Plasma concentrations of water.soluble vitamins in metabolic syndrome subjects

Context: Vitamins B1 (thiamine), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), and C (ascorbic acid) are vital for energy, carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism and in the regulation of the cellular redox state. Some studies have associated low levels of water.soluble vitamins with metabolic syndrome and its various components.Aims: This study aims to determine the plasma concentrations of vitamins B1, B3, B6, and C in Nigerians with metabolic syndrome and in healthy controls.Settings and Design: One.hundred subjects with metabolic syndrome were recruited into the study. One.hundred controls were age ..and sex.matched.Materials and Methods: Blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, concentrations of plasma glucose, lipid profile, and vitamins B1, B3, B6, and C were estimated.Statistical analysis used: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.0.Results: The mean plasma vitamins B1, B3, B6, and C concentrations of subjects were significantly lower than that of controls (P = 0.001, 0.05, 0.045, 0.001 respectively). Fourteen percent and 32% of subjects had inadequate vitamins B1 and C status, respectively. Vitamin B6 was lower (P = 0.001) and vitamin C was higher (P = 0.012) in female thanin male subjects.Conclusions: Thiamine, niacin, pyridoxine, and ascorbic acid levels were lower in subjects than in controls. Pyridoxine was also lower and ascorbic acid was higher in female than in male subjects

Antioxidant status of type 2 diabetic patients in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Context: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2M) and its complications. Aims: This study was conducted to determine and compare total antioxidant status (TAS), vitamin C and E levels in T2DM patients and healthy control subjects. Settings and Design: Fifty‑five previously diagnosed DM patients aged between 34 years and 70 years and 50 control subjects aged between 35 years and 69 years were consecutively recruited into this study. Materials and Methods: Blood pressure (mmHg), body mass index (kg/m2), concentrations of plasma glucose (mmol/l), lipid profile (mmol/l), TAS (mmol/l), vitamins C (µmol/l), and E (µmol/l) were determined in all participants. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean plasma TAS (1.18 ± 0.27 mmol/l), vitamin C (26.59 ± 7.39 µmol/L) and vitamin E (15.33 ± 4.05 µmol/l) of T2DM patients were significantly lower (P=0.0001 for all) than those of controls (1.58 ± 0.28 mmol/l, 43.56 ± 6.86 µmol/l, 31.22 ± 6.20 µmol/l respectively). TAS had a positive correlation with vitamin E (r=0.588; P=0.013) but no correlation with vitamin C (r=−0.387; P=0.139) among diabetics. Conclusions: TAS, vitamin C and E levels are reduced in T2DM patients compared with those of controls.Keywords: Total antioxidant status, type 2 diabetes mellitus, vitamin C, vitamin ENigerian Journal of Clinical Practice • Jan-Mar 2012 • Vol 15 • Issue

Haematological Profile In Chronic Alcohol Consumers

Background: Problem drinkers conceal the fact that they are chronic alcoholics, when giving a medical history. Laboratory studies on those who abuse alcohol in this environment are scarce as most studies are behavioral research. Routine haematolgical indices were studied in problem drinkers to help in the diagnosis of alcohol related disorders. Methodology: The subjects were got from an indigenous community that has farming and the brewing of a local alcohol, BURUKUTU as the main source of livelihood. The CAGE questionnaire was used to classify the subjects into problem drinkers, social drinkers and those who abstained from alcohol. Parameters measured were haemoglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cell count, white blood cell count and platelet count. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was calculated using wintrobe's formula. Result: It was found that the haemoglobin, packed cell volume , red blood cell count and the white blood cell count were within the reference range for all groups. The platelet was reduced for the problem drinkers while the MCV was increased Conclusion: A look at the haemoglobin, profile especially MCV, platelet count, can alert a physician if the patient is a chronic alcoholic, even when there is no anemia KEY WORDS: Problem drinkers, Alcoholism, Hematogical profile. Jos. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.6(2) 2003: 84-8