ABSTRACT
Helicobacter pylori produce gastric inflammation and interfere with iron by producing extra gastric complications. The deficiency of iron in patients with gastritis or peptic ulcer leads to iron deficiency anemia. The objective of this study was to elucidate the effects of Helicohacter pylori infection on red serum iron and ferritin levels. Cross sectional analytical study. This study was a conducted at the University of Health Sciences, Lahore from March 2009 to September 2009. A total number of 90 subjects were included in the study. They were divided into group A [30 subjects with gastric symptoms and H. pylori infection], group B [30 subjects with gastric symptoms but without H. pylori infection], and group C [30 normal healthy age and sex matched subjects]. H. pylori infection was considered positive on the basis of positive serology, rapid urease test and histopathological examination. Serum ferritin was estimated by chemilumisecne technique while serum iron was measured by endpoint colorimetric method. The results of this study did not show any significant effect on serum ferritin and serum iron [p value > 0.05] within the individual groups nor when compared with each other. H. pylori infection did not affect the serum ferritin and serum iron levels
ABSTRACT
Background: Psyllium husk has been used for treating gastrointestinal upsets like diarrhea, constipation and irritable bowel disease in the past. Recent medical researches have shown remarkable effects of psyllium husk on all parameters of lipid profile, except triglycerides and very low density lipoproteins
Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of psyllium husk on lipid profile of primary hyperlipidemic patients
Patients and Methods: It was a single blind placebo controlled experimental study,conducted in Jinnah Hospital Karachi, from January 2009 to June 2009. Forty hyperlipidemic patients were included in this study. Twenty patients were on placebo as control group, and twenty were on psyllium husk, ten grams daily in three divided doses, for three months. Patients with hypothyroidism, alcoholism, renal and hepatic disease were excluded from the study. Serum total cholesterol and triglycerides were estimated by the enzymatic calorimetric method. Serum High Density Lipoprotein [HDL] was determined by direct method, at day one and on last day of the treatment. Low Density Lipoprotein, [LDL] was calculated by Friedwald formula [LDL-C= TC- [TG/5 + HDL-C]. Data was analyzed as the mean +/- standard deviation. To determine statistical significance of results, paired t-test was applied and p < 0.05 was taken as significant
Results: Two patients withdrew from the study due to personal reasons. Psyllium decreased serum total cholesterol from 228.27+/-4.89 mg/dl to 199.22 +/- 2.30 mg/dl, triglycerides from 169.27+/- 9.92 mg/dl to 164.5+/-8.56 mg/dl, LDL from 159.72 +/- 5.70 to 129.55+/- 2.81 mg/dl and increased serum HDL from 34.61+/-1.85 to 36.77+/-1.96 mg/dl in three months of treatment. Results of all parameters were significant, except triglycerides, when paired 't' test was applied for significance
Conclusion: From this experimental study, it was concluded that psyllium husk fibers are effective in maintaining lipid profile at normal limits in hyperlipidemic patients