Effect of Morus alba (white mulberry) leaf on HbA1c of patients with type II diabetes mellitus

@#Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a wide spread metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. In Pakistan, many traditional or medicinal plants are being used to treat ailments or disorders, both in children and adults. To date, there has been no research study done to investigate the effect of Morus alba (white mulberry) leaves on blood glucose levels of individuals with type II diabetes mellitus in Pakistan. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of Morus alba (white mulberry) leaf powder on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Methods: The study design of this study was a randomised controlled trial. Eighty patients with type II diabetes mellitus were randomly selected from the Fatima Memorial Hospital and were equally divided into two groups - control group and experimental group. Patients in the control group were asked to follow their regular hypoglycaemic medications, while patients in the experimental group were administered with 500mg of Morus alba leaf tablet twice a day, 15 minutes before breakfast and dinner, along with their regular hypoglycaemic medications. HbA1c of patients in both groups were assessed on day zero before the study and on the ninetieth day at study completion. Results: HbA1c of patients in the control group at baseline was 8.92% and 8.91% at final, whereas HbA1c of patients in the experimental group at baseline was 9.13% and 8.59% at final. Conclusion: The results of this study concluded that Morus alba leaves had a significant effect in lowering high blood sugar levels.

Biokinetics of inorganic iron in female volunteers

Iron biokinetics of absorption and disposition were investigated following a single oral dose of 150 mg ferrous sulfate to 10 healthy female volunteers. The blood and serum samples collected at different time intervals were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Total iron in blood showed about 25% lower values than those given in literature. In blood, iron showed mean +/- SD value of Tmax 2.37 +/- 0.17 hours, Cmax 422 +/- 26.9 mcg.m/L t1/2mcg 0.54 +/- 0.03 hour, kabs 1.29 +/- 0.08/h, AUC 6923 +/- 1624 h.mg/L, CI 0.36 +/- 0.00 mL/h/Kg, Vd 5.36 +/- 0.02 mL/Kg and t1/2B 9.54 +/- 2.07 hour. In serum, iron showed mean ' SD values of Tmax 6.73 +/- 0.00 hour, Cmax 10.8 +/- 0.57 mcg.m/L, t1/2mcg 8.05 +/- 1.32 hour, kabs 0.09 +/- 0.01/h, AUC 412 +/- 91.8 h.mg/L, CI 6.80 +/- 0.07 mL/h/Kg, Vd 82.5 +/- 0.55 mL/Kg and t1/2B 8.59 +/- 0.96 hour

Comparison of nutritional status in children of different socio - economic statuses

This cross sectional study was carried out to compare nutritional status amongst children of 5-10 years of age of different socio-economic status. Study was carried out at schools of Faisalabad city for almost 4 months. Height, weight, mid-arm circumference [MAC] and triceps skin fold thickness [TSFT] were measured of children belonging to three socio-economic status [SES]. The study revealed significantly [p<0.05] lower heights of both male and female children of low SES compared with of high SES at the age of 5-5.9 years and those older than 9 years. Similarly, mean weight of children of low SES was significantly [p<0.05] lower than children of middle and high SES. Mid-arm circumference was also significantly [p<0.05] lower in both males and females of low SES than high SES. In children of low SES, significantly greater TSFT was observed in females than males at 5-6.9 years and 9-9.9 years of age while in children of middle SES TSFT was observed at 6-6.9 and greater than 8 years of age. The data showed significantly lower values [p<0.05] of TSFT in children of low and middle SES than those of high SES in both male and female of all age groups. Pearson correlation statistics revealed significant negative relationship between height and TSFT [r=-0.496, p<0.001] in children of low SES in contrast with the results in middle and high SES. It may be concluded from the obtained results that the parameters studied are good indicators of nutritional assessment except height as appeared a delayed effect of nutrition, further that height has significant inverse relationship with TSFT in malnourished children but not in well nourished ones