ABSTRACT
Objectives: Homozygous sickle cell disorder (SCD) children are known to have abnormal anthropometric parameters which mostly have been linked with altered zinc status. Alteration in trace element status which occurs from interaction between essential and non-essential elements has not been well studied in SCD. Therefore, the aim of the study is to relate concentrations of Zn, Cd, and Pb with anthropometric parameters. Moreover, it will be established if correlation (interaction) exists between zinc and these two non-essential elements. Methods: Twenty-seven SCD patients and 25 age and sex-matched children with hemoglobin genotype HbAA served as test and control groups respectively. Anthropometric parameters and information on demography, dietary zinc status and socio-economic status were obtained. The plasma and red cells obtained from 5 mL of blood were used to determine zinc and heavy metal (Pb, Cd) levels respectively by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Data were analyzed using Student`s t-test, Chi- square test, and Pearson抯 correlation coefficient. P< 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There were significant differences in the mean values of mid-upper-arm circumference, weight and BMI. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in mean values of head circumference, height and the trace elements in test and control groups. No association between trace elements and BMI as well as between dietary zinc content and socio-economic status was observed. Conclusion: the result of the study suggests there is no correlation between the toxic metals and zinc, and it seems that toxic metals play no role in abnormal BMI that is a common feature of SCD.
ABSTRACT
Cowpea, a major source of vegetable protein for millions in Africa is mostly preserved using synthetic chemicals e.g. phosphide. Because a large number of people who carry out grain fumigation are largely untrained, sometimes contamination of fumigated grain with spent or unspent phosphide does occur. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine if phosphide powder residue is capable of inducing alteration in serum concentrations of Mg, Zn, Cu, Se, Mn, Fe, Co, Mo, Cr in female rats. Methods: Six rats were assigned to each of the three experimental groups. While the rats in the first group were fed untreated cowpea and served as control, the rats in the second and third groups were exposed to phosphide-powder residue contaminated and uncontaminated cowpea respectively. Results: Estimation of elements in the serum of these rats revealed significant decreases (p<0.05) in the levels of Zn, Cu, Mn, Mg, Cr and Mo but non-significant (p>0.05) change in levels of Co, Se and Fe in the contaminated group. In the uncontaminated group, Mn and Mo were significantly decreased all other elements were not significantly changed. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that phosphide residue contamination of cowpea can induce serum Mg and trace element alteration in a mammalian species.