Association of waist and hip circumferences with the presence of hypertension and pre-hypertension in young South African adults

Background: Obesity is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) including hypertension(HT) which is itself a risk factor for CVDs. Recent studies suggest that waist circumference (WC) may be more sensitive than Body Mass Index (BMI) in determining individual risk scores for CVDs.Objectives: The current study aimed at investigating the influence of various anthropometric variables on blood pressure status in a group of students from Walter Sisulu University.Methods: Informed consent was obtained from 216 male and female students from Walter Sisulu University with a mean age of 22.1±0.2 years. Anthropometric measurements were performed for each participant. Blood pressure was measured in triplicates after 10 minutes of rest and the average computed.Results: Just over 46% of the subjects were diagnosed with hypertension (HT) and pre-HT. The gender specific prevalence of HT/pre-HT was higher in the male (76.7%) compared to the female (30.5%) group. Waist circumference (WC) and total body fat (TBF) correlated significantly with blood pressure and HT/pre-HT in females but not males. ROC analysis showed that with the exception of waist-to-hip (WHR), all other anthropometric measurements and ratios studied can be used to discriminate blood pressure in young adult females not males.Conclusion: Increased WC and HC were associated with HT and pre-HT in young adult females in the Walter Sisulu University.Keywords: anthropometry, waist circumference, hip circumference, hypertension, pre-hypertensio

Effects of an ethanolic extract of Garcinia kola on glucose and lipid levels in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

The effect of Garcinia kola on glucose and lipid levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was investigated. Ethanolic extract of G. kola was prepared and used for animal treatments. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg body weight). Acute effects of G. kola on glucose were investigated by giving a single dose of distilled water or 300 mg/kg G. kola extract or metformin 300 mg/kg. Glucose levels were measured 2, 4 and 6 h after treatment. To investigate the long term effects, animals were treated daily for four weeks with either distilled water (controls) or 300 mg/kg G. kola extract. At termination, serum glucose, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were measured. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in single dose glucose levels, long term HDL levels and body weights compared to the controls. However, in the four week treated rats, glucose (mmol/L) was significantly lower (16.2±2.9; P<0.05) than in the controls (21.6±3.6) and the LDL levels were significantly decreased by 66% in the treated group compared to controls (P<0.01; 86.8±18.2 versus 29.8±10.9). This confirms the hypoglycaemic and especially the hypolipidemic effects of G. kola in a diabetic rat model.Keywords: G. kola, ethanolic extract, hyperglycemia, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), streptozotoci

Effect of Bridelia ferruginea (Euphorbiaceae) Leaf Extract on Sucrose-induced Glucose Intolerance in Rats

Purpose: To evaluate the hypoglycaemic effect of the methanol extract of Bridelia ferruginea leaves (MEBF) on sucrose-induced glucose intolerance in rats.Methods: Male Wistar rats, aged 6 - 7 weeks and weighing 140 - 160 g, were used. The animals were fed standard rat chow supplemented with 35%, 50% or 65% sucrose for 8 weeks while control animals were fed standard rat chow. The hypoglycaemic effect of MEBF and the reference drugs (tolbutamide, and metformin) in the animals were evaluated following a single dose of these drugs and 6-day treatment. Plasma lipid profiles were also determined.Results: Fasting glucose concentrations ranged from 45 to 70 mg/dl, and the increase was significant in the sucrose diet groups from week 1. After 2 weeks on these diets, oral glucose tolerance test showed that sucrose feeding significantly impaired glucose homeostasis 1 and 2 hours after a glucose challenge (76.7 „b 2.0 versus 86.4 „b 8.5 and 66.7 „b 1.4 versus 75.5 „b 3.0, respectively). Fasting blood sugar levels were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in sucrose-induced, glucose-intolerant rats after a singledose of MEBF. The extract also significantly reduced blood glucose (from 167 ¡Ó 23 mg/dL to 126 ¡Ó 5 mg/dL), serum total cholesterol (from 161 ¡Ó 20 mg/dL to 93 ¡Ó 10 mg/dL) and triglyceride levels (281 ¡Ó 25mg/dL to 228 ¡Ó 5 mg/dL) in glucose intolerant rats after 6 days of treatment.Conclusion: The methanol leaf extract of Bridelia ferruginea exhibited hypoglycaemic effect in glucoseintolerant rats

Investigation of hypogycemic and hypolipidemic effects of an aqueous extract of Llupinus albus legume seed in Streptozotocin-induced type I diabetic rats

Background: Lupinus albus (LA) seed is a legume food used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an aqueous extract of LA on lipid and glucose levels in normal and STZ induced Type 1 diabetic rats.Methods: Aqueous extract of LA was prepared and used for animal treatments. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60mg/kg body weight). Effects of LA on oral glucose tolerance in normal and diabetic rats were investigated by giving a single dose of distilled water (controls), 200 or 400mg/kg LA extract, metformin 300mg/kg or glibenclamide 500μg/kg after 12 hours of fasting (time 0 glucose). After 15 minutes, a glucose load (3g/kg) was given. Glucose levels were measured at 30, 60, and 120 minutes after glucose loading. To investigate long term effects, animals were given similar treatments daily for 4 weeks. At the end of the study, serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol levels were measured or calculated.Results: LA demonstrated significant (P<0.001) hypoglycaemic effects in normal rats but not in diabetic rats after acute and long term treatment. Normal LA treated rats showed higher (P<0.001) insulin levels compared to normal controls but insulin remained very low in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats showed diabetes associated weight loss in both treated and untreated rats. However, LA was effective in reducing atherogenic lipid levels (TC, TG, LDL-C VLDLC; P<0.001) with no change (P>0.05) in HDL-C.Conclusion: We conclude that the use of Lupinus albus among various communities may not be effective in treating hyperglycaemia in type 1 diabetes but effective for treating diabetes induced dyslipidemia.Key words: glucose tolerance, lipids, Lupinus albus, streptozotocin, type 1 diabetes

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adolescents living in Mthatha, South Africa

Morongwe Annah Sekokotla,1 Nandu Goswami,2 Constance Rufaro Sewani-Rusike,1 Jehu Erapu Iputo,3 Benedicta Ngwenchi Nkeh-Chungag4 1Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa; 2Gravitational Physiology and Medicine Research Unit, Institute of Physiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; 3Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, 4Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS), defined as the clustering of three of five risk factors (hypertension, obesity, triglyceridemia, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia), is being increasingly mentioned among children and adolescents despite there being no consensus on how it should be defined in this set of population. Furthermore, very few studies have focused on MetS in children and adolescents in sub-Saharan populations. This study, therefore, aimed at determining the prevalence of the MetS and contributing risk in adolescents living in Mthatha, South Africa.Research design and methods: Four hundred and ten adolescents (age range: 13–18 years, both sexes) were recruited into this cross-sectional study. In addition to a lifestyle questionnaire being administered, anthropometric measurements (weight, height and waist circumferences) were carried out for each participant. Fasting venous blood was collected for lipid profile and blood glucose assessments. Blood pressure was also measured. MetS was assessed using appropriate diagnostic criteria for children and adolescents.Results: Complete data sets were collected from 371 participants. Females showed an elevation in the risk factors for MetS. Of the 371 participants, 40.2% were overweight/obese (47.5% females; 22.5% males). MetS was diagnosed in 3.1% female participants compared with 6.0% in male participants.Conclusions: More risk factors for the MetS are seen among the overweight/obese as compared to lean adolescents. Given the fact that childhood overweight/obesity often continues into adulthood, it is important to address the causes of increased risk for MetS earlier in life to prevent the development of disease in adult life. Keywords: metabolic syndrome, adolescent health, overweight, obesit

Antidiabetic properties of the methanolic extract of Bridelia grandis (Euphorbiacae) in ob/ob and db/db mice

Bridelia grandis is used in most parts of tropical Africa for the treatment of diabetes. The anti-diabetic properties of the methanolic stem bark extract of this plant was studied in ob/ob and db/db mice. The plant extract induced hypoglycaemic effects of long duration in the ob/ob mice, while its effects were less pronounced in the db/db mice. Twenty four hours after the cessation of drug administration, both ob/ob and db/db extract treated animals still had significantly lower fasting blood sugar levels when compared to controls, thus confirming its antidiabetic properties.Key words: Bridelia grandis (Euphorbiaceae), antidiabetic properties, ob/ob and db/db mice