Effect of garlic [Allium Sativum] powder on lipid profile in patients of ischemic heart disease [IHD]

The effects of garlic [Allium Sativum] powder were studied on the lipid profile in patients of ischemic heart disease [I.H.D] and compared with gemfibrozil [Lopid], a standard lipid lowering agent. Twenty one patients of I.H.D. with raised lipid levels were administered 6 grams of garlic powder, in three divided doses, orally for four weeks. Seven patients of I.H.D. with raised lipid levels were given 1200 mg gemfibrozil orally per day in two doses for four weeks. Garlic powder reduced serum total lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C more than gemfibrozil but the differences were non-significant [P>0.05]. Garlic powder increased the level of HDL-C more than gemfibrozil and the difference was significant [p<0.01]. No side effect specifically comparing with gemfibrozil was detected in the patients treated with garlic

Magnesium levels in patients with diabetes mellitus

Fasting plasma concentration of magnesium were measured by colorimetric method using kit of Randox England in sixty non-insulin dependent diabetics and forty non-diabetic subjects. Plasma concentration of magnesium were lower in non-insulin dependent diabetic subjects P<0.01. Moreover, concentration of magnesium were lower in females as compared to males in non-insulin dependent diabetic subjects. It may be suggested that supplementation of the diet with soluble fibre and magnesium salts if hypomagnesemia is demonstrated, is recommended

Platelet function and diabetes mellitus

Platelet aggregation was found to be enhanced in diabetic patients, who did not show any clinical evidence of diabetic vascular disease. This increase was shown with all the four aggregating agents, that is, ADP, epinephrine, collagen and arachidonic acid. Platelet aggregation was enhanced in diabetic patients with clinically apparent diabetic vascular disease. We did not find any difference between the Platelet aggregation of diabetic patients with and without diabetic vascular complications. The aggregation pattern was found to be similar in all the diabetic groups with all four aggregating agents. No significant difference was found between intensity of aggregation, rate of aggregation and lag phase when different concentrations of the aggregating agents were used

Effect of sulfonylurea on platelet aggregation in diabetes mellitus

The platelets of many patients with diabetes mellitus are abnormally sensitive to the effect of aggregatory agents in vitro. It has been proposed that this abnormal platelet function may play a role in pathogenesis of vascular disease in diabetic subjects, The present study reports the platelet aggregation pattern of different diabetic groups. Patients controlled on diet, by insulin and biguanide group of drugs showed increased platelet aggregation to ADP and collagen, while the patients controlled by sulfonylurea showed a normal aggregation. The alterations in platelet function did not correlate with blood glucose level, suggesting, therefore, that it is the effect of drug itself

Hemoglobin A,C concentration in newly diagnosed diabetics

Blood specimens of 30 newly diagnosed diabetics and 50 normal subjects were analyzed for HbA[1C] and random sugar levels. The mean values of HbA[1C] and blood glucose were computed and coefficient of correlation [r] calculated. The value of r [+ 0.64] revealed a highly significant correlation between HbA[1C] and random blood sugar level [P < 0.01]. Thus HbA[1C] level is a useful indicator of the degree of hyperglycemia, which exists over a long period. Its measurement may serve as a screening test to identify those diabetics, who are in poor control. It is suggested that the determination of HbA[1C] can be considered as a good test for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and for the state of its control in diabetics in Pakistani environments

Study of plasma fibrinogen levels in diabetics with vascular complications

A study of Plasma fibrinogen level in twenty normal [control] and eight six diabetic subjects is presented. The diabetic subjects were sub-divided into those with and without vascular complications. The mean plasma fibrinogen level showed and increase of 34.44% [P< 0.01] in the diabetics with vascular complications when compared to the values in the non-diabetic control individuals. The plasma fibrinogen value was also significant higher [P< 0.02] in diabetic with cardiovascular disease than in diabetics without vascular complications

Some biochemical indices of diabetic vascular disease

Some biochemical indices related to diabetic complications were assessed in 86 diabetics and results compared with 20 normal controls. Cholesterol, beta-lipoprotein, and plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in with vascular complications when compared with normal controls. Triglycerides were elevated in all groups, bi in patients with retinopathy and venous dilation. There was a suggestion that triglycerides were related in dietary carbohydrate in maturity onset diabetics. It appears therefore that elevation of lipids is correlated with the features of diabetic vascular disease. Elevation of lipids secondary to nephropathy establishes a vicious cycle in the course of the disease. Higher levels of lipids can also explain the increased platelet adhesiveness and aggregation

effect of sulphonylureas on total HDL cholesterol and subfractions HDL2C and HDL3C in type II diabetic patients

The study was aimed at evaluating the effects of sulphonyhireas on senlni HDL-cholesterol and its subJracdials ill type diabetes mellitus. Sixty three non-obese, newly diagnosed diabetic patients with a short history of disease were studied before and after treatment with sulphaiyhireas for a period of 6 months. We observed highly significant increases in total HDL and HDL-cholesterol after therapy. The HDL3 cholesterol did not change after therapy in the majority of patients and post-therapy rise of total HDL- cholesterol was almost entirely due to a rise in HDL2 cholestrol. Thus, we may conclude that HDL2 cholesterol is more important than HDL-cholesterol in the causation of atherosclerosis. The HDL2 cholesterol levels may predict the development of coronary atherosclerosis

Effect of smoking on lipid profile of smokers and non-smokers

This study was conducted in sixty healthy individuals, 40 males and 20 females. Lipid and lipoproteins concentrations in serum were estimated. Higher levels of serum cholesterol were found in smokers. No significant difference was found in serum triglyceride concentrations in smokers and non-smokers. Though low concentrations of HDL-cholesterol, below the reference limit, were observed in the serum of male and female smokers, yet, values found in male smokers were lower than those observed in female smokers. This shows that smoking has a more pronounced effect on serum HDL-cholesterol concentration in male smokers than female smokers

Serum cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol in children of various socio-economic groups

Serum Cholesterol, Serum High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol [HDLC], HDLC/Cholesterol ratio and Body Mass Index were studied in 200 randomly selected children aged 5 to 15 years and belonging to various socio-economic back ground. There was little or no difference between the lipd Ts of various income group. Serum Cholesterol, Serum High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol [HDLC] and weight were positively correlated with the age. Boys and girls attained their adu1tvalues be age of 13 years and above. Age related increase in serum cholesterol level was more rapid than corresponding increase in HDLC level

Lipid profiles of the patients with coronary heart disease and normal controls

A comparative study of the lipid profiles of 50 patients with coronary heart disease and 50 normal controls was undertaken. The coronary cases and normal subjects were age matched within a range of 10 years and the biochemical determination of parameters such as serum cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoproteins [HDL] and beta-lipoproteins were carried out. The results showed that serum cholesterol, triglyceride and beta-Lipoprotein levels were high in the coronary heart patients. The frequency of their occurrence was more in the age range 45 to 64 years. The HDL level was lower in coronary cases. The results also indicated that combination of two, three or four factors under study occurred more frequently in coronary cases than in the controls. From the coordination of the data it was concluded that all the factors under study contribute significantly to the development of coronary heart disease either independently or dependently