Elevated plasma homocysteine in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases

Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration has been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetic individuals independent of conventional risk factors. Available study in Nigerian-Africans is scare. Methods: Seventy (30 males) and (40 females) type 2 diabetes mellitus, with age mean of 54 ± 11.52 years were selected for this study and thirty apparently healthy volunteers were included as controls. The biochemical parameters and anthropometric indices were determined using standard procedures. Results: Significant increases were obtained in body weight, body mass index (p<0.001) and waist circumference (p<0.012) when compared with the corresponding control values respectively. The fasting plasma glucose (p<0.01), tHcy (p<0.02), and triglyceride (p<0.03) were significantly higher in the diabetes group when compared with the corresponding control values. The plasma folic acid and vitamin B12 (p<0.05) were significantly reduced compared to the control values. The tHcy (p<0.01) was significantly higher in the males when compared with the corresponding female value. Significant decrease was obtained in the plasma triglyceride (p<0.003) in the male patients when compared with the female patients. Conclusion: Our result showed increased plasma tHcy, triglyceride and waist circumference as well as decreased folic acid and vitamin B12 in type 2 diabetes mellitus. These alteratsupions are risk factors for premature CVD events. Pan African Medical Journal 2012; 12:4

Elevated plasma homocysteine in association with decreased vitamin B12, folate, serotonin, lipids and lipoproteins in depressed patients

Objective: Increased plasma homocysteine, decreased vitamin B12 and folic acid levels have been implicated in depressive mood. Plasma homocystine, vitamin B12, folic acid tryptophan, lipids and lipoproteins were determined in depressed patients and controls. Method: Sixty subjects consisting of 30 depressed patients and 30 apparently healthy volunteers, who served as controls, were selected for this study. Anthropometric indices and biochemical parameters were determined using standard procedures. Results: The results showed a significantly higher plasma homocysteine level amongst depressed patients when compared with the corresponding controls (p<0.001), the percentage increase was 116%, while the plasma vitamin B12 (p<0.01), total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p<0.001) were markedly lower when amongst depressed patients when compared with the corresponding controls; the percentage differences were 21%, 42% and 42% respectively. Plasma triglyceride, folic acid and tryptophan levels amongst depressed patients were not significantly different from the controls. The male subjects had significantly higher plasma tHcy levels than the female counterparts (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study showed a significant increase in plasma tHcy coexisting with a decrease in plasma vitamin B12 TC, LDLC and HDLC, in depressed patients. Increased plasma homocysteine could be a sensitive indicator of plasma B vitamin deficiency.Keywords: Cholesterol; Depression; Homocysteine; Tryptophan; Vitamin

The effect of garl ic on plasma l ipids and lipoproteins in rats fed on high cholesterol enriched diet

Gar l ic has been repor ted in some populat ions to posses s hypol ipdemic ef fect in par t icular on low densi ty l ipoprotein choles terol , thus prevent ing cardiovascular disease r isk. Sixteen male albino rats of seven weeks old were purchased for this study. These weredivided into four groups of four per group. Group A was fed on a high choles terol diet and gar l ic, group B was fed on high choles terol diet only, group C was fed on normal diet (cont rols ) and group D was fed on normal diet and gar l ic. The plasma l ipids, l ipoproteins and t issues his tological appearances were determined us ing standard procedures. Resul ts showed s igni f icant decreased in the mean wet t issue weight of the kidney (

Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase and paraoxonase-1 levels in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease patients in Nigeria

Background: Recent evidence has linked changes in plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) levels with increased risk for development of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in different populations. However, studies on this in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. Objective: This study assessed the association between reduced plasma LCAT and PON-1 levels and an increased risk of ASCVD, and their potential as biomarkers for ASCVD. Methods: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease patients and healthy controls were randomly selected for this cross-sectional case-control study from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, between March 2022 and March 2023. Plasma LCAT and PON-1 were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while the lipid profile was measured by spectrophotometry. Results: A total of 153 ASCVD patients (mean age: 52.92 ± 10.24 years) and 50 healthy controls (mean age: 46.96 ± 11.05 years) were included in the analyses. Stastistically significant increases were observed in the mean body weight, hip circumference, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index, diastolic and systolic blood pressure (all p ≤ 0.001), and pulse rate (p = 0.003) compared to the control values. Statistically significant increases were also observed in the mean plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (all p ≤ 0.001). In contrast, the mean plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LCAT, and PON-1 (p ≤ 0.001) were notably reduced compared to the control values. Conclusion: The present study provides supportive evidence that changes in plasma LCAT and PON-1 could predispose individuals to risk of premature ASCVD. What this study adds: Plasma LCAT and PON-1 may serve as independent markers or complement other established cardiovascular disease markers to discriminate the risk of ASCVD when it is unclear

Effects of lipid-lowering agents on plasma lipid profile and apolipoprotein B in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objectives: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) accounts for about 90% of all cases of Diabetes Mellitus. Dyslipidaemia has been demonstrated to form a synergy with T2DM as risk factors for cardiovascular events. This study aimed to determine the plasma levels of Lipids and Apolipoprotein B-100 among Type 2 Diabetic patients, assess the effects of Lipid Lowering agents, and to study the relationship, if any, between these lipid parameters and glycemic control.Methods: One hundred and fifty participants consisting of fifty T2DM patients on a lipid-lowering agent, fifty newly diagnosed T2DM patients who are drug naïve (not on any anti-diabetic agent) and fifty apparently healthy non-diabetic controls were recruited for this study. Fasting blood samples were collected from all study participants for determination of Total Cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, Triglycerides(TG), High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C) and Apo B-100. Results: The results showed significant increases in plasma TC, LDL-C, TG and Apo B-100 with a remarkable reduction in plasma HDL-C level in the Type 2 Diabetic drug naïve group compared with the treatment and control groups. There was a significant positive  correlation observed between serum Apo B-100 and level of glycaemia in the T2DM drug naïve group.Conclusion: This study further confirms the therapeutic benefits of lipid-lowering agents in reducing Apo B-100 among T2DM patients. Furthermore, maintaining good glycaemic control reduces the risk for the development of dyslipidaemia. Keywords: T2DM, Dyslipidaemia, Cardiovascular Diseases, Apolipoprotein B-100, Nigeria

Variations in plasma lipids and lipoproteins among cardiovascular disease patients in South-western Nigerians

This study was designed to assess the changes in plasma lipids and lipoproteins, in particular high-density lipoprotein (HDLC) in patients suffering from different types of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in South-western Nigeria. Patients were drawn from different socioeconomic classes in order to determine the effect of this factor on CVD in Nigeria. One hundred and seventy (74 males, 96 females) CVD patients (hypertensive heart disease (n=48), hypertension (n=59), ischaemic heart disease (n=49), myocardial infarction (n=4)) with a mean age of 45.3\ub113.2 years were selected. Fifty-eight individuals (31 males and 27 female) with mean age of 44.8\ub111.7 years were included as controls. Result showed significant increases in mean plasma total cholesterol (TC) (P < 0.05), triglyceride and low density lipoproteins (LDLC) (P < 0.01), LDLC: HDLC (p < 0.001), as well as in systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p < 0.001), while plasma HDLC (p < 0.01) and HDLC:TC (p < 0.001) showed significant decreases when compared with the corresponding mean control values. There were graded decreases in plasma HDLC in the different socioeconomic classes. The lowest mean plasma HDLC was found in IHD patients. This study has uncovered variations in plasma lipids and lipoproteins among patients of CVD within the different socioeconomic classes in South-western Nigeria

Changes in mediators of inflammation and pro-thrombosis after 12 months of dietary modification in adults with metabolic syndrome

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of a 12-month dietary modification on indices of inflammation and pro-thrombosis in adults with metabolic syndrome (MS).Materials and methods: This longitudinal study involved 252 adults with MS recruited from the Bodija market, Ibadan and its environs. Participants were placed on 20%, 30% and 50% calories obtained from protein, total fat and carbohydrate respectively and were followed up monthly for 12 months. Anthropometry and blood pressure were measured using standard methods. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)], interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured using spectrophotometric methods and ELISA as appropriate. Data was analysed using ANCOVA, Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant.Results: After 6 months of dietary modification, there was a significant reduction in waist circumference (WC), while the levels of HDL-C, fibrinogen and PAI-1 were significantly increased when compared with the corresponding baseline values. However, WC and fibrinogen reduced significantly, while HDL-C and IL-10 significantly increased after 12 months of dietary modification as compared with the respective baseline values.Conclusion: Long-term regular dietary modification may be beneficial in ameliorating inflammation and pro-thrombosis in metabolic syndrome.Keywords: Dietary modification, fibrinogen, interleukins, metabolic syndrome, plasminogen activator inhibito

Changes in mediators of inflammation and pro-thrombosis after 12 months of dietary modification in adults with metabolic syndrome.

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of a 12-month dietary modification on indices of inflammation and pro-thrombosis in adults with metabolic syndrome (MS). Materials and methods: This longitudinal study involved 252 adults with MS recruited from the Bodija market, Ibadan and its environs. Participants were placed on 20%, 30% and 50% calories obtained from protein, total fat and carbohydrate respectively and were followed up monthly for 12 months. Anthropometry and blood pressure were measured using standard methods. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)], interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured using spectrophotometric methods and ELISA as appropriate. Data was analysed using ANCOVA, Student\u2019s t-test, Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: After 6 months of dietary modification, there was a significant reduction in waist circumference (WC), while the levels of HDL-C, fibrinogen and PAI-1 were significantly increased when compared with the corresponding baseline values. However, WC and fibrinogen reduced significantly, while HDL-C and IL-10 significantly increased after 12 months of dietary modification as compared with the respective baseline values. Conclusion: Long-term regular dietary modification may be beneficial in ameliorating inflammation and pro-thrombosis in metabolic syndrome

Plasma oxidised low-density lipoprotein cholesterol correlates inversely with testosterone in young adult male smokers

Introduction: there are indications that oxidized low density lipoprotein cholesterol (Ox-LDLC) may play an important role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. In most developing countries, the interplay between the different lipid fractions and cigarette smoking has not been studied. This study assessed the effect of cigarette smoking on the alterations in plasma lipid fractions and their associations with the gonadal hormone, testosterone (T). Methods: one hundred and sixty male participants, consisting of eighty smokers and eighty apparently healthy non-smokers were recruited. Anthropometric indices and biochemical parameters were determined using standard procedures. Results: significant increases were obtained in plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDLC) and Ox-LDLC/TT ratio (p<0.001) in smokers compared with the non-smokers. Plasma high density cholesterol (HDLC) (p<0.001) was significantly reduced in smokers compared with the non-smokers. The plasma mean T result was not significantly different from the non-smokers, but inversely correlated with Ox-LDLC and significantly correlated with the lipids and lipoproteins. Significantly high plasma TC, TG and LDLC (p<0.001) and low HDLC (p<0.001) were also obtained in smokers when co-founding factors such as duration and number of cigarette smoked per day were applied. Conclusion: this study showed an inverse correlation between Ox-LDLC and testosterone as well as strong association between the number of tobacco and cigarettes usage per day. These changes in part, could be major causes of premature CVD and decreased fertility in young adults