Biochemical markers of liver and kidney functions in Nigerian hypertensive patients

Plasma albumin, total protein, total globulin, urea, creatinine and uric acid, concentrations were assayed by standard spectrophotometric methods as simple biochemical indicators of liver and kidney functions of 103 hypertensive patients (44 males; 59 females) and 88 apparently healthy subjects (40 males; 48 females). Additionally Plasma sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) were determined by flame photometry. The healthy and the hypertensive subjects were recruited from Abeokuta and Ibadan (South-Western Nigeria). The subjects were classified into male and female subgroups. The mean age of the hypertensive patients was 41.9 ±10.3 (range 21-68) years, while the mean age of the healthy subjects was 37.8 ± 8.6 (range 18-52) years. The weight and height of all subjects were measured and their body mass indices (BMI) computed. The levels ofplasma albumin, urea and uric acid were significantly higher in the hypertensive patients than in healthy group (

Low blood selenium: A probable factor in essential hypertension

The possible association between selenium and essential hypertension was investigated in this study. Blood selenium (BSe) and plasma glutathione peroxidase (plGSH-Px) activity were measured asbiochemical markers of selenium status of 103 hypertensive patients (44 males and 59 females) and 88 apparently healthy subjects (40 males and 48 females). The hypertensive patients were classified intothree groups based on the severity of the disease namely: mild (Group 1), moderate (Group 2) and severe (Group 3). The healthy and the hypertensive subjects were recruited from Abeokuta and Ibadan(South-Western Nigeria). The mean age of the hypertensive patients was 41.9 ± 10.3 (range 21 – 68) years, while the mean age of the healthy subjects was 37.8 ± 8.6 (range 18 – 52) years. The weight,height, blood pressure and pulse rates of all subjects were measured and their body mass indices (BMI) computed. BSe was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) while plGSH-Px activitywas measured by spectrophotometric method. The mean BSe concentration was significantly lower in the hypertensive patients (0.136 ± 0.028 mg/L) than in the healthy group (0.188 ± 0.026 mg/L) (P < 0.001). However with respect to plGSH-Px activity, there was no statistically significant difference between the hypertensive patients (0.126 ± 0.019 U/mL) and the healthy group (0.127 ± 0.022 U/mL). Blood Selenium concentration was found to decrease with the severity of the disease. The difference in BSe concentration of Group 1 and Group 2 patients was not significant. However, there were significantdifferences in the BSe levels of Group 2 and Group 3 patients (P < 0.05) and Group 1 and Group 3 patients (P < 0.05). The observed low BSe in hypertensive subjects implies that low BSe is probably a predisposing factor to essential hypertension or a consequence of the disease. The severity of the disease was also observed to be inversely related to the level of BSe, suggesting that BSe level may have a role in the prognosis of the disease. Alteration in BSe status appears to confirm the  elemental basis of the aetiopathogenesis of certain diseases. Despite the reduction in BSe level in the hypertensive patients, it was still adequate to maintain plGSH-Px activity at a level comparable to thoseof the healthy group. This suggests that BSe may exist in another functional form, which plays a role in the pathogenesis or prognosis of the disease

Mixed chemical-induced oxidative stress in occupational exposure in Nigerians

Exposure to single chemicals and associated disorders in occupational environments has received significant attention. Understanding these events holds great promise for risk identification, assessmentand chemical induced disease prevention. Fifty (50) fasting male workers, age range 18-50 years exposed to chemical mixtures in a works department, mean duration 17.7±10.1 years and 30 controlsmatched for age, diet, sex and other demographic characteristics except exposure to chemicals were selected. Body mass index (BMI), antioxidant status and other biochemical indices including plasmaproteins (total protein) and subsets, albumin and total globulins were determined in plasma. The BMI was similar between chemical workers (exposed) and controls (p>0.05). Uric acid level was significantlyhigher in the exposed than in the controls (

Lead Exposure: A Contributing Cause of the Current Breast Cancer Epidemic in Nigerian Women

Breast cancer incidence in Nigerian women has significantly increased during the past three decades in parallel with the rapid industrialization of that country. This suggested that the associated widespread contamination of the soil and of the water supplies by lead (Pb) and other industrial metals was a major contributing cause. Because of its many domestic, industrial, and automotive uses, Pb is of particular concern as it has been shown to promote the development of mammary tumors in murine mammary tumor virus-infected female C3H mice at levels as low of 0.5 ppm Pb in the drinking water. Lead belongs to the group of selenium-antagonistic elements that interact with selenium (Se), abolishing its anti-carcinogenic effect. Lead on chronic, low-level exposure in addition also accelerates tumor growth rates. Higher levels of Pb were found in blood and head hair samples of newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer, all with infiltrating ductal carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer in Nigeria, seen at Obafemi Awolowo University, than in cancer-free controls from the same area. Evidence for interactions between Pb and Se was obtained from blood, hair, and tumor biopsy tissue analyses. Furthermore, the Pb levels in hair samples of the patients were directly correlated with the volumes of their tumors, in accord with the tumor growth-promoting effects of Pb. Conversely, Se levels in hair and blood were inversely correlated with the tumor volumes, consistent with the anti-proliferative effects of Se. Several other elements, e.g., Cd, Hg, Cr, Sn, and As, were detected in the scalp hair of the patients and the controls, although at significantly lower levels than those of Pb. However, correlation calculations revealed them also to interact with Se, suggesting that only a fraction of the Se in organs and tissues is actually present in bioactive forms. In metal-exposed subjects, a state of latent Se deficiency may exist, resulting in depressed immune functions and increased cancer susceptibility. Evidence is presented to show that Pb and other metals also interact with iodine, another vitally important essential trace element believed to protect against breast cancer development. Public health programs aiming at lowering the breast cancer risk of Nigerian women thus will have to include effective measures to protect the population from exposures to Pb and other industrial metals that are presently contaminating the environment and the water supplies

Altered calcium metabolism: the probable major biochemical lesion in many pathological and clinical states of lead toxicity

The study was designed to provide evidence for altered calcium metabolism in lead toxicity and its pathological and clinical implications, which are incompletely elucidated in humans. Eighty-six lead (Pb) workers and 51 age, sex, dietary and anthropometric indices matched controls participated in this study. Blood lead level (BLL), serum total and ionized calcium, inorganic phosphate, serum albumin, total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the Bone form (isoenzyme) of alkaline phosphatase (B- ALP) and indices of renal function were evaluated in both lead workers and controls. The result showed blood lead level was higher in Pb workers than in controls (P0.05) respectively. Nineteen percent (19%) of Pb workers demonstrated calcium level below the lower limit of reference range (0.05; P>0.05) respectively. Urinary protein related to creatinine was significantly higher in Pb workers than in controls (P0.05; P>0.05) respectively. These data are suggestive of altered calcium metabolism impairing cell membrane stabilization, the vasorelaxing effect of calcium and cell signaling. Altered calcium metabolism may be the major biochemical lesion underlying many pathological and clinical states of lead toxicity.Journal of Biomedical Investigation Vol. 5 (1) 2007: pp. 9-1