Fruits and vegetables moderate blood pressure, fibrinogen concentration and plasma viscosity in Nigerian hypertensives

Fruits and vegetables contain vital components such as potassium, antioxidants, vitamins and folic acid that might contribute to lowering blood pressure which is a major risk factor in cardiovascular disorders. However, the results of the few investigations on the correlation between intake of fruits and vegetables and cardiovascular disease have been inconsistent. Worse still, there is dearth of information on disease prevention with fruits and vegetables in Africans. Thus, we investigated the relative effect of fruits and vegetables on blood pressure, viscosity of blood and fibrinogen level. Ten weeks intervention study with ≥ 3 times daily consumption of fruits and vegetables by hypertensive patients was conducted. The fruits and vegetables included in the test diet were oranges, banana, pawpaw,  mango, pineapple, grape, tangerine, garden egg, okra, pumpkin leaf, spinach,  amaranthus and water leaf. The patients were allowed to consume the food servings while their eating habit was not restricted. Blood pressure, blood viscosity and plasma fibrinogen and nutrient intake were determined before and during  intervention. The complementary fruits and vegetables included in the normal dietary regimen of the patients during the 10 weeks study increased the levels of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, antioxidants and dietary fiber significantly  compared to the baseline values (P<0.01). The systolic and diastolic blood  pressure were significantly lowered; percentage differences of – 9.01 and –3.73 (P<0.01) respectively were observed after 10 weeks. Percentage differences of –6.02, -38.86 and –5.29 (P<0.05.) were observed for haematocrit, blood viscosity and plasma fibrinogen respectively compared with the base line. Fruits and vegetables lowered the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood viscosity and plasma fibrinogen. The decrease in haematocrit and fibrinogen could influence reduction in blood viscosity thereby preventing premature CVD in hypertensive. Daily intake of fresh fruit and vegetable might be beneficial for the prevention and as therapeutic regime for cardiovascular complications.Key Words: Hypertension, Fruits, Vegetables, Fibrinogen, Viscosit

Knowledge and attitude of youth (ages 15-25 years) to HIV/AIDS and to routine HIV screening

No Abstract. Nigrian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.9 (1) 2006: pp.11-1

Fibrinolytic activity in children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Background: Malaria infection is still one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among the under five year children in tropical Africa. Clinical and laboratory methods of assessing the risk factors for severity in order to adequately manage these children, therefore needs to be identified so that prompt and adequate treatment can be instituted early. Fibrinolytic activity has been postulated as one of the risk factors associated with severity of malaria infection. Objective: To measure fibrinolytic activity euglobulin lysis time, (ELT) and fibrinogen levels in 50 Nigerian children with plasmodium falciparum infection. Design: A cross sectional study. Setting: University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria between January and December 2002. Subjects: Fifty Nigerian children who were admitted with plasmodium falciparum malaria infection in the paediatric wards of the hospital were recruited into the study. Thirtyfour apparently healthy children who did not have malaria fever but who came for growth monitoring exercise and had some investigations done as part of this exercise were used as control for the study. The fibrinolytic activity in all the 84 children (both that had malaria infection and those who did not have malaria infection) were estimated by measuring the euglobulin lysis time (ELT). The fibrinogen levels in all the children were also estimated. The packed cell volume of the children was determined and some severely anaemic children had blood transfusions. Results: Euglobin lysis time (ELT) was found to be higher in children with plasmodium falciparum malaria infection (430 ± 149) than in the controls (158 ± 21.7, P< 0.01). Fibrinogen levels of 3.40 ± 0.98 in children with malaria infection were high when compared to 2.21 ± 0.81 in the controls. The children with malaria infection therefore had a decreased fibrinolytic activity and a proportionately high fibrinogen level. The average packed cell volume of the children with malaria infection was 29.64 ± 2.13 while in the control it was 36.41 ± 3.24. The study also showed that 50% of children with malaria had severe anaemia and subsequently had blood transfusions. Twenty percent of those who had transfusions died while being transfused. Conclusion: Children who have malaria infection have decreased fibrinolytic activity and proportionately high fibrinogen level which may contribute to the possible thromboembolic process in these children and hence higher risk of mortality from plasmodium falciparum malaria infection. East African Medical Journal Vol.82(2) 2005: 104-10

Effects of anti-retroviral therapy on haemostatic and haemorheological parameters in HIV/AIDS patients

No Abstract

Short-Term Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian Diet And Blood Rheology In Young Nigerian Adults

Background: Previous epidemiological studies have found a decrease cardiovascular disease risk and reduced level of haemorheological parameters in adult vegetarians. It is not quite known if the duration of consumption of vegetarian diet affects the level of these parameters.Objective: To evaluate the effects of short term lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet on haemorheoogical cardiovascular disease risk factors in Nigerian young adults.Design and Subjects: A longitudinal study of young Nigerian adults (16-25years). Participants were recruited from new intakes in a seven day Adventist University in South West Nigeria.Methods: Blood samples were analysed for haematological and rheological parameters at baseline and after 10 weeks follow up using standard methods.Results: A total of 41 students were studied (male/female 24/17). Mean age 20.4 + 3.7 for males and 19.6 + for females. Blood viscosity, plasma fibrinogen and erythrocyte sedimentation showed significant reduction from baseline values (p0.05). Contrary to earlierreports, we observed an increment in the haematocrit after 10 weeks of lacto-ovovegetarian diet but the plasma viscosity was still lower than the pre-lacto-ovo-vegetarian values.Conclusion: We conclude that short-term lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet lead to significant reduction in rheological parameters, a development which may confer a decrease cardiovascular risk in vegetarians.Keywords: Short-term lacto-ovo-vegetarian die

Leucocyte Counts in Pregnant Nigerian Women with Sickle Cell Trait

White blood count (WBC) with differential counts and packed cell volume (PCV) were studied in 100 pregnant and 30 non-pregnant control women aged 18-45 years. Eighty of the pregnant women were homozygous HbAA and 20 heterozygous HbAS. The non-pregnant women\'s PCV, lymphocyte and eosinophils counts were significantly higher (p < 0.005) while their leucocytes neutrophil counts were significantly lower (p < 0.005) compared with HbAA and HbAS pregnant women. However, HbAS pregnant women had higher leucocyte, lymphocyte and eosinophil counts compared with HbAA, but these were not significant. There were no variations in basophil and monocyte counts. HbAA pregnant women had no change in PCV but significant changes occured in leucocyte and neurophil counts with increase in the second trimester with decreasing lymphocyte and eosinophil counts in the second and third trimesters. However, HbAS pregnant women had significant increase in PCV in their first trimester, leucocyte and neutrophil counts in their third trimester but no variation in lymphocyte, eosinophil and basophil and monocyte counts. The increased leucocyte and neutrophil counts in the second trimester in HbAA and third trimester in HbAS may be due to genetic factor and/or oestrogen secretion reaching production peak at different periods of pregnancy. The relative increase in these haematological indices in HbAS women may be a protective mechanism against infection during pregnancy. (Afr J Reprod Health 2002; 6[3]: 112-116) Résumé Numérations leucocytaires chez les femmes nigérianes enceintes qui ont des traits drépanocytaires. Nous avons étudié le nombre de globules blancs et le formulaire leucocytaire et l\'hématocrite chez 100 femmes enceintes ainsi que chez 30 femmes témoins âgées de 18-45 ans, qui n\'étaient pas enceintes. 80 femmes parmi les femmes enceintes étaient des homozygotes de type HbAA et 20 étaient des hétérozygotes, de type HbAs. Le formulaire leucocytaire, la numération lymphocytaire et la numération des éosinophiles étaient appréciablement élevés alors que leur numération leucocytaire des neutrophiles était appréciablement peu élevée (p < 0, 005) comparée à HbAA et HbAS chez les femmes enceintes. Toutefois, les femmes enceintes de la catégorie HbAS avaient des numérations leucocytaires, lymphocytaires et des neutrophiles plus élevés par rapport à HbAA, mais ceux-ci n\'étaient pas significatifs. Il n\'y avait pas de variations quant aux numérations des basophiles et aux numérations monocytaires. Il n\'y avait pas de modification dans le formulaire leucocytaire chez les femmes enceintes de type HbAA, mais il y a eu des modifications assez importantes au niveau des numérations leucocytaires et au niveau de taux des polynucléaires neutrophiles au fur et à mesure que le second trimestre augmentait que les numérations leucocytaires et des éosinophiles baissaient au cours de second et du troisième semestres. Néanmoins, il y a eu des hausses importantes chez les femmes enceintes de la catégorie HbAS par rapport au formulaire leucocytaire dans leur premier semestre et dans les numérations leucocytaires et des neutrophiles dans leur troisième semestre. Il n\'y avait pas de variation dans les numérations lymphocytaires, dans les éosinophiles et les numérations des basophiles et des monocytes. La hausse des numérations leucocytaires et des neutrophiles dans le second trimestre chez les HbAA, et dans le troisième trimestre chez les HbAS peut être attribuée au facteur génétique et/ou à la sécrétion de l\'oestrogène qui atteint le sommet de la production à des étapes différentes de la grossesse. La hausse relative de ces indicateurs hématologiques chez les femmes de la catégorie HbAS peut servir de mécanisme protecteur contre l\'infection pendant la grossesse. (Rev Afr Santé Reprod 2002; 6[3]: 112-116) KEY WORDS: Haematological indices, pregnancy, sickle cel

Lupus Anticoagulatiuon African Women With Recurrent Abortions

Objective: The presence of the lupus anticoagulant (LA) an auto antibody has been implicated as a marker for first trimester spontaneous abortions as well as second and third trimester foetal death in the Caucasians. There is paucity of information on LA in African women where recurrent abortion and obstetrics complications are still common. Our aim therefore is to determine the prevalence of lupus anticoagulant in Nigerian women with recurrent abortion Subjects and methods: A total of seventy – three pregnant women were studied. Twenty three of them had history of recurrent abortions; they were compared with 50 without obstetrics complications as controls. Coagulation studies using the kaolin clotting time were carried out on their plasma sample. Mixing experiments were conducted on samples with prolonged clotting time in order to detect the presence of the lupus anticoagulant. The anticoagulant was considered present if the kaolin clotting time ratio is greater than or equal to 1.2. Result: Nineteen {82.62%} of the patients with recurrent abortion had normal kaolin clotting time, one {4.35%} had subnormal clotting time. The kaolin clotting time ration was greater than 1.2 in one (4.35%) of the patients with recurrent abortions signifying the presence of the lupus anticoagulant. Four (8%) of the pregnant controls had subnormal kaolin clotting time, 44 (88%) had normal clotting time while 2 (4%) had prolonged clotting time. The lupus anticoagulant was present in one (2%) of the pregnant controls. Conclusion: A 4.35% prevalence of LA among Nigerians with recurrent foetal loss may necessitate the screening of pregnant women with history of recurrent abortion for the lupus anticoagulant. We recommend that screening for lupus anticoagulant should be part of the routine investigation for women with recurrent spontaneous abortions KEY WORDS: Recurrent Abortions, Pregnant Women, Lupus Anticoagulant, Kaolin clotting time Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.6(1) 2003:26-2

Effects of fruits and vegetables on electolytes and blood pressure of hypertensive patients seen in Nigeria

High-fruit and high-vegetable diets are known to have ameliorating effects on many diseases and their complications. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of high fruit and high vegetable diets on the electrolytes and blood pressure of hypertensive patients. This experimental study was conducted at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (formerly Ogun State University), Ogun state, Nigeria. Twenty five hypertensive volunteers from among hypertensive clinic attendees were recruited into the study. They were taught how to prepare two serves of vegetables and fruit (approximately 500g diced fruit salad) per day and were encouraged to consume the serves on daily basis from week one through to week ten. Baseline and bi-weekly assessment of plasma electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate was carried out on the patients. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were also assessed biweekly on the patients during their routine clinic attendance. There was a gradual reduction in plasma sodium and chloride concentrations as well as the blood pressure which became significant in week ten. The mean baseline plasma sodium reduced significantly from 139.0 ± 0.9mmo/L to 137.5 ± 0.9mml/L, P < 0.001 after ten weeks of high fruit and high vegetable diets. Plasma chloride also reduced from baseline value of 103.2 ± 2.5mmol/L to 98.8 ± 0.7mmol/L, P < 0.0001. But the plasma potassium improved from 3.64 ± 0.2mmol/L at baseline to 3.9 ± 0.4mmol/L at week ten, P = 0.0357. The mean systolic blood pressure also dropped from the baseline value of 155.3± 7.6mmHg to 141 ± 2.4 mmHg, P < 0.0001. Also reduced was the mean diastolic blood pressure from 89.3 ± 7.6mmHg to 88.0 ± 2.4, at week ten. However, the plasma bicarbonate and BMI did not charge significantly throughout the study period. High-fruit and high-vegetable diets appear to have an ameliorating effect on the blood pressure of hypertensive patients. This may be beneficial and complementary in the management of hypertension. Keywords: Hypertension, Fruits and Vegetables, Electrolytes. AJFAND Vol. 8 (3) 2008: pp. 349-35

Effects Of Fruits And Vegetables On Electrolytes And Blood Pressure Of Hypertensive Patients Seen In Nigeria

High-fruit and high-vegetable diets are known to have ameliorating effects on many diseases and their complications. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of high fruit and high vegetable diets on the electrolytes and blood pressure of hypertensive patients. This experimental study was conducted at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (formerly Ogun State University), Ogun state, Nigeria. Twenty five hypertensive volunteers from among hypertensive clinic attendees were recruited into the study. They were taught how to prepare two serves of vegetables and fruit (approximately 500g diced fruit salad) per day and were encouraged to consume the serves on daily basis from week one through to week ten. Baseline and bi-weekly assessment of plasma electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate was carried out on the patients. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were also assessed biweekly on the patients during their routine clinic attendance. There was a gradual reduction in plasma sodium and chloride concentrations as well as the blood pressure which became significant in week ten. The mean baseline plasma sodium reduced significantly from 139.0 ± 0.9mmo/L to 137.5 ± 0.9mml/L, P > 0.001 after ten weeks of high fruit and high vegetable diets. Plasma chloride also reduced from baseline value of 103.2 ± 2.5mmol/L to 98.8 ± 0.7mmol/L, P > 0.0001. But the plasma potassium improved from 3.64 ± 0.2mmol/L at baseline to 3.9 ± 0.4mmol/L at week ten, P = 0.0357. The mean systolic blood pressure also dropped from the baseline value of 155.3± 7.6mmHg to 141 ± 2.4 mmHg, P > 0.0001. Also reduced was the mean diastolic blood pressure from 89.3 ± 7.6mmHg to 88.0 ± 2.4, at week ten. However, the plasma bicarbonate and BMI did not charge significantly throughout the study period. High-fruit and high-vegetable diets appear to have an ameliorating effect on the blood pressure of hypertensive patients. This may be beneficial and complementary in the management of hypertension

Haemorheological Changes in African Breast Cancer Patients

Several Studies have indicated the existence of thrombo-embolic complications in cancer patients and that this could be associated with changes in heamorheological parameters. Packed cell volume (PCV), heamoglobin (Hb), relative plasma viscosity (RPV) and plasma Fibrinogen concentration (PFC) were measured in 50 healthy control women, 50 age-matched women with breast cancer, and 10 women with histophathologically proven benign breast tumour. There were significant differences between the controls and breast cancer patients in all the parameters measured (