Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism (C677T) in relation to homocysteine concentration in overweight and obese Thais.

We analyzed the association between MTHFR (C677T) gene polymorphism with serum concentrations of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 in 37 male and 112 female overweight/ obese Thai volunteers (BMI > or = 25.00 kg/m2), and compared them with 23 male and 90 female control subjects (BMI = 18.5-24.99 kg/m2). Statistically significant higher levels of serum homocysteine were found in the overweight/obese subjects than the control subjects (p < 0.05). Serum folic acid levels in the overweight/obese subjects were significantly lower than the control subjects (p < 0.05). When the data were grouped according to homocysteine concentration and MTHFR gene polymorphism, there were significantly higher homocysteine concentrations in the overweight/obese subjects than the control subjects in wild type gene polymorphism (CC) in the hyperhomocysteine group (homocysteine >10.0 mmol/l) (p < 0.05), but in genotype polymorphism (CC, CT, TT) there were lower folic acid and vitamin B12 concentrations in the overweight/obese subjects than in the control subjects. In the hyperhomocysteine groups, there was no significant difference in the frequencies of MTHFR (C677T) gene polymorphism between the overweight/obese subjects and the control subjects. Folic acid and gene polymorphism were found to be significantly related to the overweight/ obese and control groups in logistic regression analysis (p < 0.05). The results support the supposition that folic acid is more important than vitamin B12.

Relationship between soluble leptin receptor, leptin, lipid profiles and anthropometric parameters in overweight and obese Thai subjects.

Median, range and 95% confidence interval (CI) for median of age, anthropometric variables, soluble leptin receptor, serum leptin and lipid profile levels of 48 overweight (Body mass index (BMI) = 25.00-29.99 kg/m2) and obese (BMI > or = 30. 00 kg/m2) Thai males and 166 overweight and obese Thai females, compared with 26 males and 81 females in a control group (BMI = 18.50-24.99 kg/m2), were determined The study subjects were persons who turned up regularly for physical check-ups at the Out-patient Department, General Practice Section, Ratchawithi Hospital, Bangkok, aged between 18-60 years. Serum leptin, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios (LDL-C/ HDL-C ratio) were significantly higher in the overweight and obese males and females. Soluble leptin receptor and HDL-C were significantly lower in the overweight and obese males and females. Cholesterol and LDL-C were significantly higher in the overweight and obese females, but there was no significant difference in the overweight and obese males when compared with the control males. Low soluble leptin receptor levels were found in 38.1% (8/21) of the overweight and obese males, while 31.5% (29/92) were found in the overweight and obese females. Elevated leptin levels were found in 66.7% (32/48) and 89.8% (149/166) of the overweight and obese males and females, respectively. Both low soluble leptin receptor levels and elevated leptin levels were found in 9.5% (2/21) and 29.4% (27/92) of the overweight and obese males and females, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between soluble leptin receptor and cholesterol, and between weight, BMI, waist, hip and HDL-C, with leptin. Serum soluble leptin receptor levels were significantly negatively correlated with leptin and BMI. The results can elucidate the causes and consequences of obesity, and are expected to aid the provision of care for overweight and obese Thai people.

Antioxidant enzyme levels in the erythrocytes of riboflavin-deficient and Trichinella spiralis-infected rats.

The erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) of riboflavin-deficient and Trichinella spiralis-infected rats were investigated. The rats were deprived of riboflavin at the 8th week of the experiment. At that time, the erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGR AC), as an indicator of riboflavin status, was > or = 1.30 in rats fed a riboflavin-deficient diet and T. spiralis-infected rats fed a riboflavin-deficient diet showed no biochemical sign of riboflavin deficiency. At the 12th week of the experiment, the levels of catalase, SOD and GSH-Px were significantly lower in the riboflavin-deficient, T. spiralis-infected, and combined riboflavin-deficient and T. spiralis-infected, rats, compared to the control group. This may have been due to an increase in free oxygen radicals caused by riboflavin deficiency and parasitic infection.

Serum copper, zinc, ceruloplasmin and superoxide dismutase in Thai overweight and obese.

The serum copper, selenium, ceruloplasmin, superoxide dismutase (SOD) (specific activities of antioxidant enzymes), anthropometric measurements, including waist/hip ratio 51 male and 190 female overweight subjects (body mass index (BMI) > or = 25.0 kg/m2) compared with a 26 male and 83 female control group (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) Thai volunteers who attended the Out-patient Department, General Practice Section, Rajvithi Hospital, Bangkok, for a physical check-up from March to October, 1998, were investigated. There was no age difference between the overweight group and the controls. All of the anthropometric variables, except the height of the overweight group, were significantly higher than those of the normal subjects. The medians of weight and waist/hip ratio of overweight and obese males were significantly higher than those of overweight and obese females. Serum ceruloplasmin, copper were statistically significantly higher in overweight subjects than in the controls. However, serum zinc and superoxide dismutase activity in the overweight group were found to be lower than in the control group. Higher serum ceruloplasmin, copper, zinc and superoxide dismutase activity were shown in the female overweight group than in the male overweight group. Ceruloplasmin was found to correlate positively with copper concentration but negatively related with superoxide dismutase enzyme activity. A negative correlation was found between serum copper and zinc concentrations in both sexes of the overweight and obese subjects. Low SOD activity found in the overweight and obese subjects might be caused by low zinc intake.

The effect of cigarette smoking on ceruloplasmin and C3 complement: risk of cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis).

Serum ceruloplasmin, C3 complement and albumin in 119 male smokers and 65 male non-smoker; from a military unit in Bangkok were investigated in this study. The serum ceruloplasmin concentration was found to be significantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers. However, the serum albumin concentration in smokers was statistically significantly lower than in non-smokers. Significant associations were also found between ages, albumin levels and the quantity of cigarettes smoked. There was a significant positive correlation between serum ceruloplasmin and C3 complement concentrations. An association between the quantity of cigarettes smoked and albumin was also found, as well as a significant relationship between smoking and the quantities of cigarettes smoked to serum ceruloplasmin levels when smoking and the quantity of cigarettes smoked were taken as independent variables, and the serum ceruloplasmin levels as a dependent variable. This might suggest that high concentrations of the acute-phase protein, i.e. ceruloplasmin, might constitute a risk of developing atherosclerosis or cardiovascular disease in smokers.

B vitamins, vitamin C and hematological measurements in overweight and obese Thais in Bangkok.

The dynamic changes of socio-economics leading to the industrialisation of countries are known to affect lifestyle and nutritional behaviours of the population. Review of the literature on the prevalence of obesity showed increasing numbers of the overweight and obese during the past decade. However, information on health and nutritional status of the obese in Thailand has not been widely publicized. This study reveals the vitamin status and hematological picture in 270 overweight and obese Thais in Bangkok, Thailand, compared with 175 normal subjects. No statistically significant differences in haemoglobin and hematocrit were observed in the overweight compared with the control subjects. The prevalence of anaemia was 9.8 per cent among male and 17.2 per cent among female overweight and obese subjects compared with 2.6 per cent and 21.2 per cent in male and female normal controls using the cut-off point of haemoglobin concentration as an indicator of anaemia. Prevalence of hypertension was exhibited in both male and female overweight and obese subjects. Even if there were no statistically significant differences in vitamin B1, B2 and B6 in overweight and obese subjects compared with the controls, high percentages of vitamin C and vitamin B2 deficiencies were observed. Vitamin B2 deficiency was detected in 19.7 per cent of overweight and obese males as well as in 28.7 per cent of overweight and obese females using glutathione reductase activity coefficient (alpha EGR) < 1.5 as the cut-off point. However, clinical signs of vitamin B2 deficiencies were rare. There was also a high percentage of vitamin C (antioxidant vitamin) deficiency in 51.5 per cent of the overweight and obese subjects and 41.7 per cent of the controls, respectively. The results suggest more attention should be paid to health study and nutritional problems for the overweight and obese population, especially concerning vitamins and oxidative stress. Further research is still needed in these aspects.

Serum folate and vitamin B12 levels in chronic alcoholics.

Anemia is common in alcoholics. Folate deficiency occurs commonly in association with the chronic use of alcohol. The incidence of folate deficiency in chronic alcoholic patients varies considerably from country to country. The purpose of the present study was to report the incidence of folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies in Thai chronic alcoholics. Serum folate and vitamin B12 levels were determined in 75 chronic alcoholics as well as in 80 apparently healthy Thai subjects. The mean Hb, Hct and serum folate levels were significantly lower in the alcoholics. Thirty-five percent and 84 percent had serum folate levels lower than 3 ng/ml and 6 ng/ml, respectively. On the other hand, the mean value of serum vitamin B12 in the alcoholic patients was significantly elevated, with 49 percent of them having serum vitamin B12 over 1,000 pg/ml. These findings indicated that the incidence of folic acid deficiency in the chronic alcoholics was quite high, which was probably due to dietary deficiency, folate malabsorption and interference by alcohol in folate metabolism. All these patients had a tendency to have a high serum vitamin B12 level, probably as a result of the increased release of vitamin B12 from storage in the injured liver.