Background to the study: Carrot (Daucus carota) is a root vegetable eaten for its numerous health benefits. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Daucus carota on blood glucose and body weight. Methodology: The study involved 28 male wistar rats separated into 4 groups of 7 rats each. Group 1 served as control and was given distilled water, whilst groups 2, 3 and 4 served as test groups and were given aqueous extract of Daucus carota at daily doses of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg respectively. The experiment lasted for 28 days. The weights of the animals were measured at the onset of the experiment and recorded as Weight in Day 0 and also at the end of the experiment and recorded as Weight in Day 28. The blood glucose levels of the animals were also measured on Day 28. Results: Results showed that oral administration of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of carrot extract respectively caused significant reduction in the blood glucose concentrations but no significant change was observed in response to administration of 600mg/kg compared to the control. The percentage change in body weight increased to 24.65% and 27.49% with administration of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg respectively from the pre-experiment weight. Administration of 600mg/kg of carrot extract only caused a percentage weight change of 21.3% similar to the control group. Conclusion: Conclusively, moderate consumption of carrot extract significantly reduced blood glucose with a slight increase in body weight. Based on the blood glucose lowering effect of carrots in our study, we recommend that carrots be considered good in the dietary management of diabetes.

Keywords: Carrot (Daucus carota), Body Weight, Blood Glucose, Wistar Rats.