Evaluation of selected trace metals in some hypertensive subjects in a tertiary health institution in Southwest Nigeria.

Published reports on the possible roles of trace metals in the aetiology of primary hypertension have not been consistent. This study investigated the possible aetiological role of zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) in primary hypertension. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) was used to determine the serum levels of Zn, Cu, Mn and Se in 45 patients with primary hypertension (stage I and stage II) and 47 apparently healthy control subjects (normotensives and pre-hypertensives). Both patients and control subjects were classified based on the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7). The weight, height and blood pressure of all subjects were measured and their body mass indices (BMI) computed. The mean serum zinc concentration was significantly higher in the patients with hypertension than in the control subjects (135.78 \ub1 9.10 vs 130.80 \ub1 12.50 \u3bcg/ml, p = 0.032). However, serum levels of copper (68.16 \ub1 3.72 vs 68.53 \ub1 5.33 \u3bcg/dl, p = 0.697), manganese (63.11 \ub1 4.40 vs 62.87 \ub1 4.59 \u3bcg/dl, p = 0.800) and selenium (75.91 \ub1 5.66 vs 78.13 \ub1 5.92 \u3bcg/L, p = 0.070) were not statistically different between the patients and the control subjects. This study did not show any gender-, age- or obesity-related differences in serum level of zinc, copper, manganese and selenium. Elevated level of serum zinc may play an aetiological role in subjects with primary hypertension. However, further studies will be necessary to define the roles of trace elements in the aetiology of primary hypertension in these individuals

Plasma Ascorbic Acid and Non-Enzymatic Antioxidants Level in Unoperated Cataract Patients

Free radicals have been implicated in the pathology of several diseases including cataract. Ascorbic acid functions as the major chain breaking antioxidant vitamin in the aqueous phase. Bilirubin, albumin and uric acid are regarded as natural antioxidants. There are conflicting reports on plasma concentrations of these antioxidants in cataract patients. 89 subjects consisting of 55 cataract patients and 34 control subjects were recruited for the study. The mean age of the subjects was 61± 11yrs. Mean plasma ascorbic acid level was significantly lower in cataract patients (0.33± 0.27) when compared with age matched control group (0.59 ±0.37) (p< 0.05). A significant increase in mean plasma bilirubin was observed in cataract patients when compared to the corresponding controls. Plasma uric acid levels showed a positive correlation with ascorbic acid (r =0.40,

Changes in Testes Lipid Profile in Rats Fed on Thermally-Oxidized Soya bean Oil-Based Diets

The effect of thermally–oxidized soyabean oil–based diets on the lipid profile of the testes of rats was studied. For 35 days, two groups of male weanling rats were fed a basal diet containing unoxidised and oxidized soyabean oil. Rats fed the thermally oxidized soyabean oil diets displayed typical signs of essential fatty acids (EFA) deficiency and had their testes weights reduced to about 81% of fats fed unoxidised soyabean oil diets. There was a significant decrease (

Effects of Tea Consumption on Plasma Lipids and Lipoproteins in Apparently Healthy Individuals

Possible alterations in total plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were studied in forty healthy human subjects (twenty-two males and eighteen adult females) after twenty eight days of tea consumption. A commercial brand of tea preparation was drunk by each of the subjects and they were made to take two standard cups (4.0g) of tea infusion per day. The result showed a significant decrease in mean HDL-cholesterol and increase in LDL-cholesterol concentrations compared with the mean control values. The mean total cholesterol was statistically unchanged. When the subjects were grouped into males and females, the mean LDL-C concentration was significantly elevated in both male and female groups while the mean HDL-C and triglyceride levels only in female subjects when compared with the corresponding control group. The difference observed in the value of the mean total cholesterol was not statistically significant in individual male and female groups. Findings from this study suggest that tea consumption could affect the metabolism of atherogenic lipid fractions and may thus be important in the aetiology of coronary heart disease. . Keywords: Tea, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, Coronary heart disease. Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Science Vol. 6 (1) 2007: pp. 25-2

Evaluation of selected trace metals in some hypertensive subjects in a tertiary health institution in Southwest Nigeria.

Published reports on the possible roles of trace metals in the aetiology of primary hypertension have not been consistent. This study investigated the possible aetiological role of zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) in primary hypertension. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) was used to determine the serum levels of Zn, Cu, Mn and Se in 45 patients with primary hypertension (stage I and stage II) and 47 apparently healthy control subjects (normotensives and pre-hypertensives). Both patients and control subjects were classified based on the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7). The weight, height and blood pressure of all subjects were measured and their body mass indices (BMI) computed. The mean serum zinc concentration was significantly higher in the patients with hypertension than in the control subjects (135.78 ± 9.10 vs 130.80 ± 12.50 μg/ml, p = 0.032). However, serum levels of copper (68.16 ± 3.72 vs 68.53 ± 5.33 μg/dl, p = 0.697), manganese (63.11 ± 4.40 vs 62.87 ± 4.59 μg/dl, p = 0.800) and selenium (75.91 ± 5.66 vs 78.13 ± 5.92 μg/L, p = 0.070) were not statistically different between the patients and the control subjects. This study did not show any gender-, age- or obesity-related differences in serum level of zinc, copper, manganese and selenium. Elevated level of serum zinc may play an aetiological role in subjects with primary hypertension. However, further studies will be necessary to define the roles of trace elements in the aetiology of primary hypertension in these individuals