Protective effect of vitamin C and beta-carotene against nickel-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of nickel sulphate [25 mg/kg diet] and to evaluate the protective effect of vitamin C and beta-carotene [200mg/kg diet] on the liver of male albino rats. Serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST], superoxide dismutase [SOD] activities, lipids peroxidation as malondialdehyde [MDA] and hemoglobin concentration [Hb] were determined. The results showed that nickel sulphate administration for eight weeks induced highly significant [P<0.01] increase of ALT, AST activities and MDA level, highly significant decrease in the activity of SOD and significant [P<0.05] decrease in Hb concentration in rats. The supplementation of vitamin C simultaneously with nickel sulphate showed insignificant reduction in ALT and AST activities, highly significant increase in SOD activity and significant decrease in MDA level, while supplementation of [Beta-carotene with nickel sulphate induced a significant reduction in ALT, AST activities and MDA level with highly significant increase in SOD activity as compared with nickel sulphate treated rats. Supplementation of vitamin C or beta-carotene induced an insignificant increase in Hb concentration in rats comparing with nickel sulphate treated group

Effect of food intake on lipid pattern of young adults in Beheira governorate

This study was conducted in Beheira governorate during 1999. Three districts were chosen [Rashied Delengat and Damanhour] on the assumption that their populations differ in their food habits. The study included 197 males and 169 females from both rural and urban areas in each district. The mean age of the males was 21.3 years and for females was 20.2 years. Fasting blood sample for plasma was collected from each subject to study the effect of food consumption on plasma lipid pattern as a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Total cholesterol, HDL-C, IDI-C and triglycerides were determined for each subject and their food intake was recorded. The results indicated that prevalence rates for hypercholesterolemia were 12.9%, 12.7% and 4.2% in males and 18%, 17.5% and 15.6% in females in rashied, damanhour and delegate, respectively. On the other hand, hypertriglyceridemia was recorded in 16%, 27% and 19.4% of males in Rashid, Damanhur and Delengat, respectively compared with 23% 24.6% and 31.4% in females, respectively. The study recommended that nutrition education is needed for touth and young adults and the encourarge practice of sports in the both urban and rural areas. Further studies should be conducted in other governorates to identify the prevalence of risk factors for atherosclerosis among youth