Effects of Moringa–Mackerel Supplementation on Albumin, IGF-1, and IL-1β in Protein-Restricted Wistar Rats

Abstract

Protein restriction may affect circulating proteins, anabolic regulation, and inflammatory biomarkers. This study evaluated serum albumin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) responses to different formulations of mackerel fish meal (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and moringa leaf powder (Moringa oleifera), collectively referred to as KemoriQ, in male Wistar rats. In a randomized pretest–posttest controlled experiment, 45 rats were allocated to five groups (n = 9): normal control (K+), protein-restricted control (K−), K1 (75% mackerel:25% moringa), K2 (50%:50%), and K3 (25%:75%). A protein-restricted diet was administered for 14 days, followed by 21 days of supplementation. Serum albumin was measured using the bromocresol green method, while IGF-1 and IL-1β were measured using ELISA. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests, one-way ANOVA of change scores, and Tukey’s HSD. Among the supplemented groups, K1 had the highest post-intervention albumin (3.45 ± 0.25 g/dL) and IGF-1 (118.2 ± 7.1 ng/mL) concentrations, whereas K3 had the lowest post-intervention IL-1β concentration (32.1 ± 2.9 pg/mL). The largest reported increases in albumin and IGF-1 occurred in K2 (0.77 ± 0.19 g/dL and 3.39 ± 0.71 ng/mL, respectively), while K3 showed the largest reported decrease in IL-1β (−18.10 ± 0.26 pg/mL). These change scores require verification against the original paired data. Overall, the formulations exhibited different biochemical response patterns; however, nutritional or functional recovery cannot be established from these biomarkers alone.