Black oncom’s potential role in maintaining growth rate and vitamin B6 status of vitamin B6 deficiency model rats

Background: Black oncom biscuit contains vitamin B6 and that is a derivative product of black oncom (peanut meal fermented by Rhizopus oligosporus). Aim: This study analyzed the effect of black oncom subtitution (black oncom flour and black oncom biscuit) on body weight, feed intake, growth rate, and vitamin B6 status in rats with vitamin B6 deficiency. Methods: Male rats were randomly selected into five groups and it respectively received 5 treatments which contained 3 g/kg feed of methionine, i.e., normal diet as control (C group), vitamin B6 deficient (≤ 0.6 mg/kg) diet (D group), vitamin B6 deficient (≤ 0.6 mg/kg) diet with pyridoxine HCl (7 mg/kg) substitution (DP), vitamin B6 deficient (≤ 0.6 mg/kg) diet with 15.05 g/kg feed of black oncom flour substitution (DOF), and vitamin B6 deficient (≤ 0.6 mg/kg) diet with 76.89 g/kg feed of black oncom biscuit substitution (DOB) for 7 weeks. Results: The Body weight, feed intake, and growth rate of the DOF and DOB groups were not different from those of the C group, whereas the D and feed intake were significantly reduced in the D group compared to the C group. Plasma PLP (pyridoxal 5\' phosphate) levels were decreased in the D group, and increased in the DOF and DOB groups (p > 0.05). Plasma Hcy (homocysteine) was increased in the D and DOF groups, but decreased in the DOB group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated the potential benefits of black oncom in maintaining body weight, growth rate, and vitamin B6 status.