ABSTRACT
Alcohol consumption is today’s major public health concern in our country, which can be largely reduced solely by primordial and primary prevention. According to NFHS III, 31.9% of men and 2.2% of women drink alcohol in India. Aims & objectives: To determine the prevalence and correlates of alcohol intake among the rural community of block Beri, district Jhajjar, Haryana. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out during the period of September 2012 to August 2013. Multistage random sampling was used in this study. From each selected PHC, two subcentres were randomly selected and from each subcentre area, two anganwadis were also selected by simple random sampling technique. Hence a total of 6 sub-health centres and 12 anganwadis were included in the study. From each anganwadi, 90 individuals of 15-64 years age group who were further subdivided into 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64 years age-group were selected and interviewed. Thus, a sample size of 1080 was included in the study Appropriate statistical tests were used for analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of ever alcohol intake was found 25.7% (Males:49.1%; Females: 2.4%). The prevalence of current alcohol intake was found to be 18.8% (Males: 36.9%; Females: 0.7%). Conclusion: Our study confirmed the high burden of alcohol intake in rural areas and reiterated the need to address these issues comprehensively as a part of NCD prevention and control strategy.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MS) comprises several cardio-metabolic risk factors, which include obesity, hypertension, hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and decreased HDL cholesterol. Leaf extract of Gymnema sylvestre has been shown to possess glucose lowering activity in animal models. This study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of deacyl gymnemic acid (DAGA), active constituent of G. sylvestre, in a rat model of MS. Methods: Six groups consisting of six wistar rats in each, were studied. Group I received the normal diet, while the remaining five groups received high fructose diet (HFD ) for 20 days to induce MS. HFD was continued in these five groups for the next 20 days along with group II received vehicle solution, group III received pioglitazone and groups IV- VI received DAGA in variable doses. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured using tail-cuff method. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was done at baseline and at days 20 and 40. Blood samples were collected for glucose, insulin and lipid profile. Results: Administration of HFD for 20 days resulted in weight gain (>10%), increase in SBP, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and triglycerides fulfilling the criteria for MS. Administration of DAGA (200 mg/kg) reduced SBP and significantly improved the FPG and HOMA-IR (homeostatis model assessment-insulin resistance) with modest improvement in lipid profile without decrease in body weight similar to pioglitazone. Interpretation & conclusions: Our findings show that DAGA decreases SBP and improves parameters of glucose-insulin homeostasis in a rat model of MS induced by HFD. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism of action.