Nutritional status, prevalence of some metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease and BMI-metabolic-risk sub-phenotypes in an adult Nigerian population

Studies have shown that metabolic risk factors associated with increased body mass index are the critical factors that confer risk for the chronic diseases associated with fat. The prevalence of these disorders is scarcely reported in Nigeria. We evaluated 542 adult Nigerians for nutritional status, serum total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose level and hypertension, using standard anthropometric and clinical methods. The results show that 32.1%, 11.8%, 19.6%, 11.8% and 60.7% of the population, irrespective of sex were over-weight, obese, hyperglycaemic, hypercholesterolemic and hypertensive respectively. Approximately 33% of the obese population were metabolically-healthy obese-like (MHO-like) while 8.6% of the normal BMI population were metabolically-obese normal-weight-like (MONW-like). Other sub-phenotypes were present at rates of 5 \u2013 32% in the population. The results are discussed and compared to figures from other populations. Our data apparently supports the view that the assessment of metabolic risks for chronic diseases, irrespective of body mass index, may be more useful in identifying individuals or groups at risk of these disorders

Oxidative stress and superoxide dismutase activity in brain of rats fed with diet containing permethrin

Many pesticides have been reported to cause a lot of health problems in workers, users and non-target organisms in the environment. Permethrin containing insect pesticide has been reported to be toxic to non-target organisms. However, the underlying mechanism involved in the toxicity is not well understood. The present study was envisaged to investigate the possible role of oxidative stress in permethrin neurotoxicity and to evaluate the protective effect of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in brain homogenates of Wistar rats. Oxidative stress measured as thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) was found to significantly increase (p < 0.05) in all the experimental groups compared with their parallel controls. Concomitantly, the activity of SOD was found to decrease or increase significantly (p < 0.05) in the experimental groups compared with their controls. Our result also showed that activity of SOD was aged and concentration dependent. Hence, the newly weaned rats appear to be more susceptible to the pesticide contaminated diet because the SOD activity decreased more in the brain homogenates compared with the middle aged rats or aged rats. Observed aggressive behaviour was noticed in the pesticide exposed rats, hence a possible neurobehavioral effect. The result demonstrated that the pyrethroid insect powder exerts its toxic effect by promoting oxidative stress in the brain and this may affect normal brain functioning and growth

Variations in the prevalence of point (pre)hypertension in a Nigerian school-going adolescent population living in a semi-urban and an urban area

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hypertension has been shown to start in early life and to track into adulthood. Detecting adolescents with hypertension and prehypertension will aid early intervention and reduce morbidity and mortality from the disorders. This study reports the point-prevalence of the two disorders in a semi-urban and an urban population of school-going adolescents in Nigeria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 843 adolescents from two places of domicile were studied. Their blood pressures and anthropometric indices were measured using standard protocol. Point-hypertension and point-prehypertension were defined with respect to each subject's gender, age and height. The prevalence of the disorders was calculated and reported age-wise and nutritional status-wise.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of point-prehypertension in the semi-urban area was 22.2% (20.7% for girls and 23.1% for boys) while it was 25.0% (21.8% for girls and 29.2% for boys) in the urban area. The prevalence of point-hypertension was 4.6% (4.1% for girls and 4.8% for boys) in the semi-urban area and 17.5% (18.0% for girls and 16.9% for boys) in the urban area. Point-prehypertension was not detected among the thin subjects of both places of domicile. The prevalence of point-prehypertension was similar in both the urban and semi-urban areas among the subjects who had normal BMI-for-age, and over-weight/obese subjects respectively. From the semi-urban to the urban area, the prevalence of point-hypertension increased approximately 3-folds among thin and normal BMI-for-age subjects, and 10-folds among overweight/obese subjects. Systolic hypertension was more preponderant in both the semi-urban and urban areas.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The prevalence of both disorders is considerably high in the studied populations. Urgent pediatric public health action is needed to address the situation.</p

Nutritional status, prevalence of some metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease and BMI-metabolic-risk sub-phenotypes in an adult Nigerian population

Studies have shown that metabolic risk factors associated with increased body mass index are the critical factors that confer risk for the chronic diseases associated with fat. The prevalence of these disorders is scarcely reported in Nigeria. We evaluated 542 adult Nigerians for nutritional status, serum total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose level and hypertension, using standard anthropometric and clinical methods. The results show that 32.1%, 11.8%, 19.6%, 11.8% and 60.7% of the population, irrespective of sex were over-weight, obese, hyperglycaemic, hypercholesterolemic and hypertensive respectively. Approximately 33% of the obese population were metabolically-healthy obese-like (MHO-like) while 8.6% of the normal BMI population were metabolically-obese normal-weight-like (MONW-like). Other sub-phenotypes were present at rates of 5 – 32% in the population. The results are discussed and compared to figures from other populations. Our data apparently supports the view that the assessment of metabolic risks for chronic diseases, irrespective of body mass index, may be more useful in identifying individuals or groups at risk of these disorders

Comparative Effects of the Leaves of Gongronema latifolium and Vernonia amygdalina Incorporated Diets on the Lipid Profiles of Rats

The hypolipidaemic effects of the leaves of Gongronema latifolium (GL) and Vernonia amygdalina (VA)diet preparations on the lipid profile of rats were compared. The rats were fed for 28 days on diet specially formulated to contain 5%, 15% and 30% by weight of the leaves of each plant respectively while the control group was fed standard rat diet. The serum total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low- density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were determined on blood samples collected on the 28th day. The results show that the VA diet induced a significantly lower serum total cholesterol level at the 15% and 30% concentrations relative to the GL diet preparation. The results also show that there was no significant difference between the effects of GL and VA diet preparations at the various levels of treatments. The comparison of the effects of the two diet preparations show that VA produced higher levels of HDL-C compared to GL which was significant at 5% and 15% concentrations respectively. It appears from our results that VA diet preparation may have better hyperlipidaemic effect than GL diet preparation. Therefore, VA may have better therapeutic promise in preventing lipid related pathologies compared to G

Comparative Effects of the Leaves of Gongronema latifolium and Vernonia amygdalina Incorporated Diets on the Lipid Profiles of Rats

The hypolipidaemic effects of the leaves of Gongronema latifolium (GL) and Vernonia amygdalina (VA)diet preparations on the lipid profile of rats were compared. The rats were fed for 28 days on diet specially formulated to contain 5%, 15% and 30% by weight of the leaves of each plant respectively while the control group was fed standard rat diet. The serum total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low- density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were determined on blood samples collected on the 28th day. The results show that the VA diet induced a significantly lower serum total cholesterol level at the 15% and 30% concentrations relative to the GL diet preparation. The results also show that there was no significant difference between the effects of GL and VA diet preparations at the various levels of treatments. The comparison of the effects of the two diet preparations show that VA produced higher levels of HDL-C compared to GL which was significant at 5% and 15% concentrations respectively. It appears from our results that VA diet preparation may have better hyperlipidaemic effect than GL diet preparation. Therefore, VA may have better therapeutic promise in preventing lipid related pathologies compared to G

Association Between Blood Pressure and some other Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in a Lean Black Population

Blood pressures, serum total cholesterol levels, blood glucose levels, anthropometric parameters and ages of five hundred and thirty eight adult Nigerians, living in two localities were measured using standard protocol. The mean age of the subjects was 50.5 ± 10.8 years while their mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.9 ± 5.0 kg/m2. Hypertensive subjects who had desirable serum total cholesterol levels had lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) (152.33 ± 19.55 mmHg, for males, and 145.60 ± 18.64 mmHg, for females) compared to those who had undesirable serum total cholesterol levels (174.02 ± 24.93 mmHg, for males, and 177.65 ± 31.11 mmHg, for females). For normotensive subjects, serum total cholesterol status did not significantly affect SBP. SBP in the hypertensive subjects was highest in the overweight group (159.17 ± 25.31 mmHg) and lowest in the obese group (150.69 ± 20.14 mmHg). In normotensive subjects, SBP did not change markedly between the BMI groups. Data on the effects of age and blood glucose levels are presented. Risk factors for hypertension may not affect individuals with and without the disorder linearly. The underlying mechanistic processes that link changes in these risk factors to their physiological consequences for blood pressure elevation and regulation deserve more attentio

Association Between Blood Pressure and some other Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in a Lean Black Population

Blood pressures, serum total cholesterol levels, blood glucose levels, anthropometric parameters and ages of five hundred and thirty eight adult Nigerians, living in two localities were measured using standard protocol. The mean age of the subjects was 50.5 ± 10.8 years while their mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.9 ± 5.0 kg/m2. Hypertensive subjects who had desirable serum total cholesterol levels had lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) (152.33 ± 19.55 mmHg, for males, and 145.60 ± 18.64 mmHg, for females) compared to those who had undesirable serum total cholesterol levels (174.02 ± 24.93 mmHg, for males, and 177.65 ± 31.11 mmHg, for females). For normotensive subjects, serum total cholesterol status did not significantly affect SBP. SBP in the hypertensive subjects was highest in the overweight group (159.17 ± 25.31 mmHg) and lowest in the obese group (150.69 ± 20.14 mmHg). In normotensive subjects, SBP did not change markedly between the BMI groups. Data on the effects of age and blood glucose levels are presented. Risk factors for hypertension may not affect individuals with and without the disorder linearly. The underlying mechanistic processes that link changes in these risk factors to their physiological consequences for blood pressure elevation and regulation deserve more attentio

Nutritional status, prevalence of some metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease and BMI-metabolic-risk sub-phenotypes in an adult Nigerian population

Studies have shown that metabolic risk factors associated with increased body mass index are the critical factors that confer risk for the chronic diseases associated with fat. The prevalence of these disorders is scarcely reported in Nigeria. We evaluated 542 adult Nigerians for nutritional status, serum total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose level and hypertension, using standard anthropometric and clinical methods. The results show that 32.1%, 11.8%, 19.6%, 11.8% and 60.7% of the population, irrespective of sex were over-weight, obese, hyperglycaemic, hypercholesterolemic and hypertensive respectively. Approximately 33% of the obese population were metabolically-healthy obese-like (MHO-like) while 8.6% of the normal BMI population were metabolically-obese normal-weight-like (MONW-like). Other sub-phenotypes were present at rates of 5 – 32% in the population. The results are discussed and compared to figures from other populations. Our data apparently supports the view that the assessment of metabolic risks for chronic diseases, irrespective of body mass index, may be more useful in identifying individuals or groups at risk of these disorders