Prostatic alterations associated to early weaning and its relation with cocoa powder supplementation. Experimental study in adult wistar rats

ABSTRACT Early weaning can predispose the offspring to greater risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood. It is believed that the consumption of functional foods is able to prevent these effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of maternal and postnatal cocoa powder supplementation on body mass, metabolism, and morphology of the prostate of early weaned Wistar rats. The animals were divided into four experimental groups according to lactation time (21 or 18 days, n=6, each) as follows: control group (C), cocoa control group (CCa), early weaning group (EW), and cocoa ear...