BackgroundUnhealthy dietary patterns are associated with metabolic changes and increased risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), but these associations have not been investigated in representative populations of university undergraduates in low-to-middle income countries (LMICs).MethodsThis study was conducted in the three universities in Lagos State, Nigeria to assess the dietary pattern and metabolic risk factors of NCDs among university undergraduate population. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 506 undergraduates from the universities. Pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics and dietary patterns. Body mass index and metabolic risk factors (abdominal obesity, dyslipidemias, high blood pressure and hyperglycemia) were assessed following standard procedures. SPSS (version 20) was used for data entry and analysis. Association between variables was determined using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests.ResultsThe mean age was 20.3 ± 3.5 years; 54.7% of them were female. More than one third (37.6%) had no consistent source of income or received less than N10, 000 ($31.7) per month. Less than one third (31.0%) ate three daily meals, 23.0% ate breakfast regularly, and only 2% consumed the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables. Almost half (44.0%) ate pastry snacks daily. Refined rice was the commonest cereal (28.2%) consumed while meat was more commonly consumed daily (32.0%) than milk (14.0%) and fish (10.0%). Twenty-nine (29.0%) and 6.2% of the population daily consumed carbonated soft drinks and alcohol, respectively. Prevalence of abdominal obesity (based on waist circumference) was 5% (1.3% in males and 8.4% in females), dyslipidemias (57.3%), pre-hypertension (8.2%), hypertension (2.8%), and pre-diabetes (1.0%). Obesity was positively associated with consumption of alcohol (χ2 = 13.299, p < 0.001).ConclusionUnhealthy diets and metabolic risk factors of non-communicable diseases are prevalent in the undergraduate population studied. Well-recognized recommendations regarding adequate consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole grains should be emphasized in a targeted manner in this population. Carbonated soft drinks and alcohol consumption should be discouraged to stem a rising tide of metabolic risk factors for non-communicable diseases among undergraduate students.
The comparative effects of malaria and malnutrition on plasma antioxidant vitamins were studied in 65 children aged 8-96 months. Forty-six (71%) of them had malaria; nineteen (29%) served as controls. Patients and controls were further subdivided into two groups depending on whether they were malnourished or well nourished, as defined by weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) +/- -2. Plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and retinol were measured. Results indicate that malaria was associated with levels of antioxidants lower than in the controls. Two-way analysis of variance shows that for all three plasma micronutrients concentrations were lower in those children infected with malaria but were not influenced by malnutrition. There were an equal number of malnourished children in both malaria and non-malaria groups; nevertheless, WAZ tended to be lower in those with malaria (p = 0.056), although this did not quite reach significance. It is concluded that in areas where malaria and malnutrition co-exist, malaria alone exerts a greater influence on plasma antioxidants than does malnutrition.
The objective of the study was to assess the dietary and lifestyle habits of patients with cataracts. A food frequency questionnaire was used to collect information on the consumption of a wide variety of food items especially fruits, vegetables and animal and dairy products. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on smoking and alcohol consumption habits. The study was conducted on 62 subjects made up of 31 patients with cataracts attending the Ophthalmology clinic of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria and 31 control subjects without cataracts. There were 20 males and 11 females in each group. The study showed that higher percentages of controls than patients had adequate intakes of fruits and vegetables. Vitamin supplement usage was also higher in controls than patients. There was a strong negative association between past history of smoking, alcohol consumption and cataract. We could not demonstrate a relationship between body mass index (BMI) and cataract in the present study.
1. Iron absorption was measured in weanling riboflavin-deficient (RD) rats or weight-matched (WM) controls fed on appropriate diets for 7 weeks. Concentrations of radio-Fe (68Fe) in plasma were monitored every 30 min for 4 h following intragastric administration.2. Total Fe absorption in RD rats was significantly lower than that in WM controls, and the tissues of the stomach and small intestine of RD rats retained significantly (P < 0.001) more 68Fe by comparison with WM groups. 3.In a separate experiment, ferritin-Fe concentrations were measured in the livers of four groups of rats (adlib. (C), pair-fed (PF) and WM controls and RD) at day 0, and subsequently at days 14, 21, 28, 35 and 49.4. Liver ferritin-Fe concentration was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in RD rats than in all other controls after 3 weeks on the respective diets and remained lower for the remainder of the experiment.
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