Vitamin D Levels and Insulin Resistance among Nigerian Men with Type-2 Diabetes mellitus

Background: A number of studies have shown a high prevalence of insufficient vitamin D levels in humans in the North American, European and Asian regions. Various research works have also shown that low serum vitamin D levels play a major role in the pathogenesis of chronic, non-infective illnesses such as diabetes mellitus and cancer. Objective: This study was aimed at assessing the serum vitamin D status in relation to glucose homeostasis among men with Type-2 Diabetes mellitus and normal controls. Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study included 80 men with confirmed diagnosis of Type-2 diabetes mellitus and 49 normal adult male controls. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, fasting serum C-peptide and fasting plasma glucose levels were measured in both study groups. Results: There was a significant difference between the mean serum 25-OH vitamin D levels among the cases (36.55ng/mL) and the controls (42.96ng/mL) (p = 0.001). All the four 25-OH vitamin D-deficient subjects had diabetes. In the diabetes group, 43.8% had a normal insulin resistance compared to 61.8% of the control group (p = 0.054). In the diabetes group, 73.8% had sufficient vitamin D, 21.2% had insufficient vitamin D and 5% had vitamin D deficiency. In the control group, there was a significant negative correlation between serum 25-OH vitamin D and BMI and fasting plasma glucose. The mean HOMA2IR value for the diabetes group (3.09) was higher than the value for the controls (2.40). Conclusion: The mean serum 25-OH vitamin D level in the diabetes group was lower than that of the control group hence, hypovitaminosis D may be a contributor to the onset of diabetes mellitus among Nigerian men

Assessment of The Effect of Formaldehyde Exposure on The Liver in Mortuaty Workers in South Western Nigeria.

The general population especially the mortuary workers are constantly exposed to formaldehyde (HCHO) and its compounds. The short half-life of formaldehyde makes it rapidly metabolized and its effect purportedly considered negligible. The hepatotoxic effect of formaldehyde was assessed in 25 male mortuary attendants, mean age 48.04±2.20 (range 23-61) years, classified according to duration of occupational exposure. The mean duration of exposure was 13.56+1.5 (range 2-24) years. Twenty five unexposed individuals, mean age 47.12±1.97 (range 25-61) years were selected as control. The weights and heights of the exposed and un-exposed subjects were measured and the body mass index (BMI) computed. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as the total plasma protein and plasma albumin were also determined in both groups. Total globulin level was computed from the difference between total protein and albumin level. Result showed that the body mass index was significantly lower in exposed subjects than in control (

Plasma Micronutrients (magnesium, zinc, selenium) Status and Lipid Profile in Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Sagamu, Southwestern Nigeria

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders characterised by hyperglycemia with secondary derangements in micronutrient status. Various studies had given conflicting reports of increased or decreased levels of micronutrients in Type II DM. Objective: To measure the plasma micronutrient levels and lipid profile in adults with Type II DM. Method: Plasma magnesium, zinc and selenium levels were measured among 100 subjects comprising 50 people with DM (age range 36-70 years) and 50 control subjects without DM (age range 29-70 years). The anthropometric parameters were measured; fasting blood glucose, plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, micronutrients (magnesium, zinc and selenium) levels were also measured using standard methods. Result: There were statistically significant (p < 0.05) higher plasma glucose, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), LDLC, and lower levels of plasma magnesium, zinc, selenium, HDLC levels among the patients with DM (cases) compared with the normal control subjects. No significant difference was observed in the plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride between the two groups. A significant negative correlation was found between the plasma levels of the trace metals (magnesium, zinc and selenium) and triglycerides (r = - 0.36, r = - 0.43, r = - 0.51 respectively). Conclusion: Plasma levels of magnesium, zinc and selenium are reduced in Type II DM with associated hyperglycaemia-driven dyslipidaemia

Assessment of the renal status of pregnant women through biochemical parameters at various trimesters of pregnancy

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Nutritional Issues of HIV/AIDS Orphans in Sagamu South Western, Nigeria

More than 12 million children under the age of 18 years have been orphaned worldwide, as a result of HIV/AIDS, with Nigeria having the largest number of HIV/AIDS orphans in Africa, as more people die from AIDS, the proportion and problems of orphans and vulnerable children will increase. Little is known about the health and nutrition of those HIV/AIDS orphans and inconsistent findings make it difficult to assess if orphans and other vulnerable children have specific nutritional needs. This study investigated nutritional status HIV/AIDS orphans in Sagamu. The study population consisted of fifty seronegative orphans of parents who died as a result of HIV infection and AIDS and fifty seronegative non-orphaned children whose parents were HIV negative who served as control. Nutritional status was assessed anthropometrically and biochemically. Height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference and head circumference were measured in orphans and control. Significant difference (p&lt; 0.05) was obtained in the percentage of children having stunted growth as determined by height-for-age in the orphans 30%, compared to 8% in the control. Also haemoglobin and plasma levels of total protein, albumin, calcium and phosphate were significantly reduced (p&lt; 0.05) in the orphans compared with the control Nutritional status seemed to be compromised in the HIV/AIDS orphaned. Micronutrient profile assessment in a large sample size is suggested

Malaria and Typhoid as a Cause of Febrile Illness Amongst People Attending Redeemer’s Camp Centre in Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria

MedMalaria parasites and salmonella species co-infection are mostly implicated amidst all other aeteological factors. Consequently, these life-threatening illnesses manifest slightly similar clinical symptoms, thus, the need to investigate febrile conditions among attendees of an  interdenominational religious retreat. Demographic data were obtained using structured questionnaire while blood was screened for malaria parasites and Salmonella typhiO and H antibodies. Out of the 445 patients that attended the clinic during their camping on account of fever, 219 (49.2%) were males and 226 (50.8%) were females. 169 (38%) was diagnosed of having malaria, 116 (26%) had typhoid and 57 (12%) had both malaria and typhoid. Malaria incidence was noted to be highest among children less than 10 years constituting about 12%, while typhoid was most seen in the age group of 41-50 years constituting 5.8%. Salmonella typhi and Plasmodium falciparum specie constituted significant etiological importance in malaria and typhoid patients. However, gender had no significant value effect on the result of malaria and widal test. Keywords: Plasmodium, Salmonella, co-infection, fever, blood