Serum albumin reference interval in a group of apperently healthy Sri Lankan adults from Kandy district

For clinical diagnosis and therapeutic management, clinicians have to be sure of the reference limits of the laboratory parameters. International guidelines recommend every laboratory to establish their own reference intervals for healthy individuals belong to a group of homogenous healthy population. Considering varied dietary habits, races and geographical differences in Sri Lanka, there is a need for a specific reference interval for Sri Lankan population. The aim of this study was to establish reference interval for albumin in 106 healthy Sri Lankan adults between 20 to 80 years of age in Kandy district. Ethical clearance for the study was obtained from Ethics Committee, Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya. Albumin was measured using bromocresol green method. Reference interval established considering 2.5th to 97.5th percentile for albumin was 3.35- 4.52 g/dl. The mean serum albumin concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher in males (4.02 ± 0.32 g/dl) than females (3.77 ± 0.25 g/dl). Therefore separate reference intervals are proposed for males (3.38- 4.66 g/dl) and females (3.27- 4.27 g/dl). The mean serum albumin concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher in age groups 21-30 years (3.96±0.30 g/dl) and 31- 40 years (3.91±0.035 g/dl) than other age groups (41-50 years, 3.77 ±0.25 g/dl; 51-60 years, 3.76 ±0.25 g/dl; >60 years, 3.78 ± 0.33 g/dl). Mean concentration of albumin in Muslims (3.76 g/dl) was significantly (p>0.05) lower than Tamils (3.92 g/dl), but mean albumin in Sinhalese (3.88 g/dl) showed no significant (p>0.05) differences with Tamils and Muslims. The mean value of albumin reported from Kenyann, Kuwaits, Rwanda and America are higher than the present study, possibly because of differences in the test procedure and ethnicity. Therefore each country should establish reference interval that are representative of local populations

The Total Antioxidant Capacity and the Total Phenolic Content of Rice Using Water as a Solvent

Background. The present study evaluates the antioxidant properties of some Sri Lankan red rice varieties using water extracts. Methods. Water extracts of rice varieties Attakkari, Bg2907, and Bg407 were used in this study. The total antioxidant capacity was measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, and reducing power assays. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), monomeric anthocyanin, and condensed tannin contents were measured by Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminium chloride, pH differential, and vanillin assays, respectively. Results. It was observed that mean FRAP, DPPH, reducing power, TPC, TFC, monomeric anthocyanin content, and condensed tannin content were in the range of 0.561±0.113 to 0.695±0.077 mmol/100 g fresh weight (FW), 26.07±3.08 to 53.66±7.61 mg/mL FW, 33.49±4.105.14 to 40.81±3.65 mg/mL, 0.676±0.078 to 0.900±0.057 mg tannic acid equivalent (TAE)/g, 5.36±0.75 to 6.38±0.82 mg TAE/g FW, 0.0202±0.005 to 0.0292±0.009 mg/g FW, and 0.078±0.015 to 0.104±0.017 mg TAE/g FW, respectively. Significant differences were observed in DPPH, reducing power, and TPC among rice varieties (p<0.05). Rice variety Attakkari had the highest total antioxidant capacity (TAC), scavenging activity, reducing power, TPC, TFC, monomeric anthocyanin content, and condensed tannin content followed by Bg2907 and Bg406. Conclusion. Total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid, and condensed tannin are the major antioxidants in all three varieties of rice while the monomeric anthocyanin is only a minor antioxidant