Biochemical effects and safety of Gum arabic (Acacia Senegal) supplementation in patients with sickle cell anemia

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a hereditary chronic hemolytic anemia with several clinical consequences. Intravascular sickling of red blood cells leads to multi-organ dysfunction. Moreover, several biochemical abnormalities have been associated with SCA. Gum arabic (GA) is an edible dried gummy exudate obtained from Acacia Senegal tree. GA showed antioxidant and cytoprotective activities and demonstrated protection against hepatic, renal, and cardiac toxicities in experimental rats. We hypothesized that regular intake of GA improves renal and liver functions in patients with SCA. METHODS: Forty-seven patients (5–42 yr) carrying hemoglobin SS were recruited. The patients received 30 g/day GA for 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected before administering GA and then after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Liver enzymes, total protein, albumin, electrolytes, urea, creatinine, and uric acid were determined in the serum. The study was approved by the Al Neelain University Institutional Review Board and Research Ethics Committee Ministry of Health. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT02467257). RESULTS: GA significantly decreased direct bilirubin level [statistical significance (P-value)=0.04]. It also significantly decreased serum alanine transaminase level after 4 weeks, which was sustained till the 8th week. GA, however, had no effect on serum aspartate transaminase level. In terms of renal function, GA decreased serum urea level but the effect was not sustained after the first month. CONCLUSION: GA may alter the disease severity in SCA as demonstrated by its ability to decrease direct bilirubin and urea levels in the serum.

Body fat distribution, lipid profile and fasting blood gineose level in young obese Sudanese females

Obesity is a well known risk factor of metabolic complications and cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, associations between anthropometric measurements and fat distribution and risk factors for cardiovascular disease have been demonstrated in several populations. The aim of this study was to examine the association of various measures of adiposity including total body adiposity [Body mass index [BMI], and percentage body fat [%BF]] and body fat distribution [waist, hip, wrist and thigh circumference.] with lipid profile and fasting blood glucose in young Sudanese females [18-22 years old]. A total of 224 female medical students were enrolled in the study. Anthropometric measurements including weight, height, waist, wrist, thigh and hip circumference] and skin fold thickness were performed. Body mass index [kg/m[2]], percentage body fat and waist/hip ratio [WHR] were calculated. Subjects with BMI >30 kg/m[2] were considered as obese [n=64], while subjects with BMI < 24.9 - >18.5 kg/m[2] were considered as non-obese [n=114]. Subjects who were overweight with BMI 25-29.9 Kg/ m[2] [n=36] and those who are underweight BMI < 18.5Kg/ m[2]. [n=10] were excluded from the study. Blood pressure was measured for all participants. Biochemical parameters, including total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C], triglycerides [TG] and fasting blood glucose were estimated. All anthropometric measurements except the height showed higher records among obese than in non-obese females [P <0.05]. The mean +/- SEM of BMI was found to be 20.6 +/- 0.21 kg/m[2] and 36.1 +/- 0.56 kg/m[2] for non-obese and obese females respectively. It was significantly higher in obese females [P <0.01]. Classification of participants by the% BF obtained by skinfold thickness increased the percentage of obesity among the participants more than classification based on BMJ. Decreased WHR was attributed mainly to increase hip circumference [HC] in the study participants. Blood pressure was measured for all participants and it was high in 21.8% of obese females. Fasting blood glucose was found to be normal in all participants. The study showed that there were higher values of lipid profile parameters in obese compared to the non-obese females but all values were within the normal physiological ranges. The majority of the studied obese females had normal blood pressure, normal fasting blood glucose and normal lipid profile; accordingly they were metabolically healthy but obese [MHO]. This was attributed to their low visceral adipose tissues indicated by the low WHR

Serum prolactin level in healthy Sudanese subjects

Prolactin [PRL] level is commonly estimated in patients with amenorrhoea, infertility and suspected hyperprolactinemia. Only one study that included 15 Sudanese females was done in Sudan to establish a normal level of PRL in Sudanese subjects. The objectives of the study were: 1. To develop a local antibody for PRL to be used in PRL radio-immunoassay [RIA] to reduce the cost of the investigation. 2. To determine normal PRL level in Sudanese females and males. Prolactin was determined in one hundred normal Sudanese males and one hundred females using the Chinese Radio Immunoassay kit with the locally produced Donkey Anti Rabbit's Sera [Sud-DARS] as separating agent. PRL level in normal Sudanese males waa found to be 236 +/- 81 mlU/L [mean +/- SD]. In Sudanese females the PRL level in preovulatory phase was found to be 258 +/- 78 mlU/L while in postovulatory phase was found to be equal to 278 +/- 82 rnlU/L. Ovulation was confirmed by measurement of progesterone levels seven days before the next suspected menstruation. Prolactin level in normal Sudanese females and males were reported. This level was similar to levels reported in the literature