PUFA of the n-6 and n-3 series have beneficial effects on key risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD). Our earlier studies on the intake of FA and on the FA composition of plasma and platelet phospholipids suggested the need to improve the n-3 PUFA nutritional status in the Indian population. The present long-term study was conducted on 80 middle-aged Indian subjects (40 men and 40 women) using the subjects' own home-prepared diets to evaluate the effects of dietary n-3 PUFA on biochemical indices of CHD risk. Substitution of Blend G (equal proportions of groundnut and canola oils) for groundnut oil or substitution of Blend S (equal proportions of sunflower and canola oils) for sunflower oil increased alpha-linolenic acid (ALNA) fourfold and decreased the linoleic acid (LA)/ALNA ratio from 35 to 6 and 65 to 9, respectively. Twelve subjects (six men and six women) who received Blend G were switched back to groundnut oil and were administered 0.3 g daily of long-chain (LC) n-3 PUFA from fish oil. At the end of the trial period for both blends in both sexes, plasma lipid and apolipoprotein levels had not changed, and ADP-induced aggregation had decreased. In plasma and platelet phospholipids, LA as well as LCn-3 PUFA had increased, suggesting competition between LA and ALNA for metabolism into the respective LC-PUFA. Fish oil supplementation increased LCn-3 PUFA in plasma and platelet phospholipids, decreased ADP-induced platelet aggregation, and increased plasma cholesterol. On the basis of the increased LCn-3 PUFA in plasma phospholipids, it was calculated that 0.75% energy (en%) (2.2 g) ALNA (from vegetable oils) may be required to increase LCn-3 PUFA to about the same extent as 0.1 en% (0.3 g) LCn-3 PUFA (from fish oils). Since both n-6 and n-3 PUFA play a critical role in fetal growth and development and in the programming of diet-related chronic diseases in adults, an improvement in the n-3 PUFA nutritional status in cereal-based diets through long-term use of cooking oils containing 25-40% LA and 4% ALNA may contribute to the prevention of CHD in Indians.

INTRODUCTION:Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) have a few or no symptoms or signs of thyroid dysfunction and thus by its very nature, SCH is a laboratory diagnosis. Serum creatinine is elevated and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) values are reversibly reduced in overt hypothyroid patients. We hypothesize that SCH also may be associated with low GFR.AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:The objective of this study was (1) to know the effect of SCH on kidney function, (2) to find the correlation between the renal function parameter creatinine, estimated GFR (eGFR), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and (3) to know if creatinine values can be predicted by TSH values in SCH cases.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This is a hospital-based cross-sectional study for 1 year. A total of 608 subjects of either sex were included in the study and were divided into 3 groups: (1) SCH, (2) overt hypothyroidism (OHT), and (3) euthyroidism (ET). TSH, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and serum creatinine were estimated and eGFR was calculated using modification of diet in renal disease study equation and the chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration equations.RESULTS:Serum creatinine levels were higher and eGFR was lower significantly in the subclinical hypothyroid group when compared to the control ET group (P < 0.001). The overtly hypothyroid group had significantly higher levels of serum creatinine and lower eGFR when compared to both the groups (P < 0.001). Significant correlation between TSH, creatinine, and eGFR was found in OHT group only. Linear regression analysis showed the regression in creatinine upon TSH is attributable to 44.5% among OHT group, 48.2% in SCH group.CONCLUSION:It can be concluded that the SCH group behaves biochemically similar to OHT group and changes in serum creatinine reflect tissue hypothyroidism in SCH cases.

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic derangements characterised by hyperglycemia resulting from defective insulin secretion or action or both. Persistent hyperglycemia generates reactive oxygen species causing oxidative damage to cells and various biomolecules. In this study the levels of reduced glutathione antioxidant were estimated in NIDDM patients with cardiovascular disease (n=50) by HPLC method and compared to healthy controls (n=50). The results indicated that plasma glutathione levels are significantly decreased showing that antioxidant defence is lowered in diabetic patients with cardiovascular complications.