Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism in Nepal.

It has recently been found that there were very few hypertensives in the inhabitants of one Nepalese village, even though their salt consumption, per capita, was as high as citizens in many western countries. To evaluate the genetic factors involved in this phenomenon, we studied whether they had a special genotype distribution of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene I/D polymorphism, which was recently reported to be involved in salt sensitivity. One hundred and thirty-eight subjects were evaluated in Nepal. Only nine subjects (6.5%) in this population were hypertensives (over 140/90 mm Hg) while consuming 11 g salt/day, which confirmed the previous results. The distribution of genotypes and alleles of ACE gene I/D polymorphism was similar to that in the Japanese and Chinese, who had five-times more hypertensives while consuming almost as much salt as Nepalese, but significantly different from those in Caucasians. The present study reports, for the first time, the genotype distribution of ACE gene I/D polymorphism in Nepalese subjects. Furthermore, the results suggest ACE gene polymorphism may not be involved in the 'salt-resistance' in this population.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Nepal: low prevalence in an isolated rural village.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Nepal. DESIGN: H. pylori infection was identified using a specific and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G. STUDY POPULATION: Serum samples were collected from 1142 inhabitants (age range 4-93 years) from two villages: Kotyang, a rural isolated village (250 men, 210 women) and Bhadrakali, a suburban village of Kathmandu (334 men, 348 women). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 56.8%, while significantly higher prevalence was found in the suburban village (Bhadrakali; 67.2%) than in the rural village (Kotyang; 41.5%). This difference was generally reflected by the infection rate in the 10-14-year-old age-group (Bhadrakali, 60% compared with Kotyang, 22.2%). The prevalence of infection significantly increased with age, while no significant difference was found in the prevalence of infection by gender. There was no difference in H. pylori positivity between individuals with and without upper abdominal symptoms in both villages. CONCLUSION: There was a significant regional difference in the seroprevalence of H. pylori within Nepal, which showed lower prevalence in an isolated rural village. This difference was mainly caused by the different acquisition rate in teenagers, thus indicating that the teenage lifestyle of this particular environment seemed to be the major determinant in the acquisition of H. pylori infection in the population.

Circadian rhythm of blood pressure and life style: a study of clinically healthy subjects living in rural and industrialized countries.

The aim of this study is to investigate how the blood pressure (BP) circadian rhythm (CR) is influenced by life style. Two groups of subjects were recruited from Nepal and Japan because of the extremely different occupational routines of these countries. The Nepalese represent a rural culture, while the Japanese reflect an industrialized civilization. Both the ethnic groups have in common a high dietary sodium intake. The BP monitoring was estimated according to chronobiological methods. Results provide evidence for a phase difference in BP CR which is coherent with the life style in the two groups. Furthermore, the estimates demonstrate that the Japanese show a higher level in daily BP which is related to the greater number of hours in which they are active. These findings may be taken into account for better deciphering of what is the role of life style on BP physiology in human beings.

[The effects of fitness-type exercise on iron status and hematological status for female college students].

Forty-two female college students underwent fitness-type exercise over a 13 week period. The students exercised an average of two times a week for 30 minute periods at 50% levels of VO2 . max. Iron status and hematological laboratory data were monitored at three points in time; at the initiation of exercise, at the termination of exercise and 3 months later. Serum ferritin levels in a third of the students were lower than 12ng/ml. Red blood cell counts decreased during exercise, and returned to the pre-exercise levels 3 months later. The number of circulatory reticulocytes and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were increased significantly after the exercise and the effects were still observed 3 months later, independent of the iron status. In the lower ferritin group, erythropoietin levels decreased significantly during the post-exercise period. The average serum ferritin levels while showing no significant changes during exercise, increased significantly during the post-exercise period, in the normal ferritin group. We discussed possible mechanisms, among them iron metabolism, by which physical training may facilitate erythropoiesis. However, no definite conclusions have been reached.

Investigation of high salt intake in a Nepalese population with low blood pressure.

The relation between BP and the factors influencing an increase in BP with age were investigated in the inhabitants of two representative hilly (Kotyang: 206 men and 212 women) and suburban (Bhadrakali: 265 and 244) villages in Nepal. BP for both sexes was statistically significantly higher in Bhadrakali than in Kotyang. Neither hypertension nor elevation of BP with age for men and very few women (1.4%) with hypertension were observed in Kotyang, while 10.9% of men and 4.9% of women were found to be hypertensive in Bhadrakali. Average urinary Na excretion was 183-221 mEq/day in both villages. Urinary Na/K ratio, percentage body fat (%Fat), total protein, total cholesterol and serum Ca were statistically significantly higher in Bhadrakali than in Kotyang, and maximal oxygen uptake and serum Mg were higher in Kotyang. In spite of high salt consumption, there was no increase in BP with age in Kotyang's males, suggesting that the BP may be influenced by physical activity, fat-free mass and nutrient consumption in addition to the high sodium intake, and that extremely high physical activity and very low %Fat could serve to mute the influence of high sodium intake.

Relationship between total serum cholesterol level and nutritional and physical status in Nepalese rural people.

To investigate the nutritional condition in a hilly village (Kotyang) and a suburban village (Bhadrakali) in Nepal and to clarify the possible cause of the difference in total serum cholesterol level between the two groups of villagers habitually eating low fat diets, we carried out a nutrition survey using the 24-h recall method and blood sampling in 403 subjects (204 men and 199 women) in the hilly village and 466 (244 men and 222 women) in the suburban village. Total serum cholesterol was statistically significantly lower in the hilly villagers than in the suburban villagers for both sexes, but HDL-cholesterol was not. In both villages, 82% of the total energy was taken from carbohydrate, 7-8% from fat and 10% from protein. Energy, protein, fiber, potassium, magnesium, monounsaturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated fatty acid, and vitamin A in the hilly villagers were significantly higher than those in the suburban villagers. Total serum cholesterol was significantly associated with age and body fat percentage, suggesting that total serum cholesterol level was not directly associated with total fat intake in these Nepalese people.

[% fat of Nepali children (ranging from 6 to 18 years old) having different living style].

A comparative study of % fat was carried out on Nepali children (Ranging from 6 to 18 years old) to clarify the cause of obesity attended with modernization. 126 males and 79 females who have a natural living style, in rural district (KV) and 166 males and 133 who have a living style affected by the rapid urbanization, in suburban district (BV) were selected as subjects. %Fat was estimated from skinfold thickness according to the method of Nagamine (1975). The results summarized as follows. 1) Mean %Fat of BV in each age were clearly higher than those of KV with coincidental age, especially in male subjects. 2) According to the previous reports (Yoshimizu et al., 1990; Ito et al., 1989), it's considered physical activities in the subjects of BV were lower than those of the subjects in KV. But we could not found the nutritional factors to explain the difference of % fat between BV and KV. From these results, it's considered the difference of % fat in both districts is due to the difference of their physical activities.

[A comparative study of % fat and living style on nepalese].

Measurements of %Fat, nutrient intake and maximal aerobic power (MAP) were carried out on Nepalese to clarify the cause of obesity attended with modernization. One hundred thirty-two males (KV) who have a natural living style, 20-84 years of age, in rural district and 237 males who have a living style affected by the rapid urbanization, in surburban district were selected as subjects. The subjects of surburban district were divided into two groups. One of them included 147 farmers (BF) who engage in not mechanized farming, 20-73 years of age. Another group included 90 students and wage laborers (BNF) who go to and from Kathmandu (the capital of Nepal), 20-57 years of age. %Fat was estimated from skinfold thickness according to the method of Nagamine (1975). The survey for the nutrient intake was carried out by the 24-hour recall method to obtain the individual food consumption using the food models. Measurement of MAP was made indirectly by the modified of Margaria et al (1965). The main results are summarized as follows. 1) Mean %Fat and the appearance rates of obesity in each age group showed high values in following order: BNF greater than BF greater than KV. 2) Mean caloric intake in KV was higher than those in BF and in BNF an almost all age groups and no significant difference was found between BF and BNF in all age groups. 3) No significant differences in mean fat intake and in mean animal fat intake among all groups were found in almost all age groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)