[Lack of association between renin-angiotensin system [RAS] polymorphisms and hypertension in Tunisian type 2 diabetics]

The genes encoding renin-angiotensin system [RAS] components are potent candidate genes in both hypertension and diabetes namely ACE encoding the angiotensin converting enzyme and AGT encoding angiotensinogen. It has been suggested that the insertion/deletion [I/D] polymorphism in intron 16 of ACE gene is associated with ACE levels, and M235T gene polymorphism is associated with plasma AGT levels. We examined in this report the association between ACE I/D and AGT M235T polymorphisms with hypertension status in Tunisian type 2 diabetic subjects. Thirty nine hypertensive and 22 normotensive type 2 diabetic Tunisian patients were recruited for this study. The I/D polymorphism of ACE gene was analysed with nested PCR in order to avoid mistyping heterozygous individuals and the M235T polymorphism of AGT gene was analysed using PCR and allele specific restriction. The distribution of DD, ID and II genotypes did not significantly differ between type 2 diabetic patients with or without hypertension [DD: 49%; ID: 41%; II: 10% vs DD: 36%; ID: 55%; II: 9%, respectively] [lasmbda[2]= .06, p=0.5 8]. There was also no significant statistical difference between these two groups for the M235T polymorphism [TT: 20%; MT: 54%; MM: 26% vs TT: 27%; MT: 41%; MM: 32%, respectively] lambda[2]=0.95, p=0.62] RAS polymorphisms do not seem to play a role in the development of hypertension in the studied Tunisian type 2 diabetic subjects

[Disribition and prevalence of dyslipidemia in Tunisia: results of Tunisian national nutrition survey]

The aims of the study were to study the distribution of cholesterol and triglycerides and to assess the prevalence of dyslipemia in Tunisian adult population. The Tunisian National Nutrition Survey [TNNS] was a cross sectional study performed on a total of 7860 adult subjects and was conducted on1996-1997. The TNNS included 3087 adults over 20 years old. The mean values of cholesterol [CT] were more elevated in urban than rural area [p<0,001], and in females than in males [p<0.007]. The overall prevalence of hypercholesterolemia [CT >6, 2 mmol/l] was 8, 4% and that of hypertriglyceridemia [TG > 1, 70 mmol/l] was 21%. The prevalence of borderline high cholesterol [>-/ 5, 2 - < 6, 2 mmol/l] was 17%: These prevalences were more elevated in urban than rural areas [p<0,001] and increased with age in both genders [p<0,001]. The multiple adjusted odd ratio of the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia showed a positive correlation with female sex [OR 1.40 p <0, 01], high waist circumference [OR 2.51 in men and 3, 04 in women p <0001] and urban residency [OR1.35 p = 0, 03]. Our study showed the metabolic consequences of westernization style life in our country and should be the starter to preventive adequate policy

[Vitamins A, E and leptin in obese and non insulin dependent diabetes group]

At the obese ones, there is an imbalance between the free defenses antioxydants and radicals from where the installation of an oxydative stress, responsible for the development of non-insulin dependent diabetes. Our objectives was to evaluate the levels of vitamins A, E and of leptin, to search the link witch could exist between vitamins and leptin. We proportioned the rates in vitamins A, E and in leptine at 30 obese subjects diabetic of type 2 including 12 men and 18 women of average age [50,93 +/- 6,13] years not carrying pathologies other than the diabetes and obesity compared to 30 witnesses who theirs are paired according to the age and the sex. Our results chows that levels of antioxidants did not differ between the two groups but we find a non significant decrease in vitamin El [TC +TG] ratio [1,86 +/- 0,38 VS 2,11 +/- 0,74 ; p=0,08] and significant increase of vitamin A level in women obese with non-insulin-diabetes mellitus compared with control group of women [0,69 +/- 0,16 V.S 0,55 +/- 0,15 ; p=0,01]. Moreover a negative and significative correlation between vitamin E and leptin [r=0,452 p=0,01], and a negative and no significative correlation between vitamin A and leptin [2=-0,221 ; p>0,05] were observed. the rate of vitamin A, is different for each sex with share. The vitamin E could have a negative control on the secretion of the leptin

[Tunisian children reference for body mass index and prevalence of obesity]

The prevalence of obesity in children is known to be increasing rapidly worldwide but few population-based surveys have been undertaken in North Africa and in the Middle East. Report the means of body mass index with values corresponding to the different percentiles in boys and girls by age from a large nationally representative sample of the Tunisian children population. The second aim was to estimate the prevalence of obesity and over weight in children and adolescent using the 85th and 95th body mass index percentile respectively derived from the U.S.A first National Health and Nutrition Survey and also the International cut off points for body mass index for overweight and obesity proposed by the International Obesity Task Force and Rolland Cachera. We have used data from the Tunisian National Nutrition Survey, a cross sectional health study providing a large nationally representative sample of the Tunisian population including 3885 children and adolescent. The mean of BMI was of 16.63 +/- 2.58 Kg/m[2] among boys and 17.36 +/- 3.52 Kg/m[2] a in girls. The BMI increased with age and more precociously in girls [10 years] that in boys [13-14 years]. The rnean+2SD of the BMI approached the 95th percentile. It is noticed that our 85th percentile and 95th percentile as well in the girls and in boys were lower than the same percentiles of the children of other countries [NHANES I, IOTF] and that our 97th percentile is higher than that of the French according to tables of Roland Cachera. By considering the NHANES I and the IOTF, the prevalence of obesity were rather weak [<5%] but high according to the tables of Roland Cachera [3 to 11%]. The prevalence of obesity was low in 1996 according to references of the NHANES I and IOTF but high according to tables' of Roland Cachera. Prevention of obesity by a healthy way of life remains the most effective means in the long and undoubtedly less expensive realizing programs of regular monitoring

[Food intake and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels changes during ramadan fasting in healthy young subjects]

During the holy month of Ramadan, it is obligatory for all adult healthy Muslims to abstain from food, drink and smo-king each day from dawn to sunset. The aims of our study were to evaluate the effects of Ramadan fasting on plasma lipids, lipoproteins and the change of food consumption in healthy subjects. Thirty young healthy and normal weighted adults [9 males and 21 females] were evaluated during three periods: 3 weeks before Ramadan [TO]: the 4th week of Ramadan [T1] and 3 weeks after the end of Ramadan [T2]. Main Clinical and biological parameters investigated were: body weight. blood glucose, plasma triglycerides [TG], plas-ma total cholesterol [TC], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-c] and. low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-c] Body weight, and blood glucose were unchanged. There was a significant increase of the mean daily caloric intake, the lipids intake particularly mono-unsaturated and poly-unsatu-rated fatty acids [p < 0,001] and cholesterol intake [p<0.001] during Ramadan with a decrease of the meal frequency. There was also a significant increase of plasma total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol. The most striking finding was a significant increase in the HDL-Cholesterol during Ramadan +20% [p<0,02]. This increase was lost after Ramadan. Fasting Ramadan affects beneficially serum lipoprotein metabolism in young adult healthy subjects with an increase of HDL-cho-lesterol