Comparison of the effects of fish oil and olive oil on serum lipids in experimental dyslipidemia

Polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA] are thought to lower the serum cholesterol level more effectively than monounsaturated fatty acids [MUFA]. In this strictly controlled dietary experiment in senile male albino rats, we studied the effects of consumption of oil rich in MUFA [olive oil] or in PUFA [fish oil] on unfavorable alteration in blood lipid profiles exhibited in experimental dyslipidemia. Animals were divided into four groups, normal control, dyslipidemic control, dyslipidemic experimental group treated with olive oil and dyslipidemic experimental group treated with fish oil. Experimental dyslipidemia was induced to rats by injection intraperitonealy with adrenaline for 21 days. The rats in the dyslipidemic experimental groups received daily 1.5 ml/kg body weight of fish oil or olive oil by oral administration for 30 days. Data analysis revealed that, compared with the normal control animals, the adrenaline-induced dyslipidemic rats showed a highly significant increase in serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations. On the other hand, HDL-cholesterol concentration was highly significantly decreased. Compared to dyslipidaemic control group, fish oil treatment exhibited a significant decreasing effect on total cholesterol concentration, while, olive oil showed highly significant lowering effect. Both fish oil and olive oil lowered LDL-cholesterol highly significantly. Consumption of olive oil resulted in a significant protective increasing action on HDL-cholesterol concentration, while, the increasing effect of fish oil was non-significant. Administration of fish oil exhibited non-significant lowering action on serum triglycerides level, while, a highly significant decreasing effect was determined after administration of olive oil. The current study illustrate that both olive oil and fish oil could be regarded as a possible anti-atherogenic and anti-dyslipidemic agents and that therapeutic action of olive oil on impaired serum lipids is more effective than fish oil

Maternal plasma corticotropin-releasing hormone levels in preterm labor

The level of corticotropin-releasing hormone [CRH] was studied in 20 women in preterm labor at 24-36 weeks gestation, 20 women with normal pregnancies at same gestational ages, and 13 women in the latent or active phase of normal term labor [37-40 weeks of gestation]. It was found that maternal CRH levels were higher in pregnancies complicated by preterm labor [mean 376.2 pg/ml] than in normal pregnancies [mean 29.6 pg/ml]. The mean maternal plasma CRH levels in women with preterm labor and associated infection was similar to that in cases without infections [370 pg/ml and 378 pg/ml respectively]. Also, there was no significant differences in the level of CRH between cases who were delivered of preterm infants and those who were treated for preterm labor and discharged undelivered [X' 391.4 pg/ml and 325.7 pg/ml respectively]. Mean plasma levels were similar in latent [65 pg/ml] and active [66.6 pg/ml] phases during labor at term

Effect of hyperinsulinemia and obesity on serum androgens levels and menstrual irregularity in Egyptian women

20 hyperinsulinemic and 20 non-hyperinsulinemic nondiabetic Egyptian women, age ranged between 20 to 45 years, were studied to determine menstrual irregularity and hyperandrogenemia associated with hyperinsulinemia. Reproductive history was obtained by review of medical records. Serum testosterone [S. T], androstaneione [ASD], and dehydroepiandrostarone sulfate [DHEAS] levels were measured in stored serum samples. 60% [12 out of 20] of high insulin women had irregular menses, as compared with none of low insulin women [10 out of 20]. While, high insulin women were significantly obese than low insulin women, S. T and ASD levels were similar in high and low insulin women [X S. T 1.5 and 1.15 nmol/L respectively and X' ADD 3.76 versus 3.25 nmol/L]. Serum DHEAS was lower in high insulin than in low insulin women [X' 2.83 versus 4.52 nmol/L]. High insulin women with irregular menses had significantly higher S. T levels than high insulin women with regular menses [X' 1.60 versus 0.67 nmol/L], while ASD had DHEAS level were found to be similar in both groups. It was concluded that there is an association between hyperinsulinemia, obesity, irregular menstruation and high testosterone concentration. Also, low concentrations of DHEAS are associated with hyperinsulinemia in those women

Gamma-glutamyl transferase as a biochemical marker of endothelial damage in gestational hypertension

Gamma-glutamil transferase [GGT] and serum alkaline phosphatase, serum electrolytes and uric acid were measured in the study and control women. 13 women met strict criteria for the diagnosis of preeclampsia [PET], 7 women with gestational hypertension alone [PIH] and 20 normal pregnant women were selected from the same cohort and matched according to race, age, parity and gestational age [32-36 weeks]. There was a significant difference between the GGT concentration in PET [mean 27.3 +/- 1.65] and control [mean 15.76 +/- 0.721] women. Also, significant difference between PIH patients [mean 23.6 +/- 0.93] and control women. Uric acid concentration, serum sodium [S. Na] and serum potassium [S. K] concentrations differ significantly between PET patients [mean 3.9 +/- 0.34, 147 +/- 1.82, 4.64 +/- 0.18, respectively] and the control women [mean 2.52 +/- 0.216, 138.9 +/- 0.77, 4.1 +/- 0.04, respectively]. No significant difference was found in the concentration of S. uric acid, S. Na, S. K in the PIH patients and control women. It was found that, there is no difference in the serum alkaline phosphatase between either groups of gestational hypertension and the control group