-3):134-142. doi:10.1024/0300-9831/a000063
Gaffney-Stomberg E, Insogna KL, Rodriguez NR, Kerstetter JE. Increasing dietary protein requirements in elderly people for optimal muscle and bone health. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009;57(6):1073-1079. doi:10. 1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02285.x

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Radiology and Organ Imaging

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Bircan Alan ^*
0000-0001-9073-2114
Türkiye

Vatan Kavak
0000-0002-5287-4485
Türkiye

Doğan Kurt
0000-0002-0049-7809
Türkiye

Publication Date

May 22, 2026

Submission Date

February 12, 2026

Acceptance Date

March 17, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 3

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA86DU59MM

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Alan, B., Kavak, V., & Kurt, D. (2026). Dried yogurt and quinoa attenuate neurodegeneration and cranial bone alterations in protein-deficient rats: a histopathological and radiological study. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 8(3), 385-392. https://izlik.org/JA86DU59MM

AMA

1.Alan B, Kavak V, Kurt D. Dried yogurt and quinoa attenuate neurodegeneration and cranial bone alterations in protein-deficient rats: a histopathological and radiological study. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8(3):385-392. https://izlik.org/JA86DU59MM

Chicago

Alan, Bircan, Vatan Kavak, and Doğan Kurt. 2026. “Dried Yogurt and Quinoa Attenuate Neurodegeneration and Cranial Bone Alterations in Protein-Deficient Rats: A Histopathological and Radiological Study”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 (3): 385-92. https://izlik.org/JA86DU59MM.

EndNote

Alan B, Kavak V, Kurt D (May 1, 2026) Dried yogurt and quinoa attenuate neurodegeneration and cranial bone alterations in protein-deficient rats: a histopathological and radiological study. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 3 385–392.

IEEE

[1]B. Alan, V. Kavak, and D. Kurt, “Dried yogurt and quinoa attenuate neurodegeneration and cranial bone alterations in protein-deficient rats: a histopathological and radiological study”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 385–392, May 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA86DU59MM

ISNAD

Alan, Bircan - Kavak, Vatan - Kurt, Doğan. “Dried Yogurt and Quinoa Attenuate Neurodegeneration and Cranial Bone Alterations in Protein-Deficient Rats: A Histopathological and Radiological Study”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8/3 (May 1, 2026): 385-392. https://izlik.org/JA86DU59MM.

JAMA

1.Alan B, Kavak V, Kurt D. Dried yogurt and quinoa attenuate neurodegeneration and cranial bone alterations in protein-deficient rats: a histopathological and radiological study. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8:385–392.

MLA

Alan, Bircan, et al. “Dried Yogurt and Quinoa Attenuate Neurodegeneration and Cranial Bone Alterations in Protein-Deficient Rats: A Histopathological and Radiological Study”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 8, no. 3, May 2026, pp. 385-92, https://izlik.org/JA86DU59MM.

Vancouver

1.Bircan Alan, Vatan Kavak, Doğan Kurt. Dried yogurt and quinoa attenuate neurodegeneration and cranial bone alterations in protein-deficient rats: a histopathological and radiological study. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj [Internet]. 2026 May 1;8(3):385-92. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA86DU59MM