Relationship Of Lipids, C-Reactive Protein And Sialic Acid In The Healthy Individuals.

BACKGROUND: Raised levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are major risk factors for atherosclerosis, which can lead to coronary heart disease. Both the CRP and Sialic Acid levels are elevated in response to acute as well as chronic inflammatory conditions. This study was conducted to determine the serum lipid profile, CRP and Sialic Acid levels and their relationship with each other in healthy individuals. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study performed by the Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (IBMS), Khyber Medical University (KMU) Peshawar. Two hundred healthy subjects in the age group of 18-50 years of either gender was recruited through consecutive sampling. Blood sampling were taken from all the participants and analysed each for serum lipid profile, CRP and Sialic Acid levels through standardized methods. RESULTS: A total of 200 individuals were included, 53.5% being male. Mean age was 33.39±9.76 years. Mean height was 167.86±10.8 cm. Mean weight was 66.87±11.39kg. Mean Hip-Waist ratio was 0.93±0.16 whereas mean BMI was 24.12±3.65. The simultaneous raised levels of serum lipids, CRP and Sialic Acid were observed more commonly in females as compared to males. CRP and Sialic Acid has got statistically significant correlation with HDL. Sialic Acid had statistically significant correlation with triglycerides in the study population with a significant p-value (<0.05), while having a non-significant correlation with total cholesterol and LDL. CRP had got significant correlation with total cholesterol and LDL and non-significant correlation with triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that serum CRP and Sialic Acid had a significant negative correlation with serum HDL. A significant positive correlation was found between serum Sialic Acid and triglycerides. CRP and Sialic Acid though expensive but are useful predictors of atherosclerotic disease.

Oxidative stress and level of-iron indices in coronary heart disease patients.

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress is characterized by an increased concentration of oxygen free radicals which can cause a critical, or even an irreversible, cell injury. The study was designed to determine and compare the levels of oxidative stress and iron indices in Coronary Heart Disease and healthy individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood malondialdehyde, iron, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation and ferretin levels were determined in 140 Coronary Heart Disease and 100 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Values of blood malondialdehyde, iron, transferrin saturation and ferretin were observed to be significantly increased with exception of total iron-binding capacity, which was significantly decreased (p < 0.005) in Coronary Heart Disease patients when compared with normal healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Elevated serum malondialdehyde, iron concentration and body iron stores in patients reveal a possible role of iron indices in the development of coronary atherosclerosis. Therefore, it is suggested by this study that levels of malondialdehyde and biochemical markers of body iron stores can be used as an early investigative tool for assessing the oxidative stress in coronary heart disease.

Iron deficient children and significance of serum ferritin.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the significance of serum ferritin in iron deficiency anaemia as compared to other indices. METHODS: Children were selected as anaemic and non-anaemic on the basis of hemoglobin (10g/dl) and transferrin saturation (15%). Red cell morphology, hemoglobin, serum iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation and serum ferritin were determined. RESULTS: Red cell morphology was of little significance. Haemoglobin, serum iron, transferrin saturation and serum ferritrin were all lower in children. A positive correlation of serum ferritin with age, haemoglobin, serum iron and transferrin saturation and a negative correlation with TIBC was found. CONCLUSION: Serum ferritin was more sensitive indicator as compared to serum iron, TIBC, and transferrin saturation.

Naturally occurring antioxidant vitamin levels in patients with type-II diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Type II diabetes mellitus is characterized by an inability of peripheral tissues to respond to insulin and the dysfunction of the endocrine pancreas to compensate for this resistance. Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased lipid peroxidation. Increased levels of lipid peroxides have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. To control and reduce the deleterious effects of lipid peroxides exist several antioxidant protective mechanisms. They comprise of enzymatic defenses and naturally occurring vitamins. The study was designed to determine and compare the antioxidant vitamin levels in Type II diabetic individuals and control healthy subjects. METHODS: Blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, VLDL-c and antioxidant vitamins (beta-Carotene, A, E, and C) levels were determined in 36 Type II diabetic patients and 30 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Values of blood glucose and lipid parameters were observed to be significantly increased (P < 0.001) with the exception of HDL-c, which was significantly decreased (P < 0.001) in Type II diabetes mellitus patients. The levels of antioxidant vitamins (beta-Carotene, E, and C) were found to be significantly low in Type II diabetes mellitus group whereas the concentration of vitamin A showed a non-significant change when both Type II and control healthy groups were compared. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of antioxidant vitamins observed in the study suggest, that Type II diabetes mellitus patients have significant defects of antioxidant protection.