Plasma concentrations of water-soluble vitamins in metabolic syndrome subjects.

CONTEXT: Vitamins B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), and C (ascorbic acid) are vital for energy, carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism and in the regulation of the cellular redox state. Some studies have associated low levels of water-soluble vitamins with metabolic syndrome and its various components. AIMS: This study aims to determine the plasma concentrations of vitamins B1, B3, B6, and C in Nigerians with metabolic syndrome and in healthy controls. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: One-hundred subjects with metabolic syndrome were recruited into the study. One-hundred controls were age - and sex-matched. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, concentrations of plasma glucose, lipid profile, and vitamins B1, B3, B6, and C were estimated. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.0. RESULTS: The mean plasma vitamins B1, B3, B6, and C concentrations of subjects were significantly lower than that of controls (P = 0.001, 0.05, 0.045, 0.001 respectively). Fourteen percent and 32% of subjects had inadequate vitamins B1 and C status, respectively. Vitamin B6 was lower (P = 0.001) and vitamin C was higher (P = 0.012) in female than in male subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Thiamine, niacin, pyridoxine, and ascorbic acid levels were lower in subjects than in controls. Pyridoxine was also lower and ascorbic acid was higher in female than in male subjects.

Antioxidant status of type 2 diabetic patients in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

CONTEXT: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications. AIMS: This study was conducted to determine and compare total antioxidant status (TAS), vitamin C and E levels in T2DM patients and healthy control subjects. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Fifty-five previously diagnosed DM patients aged between 34 years and 70 years and 50 control subjects aged between 35 years and 69 years were consecutively recruited into this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood pressure (mmHg), body mass index (kg/m 2 ), concentrations of plasma glucose (mmol/l), lipid profile (mmol/l), TAS (mmol/l), vitamins C (µmol/l), and E (µmol/l) were determined in all participants. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.0 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean plasma TAS (1.18 ± 0.27 mmol/l), vitamin C (26.59 ± 7.39 µmol/L) and vitamin E (15.33 ± 4.05 µmol/l) of T2DM patients were significantly lower (P=0.0001 for all) than those of controls (1.58 ± 0.28 mmol/l, 43.56 ± 6.86 µmol/l, 31.22 ± 6.20 µmol/l respectively). TAS had a positive correlation with vitamin E (r=0.588; P=0.013) but no correlation with vitamin C (r=-0.387; P=0.139) among diabetics. CONCLUSIONS: TAS, vitamin C and E levels are reduced in T2DM patients compared with those of controls.

Antioxidant status of subjects with Metabolic Syndrome in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Increased free radical production and thus oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. As a result there is depletion of defences against free radical damage which comprise antioxidant enzymes and vitamins like vitamins C and E, resulting in low plasma levels. This study was designed to determine if the plasma total antioxidant status and vitamins C and E levels are lower in metabolic syndrome subjects living in Port Harcourt, Nigeria compared to healthy controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred subjects between 21 and 73 years of age who satisfied the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III criteria for metabolic syndrome were recruited into the study. One hundred controls were age- and sex-matched. After determining their blood pressure (mmHg) and waist circumference (cm), the concentrations of plasma glucose (mmol/L), lipid profile (mmol/L), total antioxidant status (TAS, mmol/L), vitamin C (mol/L) and vitamin E (mol/L) were estimated in all participants. RESULTS: The mean plasma TAS (1.23 ± 0.28mmol/L), vitamin C (27.5 ± 7.4mol/L) and vitamin E (16.9 ± 4.9mol/L) of metabolic syndrome subjects were significantly lower (P=0.0001 for all) than that of controls (1.58 ± 0.28mmol/L, 44.3 ± 7.3mol/ L, 30.8 ± 6.1mol/L respectively). CONCLUSION: The TAS, vitamins C and E are reduced in metabolic syndrome subjects compared with that of controls. This may be due to increased oxidative stress resulting from an imbalance between antioxidant defences and increased free radical production.

Effect of organo- phosphorus compounds on plasma cholinesterase levels in industrial and non-industrial workers in Port Harcourt.

BACKGROUND: Port Harcourt is a city with a high concentration of companies (Industries) using organo-phosphorus compounds with workers who have been exposed to these compounds for varying lengths of time. This study looks at the effects of exposure to these compounds on the health of these workers relative to the control group by measuring the plasma cholinesterase activity of the workers and the control group. METHODS: In this prospective study, 200 subjects were selected from the companies in Port Harcourt (40 from each of five companies using organo-phosphorus compounds) and 50 controls selected from the state secretariat complex. The subjects in each of the five companies were again subdivided into "directly exposed" and "non-exposed". Among the "exposed" a group of workers who had worked in the organo-phosphorous unit for more than four years (prolonged exposure) were sorted out. The popular kinetic colorimetric method using Butyrylthiocholine with liquid reagents was used for measuring plasma cholinesterase activity. RESULTS: Results obtained showed significant reduction in the plasma cholinesterase activity of subjects exposed to organo-phosphorous compounds (5466+/-948) when compared with the control group (8042+/-1011) P<0.05. This reduction was more marked in those subjects who had been exposed to organo-phosphorus compounds for more than 4 years (4614+/-532) P<0.05. There was no significant difference in the mean plasma cholinesterase activity between the "non-exposed" company workers (8133+/-1635) and the control (8042+/-1011) P>0.05. CONCLUSION: Exposure to organo-phosphorus compounds causes reduction in the plasma cholinesterase activity and this reduction is directly related to the duration of exposure.

Toxic trace metals in the mentally ill patients.

Serum Cadmium and lead were measured in 61 in- and out-patients of the Mental Health Unit of a University Teaching Hospital. Diagnosis using the ICD-10 Criteria divided the patients into 21 Depressives, 20 Manic-depressive and 20 Schizophrenics. Twenty "healthy" individuals matched for age and sex were used as controls. The measurements of cadmium and lead were done on admission and at 3 and 7 weeks after the relevant treatment had been given. Serum zinc was also measured because of the interaction between zinc and these toxic metals. Measurement was with the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Results showed that cadmium was raised in depressives (p < 0.02) and reduced in mania patients (p < 0.01). Lead was increased in depressives (p < 0.01) and schizophrenics (p < 0.05) but not in mania patients. Serum zinc was reduced in all mental patients. Serum levels of the toxic metals of the mental patients tended to move towards the values of the control group with treatment.

Estimation of plasma uric acid in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). Is the test still relevant?

Plasma uric acid and creatinine were estimated at each visit of 59 consenting women attending ante-natal clinic. Results in the third trimester of pregnancy confirmed that the plasma uric acid was able to differentiate between normal pregnancy and those with PIH at P < 0.002. The results of those with ordinary hypertension and the women who developed pre-eclampsia were similar. Plasma creatinine was found to be able to differentiate between women with ordinary hypertension (97.45 +/- 25.03 umol/L) and those with pre-eclampsia (288.75 +/- 191.97 umol/L) at P < 0.01. For patients with pre-eclampsia who developed convulsions, there invariably was a further rise in the plasma uric acid levels. Monitoring of plasma creatinine level among patients with PH will help to predict those at risk of developing pre-eclampsia. In the same way, monitoring of plasma uric acid level in those with pre-eclampsia will help to predict those that will develop eclampsia. The tests are inexpensive but sensitive, which is in contrast to many more expensive electronic alternatives.

Screening for HIV I through the regional blood transfusion service in southwest Uganda: the Mbarara experience.

Antibody screening for HIV has reduced transmission of AIDS by blood transfusion. Of the 12,768 units of blood donated to the Mbarara Regional Blood Bank between January 1992 and December 1994, 577 were found to be HIVI-positive using the ELISA technique. Percentage of positivity decreased from 5.4 in 1992 to 3.9 in 1994. Replacement donors had a higher positivity rate than volunteer donors. The females had more positives than the males. Distribution of the blood groups O and AB was similar between the Ugandan and English samples. There were differences in the blood groups A and B. The AB blood group which was only 4 per cent of the total had a higher percentage of HIV I positives. This preliminary finding should be confirmed by a more organized study.

Plasma electrolyte pattern of children with protein energy malnutrition and children with prolonged diarrhoea.

We studied the plasma electrolyte pattern of children with prolonged diarrhoea and Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) as compared to controls to show the values to be expected and to determine the need for replacement therapy. Sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate values were found to be similar in 54 children with clinically manifested PEM and 65 children with prolonged diarrhoea who had no full blown malnutrition. There were marked deficits in all the parameters estimated. Values were found to be statistically significant at P < 0.001 when compared to controls.