BackgroundAssociation of Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) have been identified in several ethnic groups globally. Despite abundant sunlight, vitamin D deficiency is reported in many tropical countries. As vitamin D is a key modulator for intestinal calcium absorption, low vitamin D could contribute to low serum calcium leading to abnormalities of skeletal homeostasis. Therefore, present study was aimed to study the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), serum calcium and VDR polymorphisms in a selected Sri Lankan population.Materials & methodsA case control study was conducted in 119 participants (cases = 51: controls = 68). Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured using ELISA. The VDR polymorphisms (Fok I and Taq I) were detected by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism.ResultsFindings indicated a significantly low (p = 0.000) 25(OH)D levels in cases (18.7±3.7 ng/mL) compared to controls(25.5±9.8 ng/mL) while 25(OH)D in both groups were below the reference range. Mean serum calcium levels in both groups were within normal reference range and was not significantly different among groups. Statistically significant association was not observed between VDR Fok I polymorphisms among cases and controls. Although Fok I polymorphism genotypes were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), Taq I genotypes in controls violated HWE.ConclusionPresent study confirms that insufficient serum 25(OH)D levels in cases have major contribution to LDH. VDR Fok I polymorphisms did not have any significant association with LDH in Sri Lankan ethnicity.

A descriptive cross-sectional study, Level V.

Introduction:Curd (Dadhi) peptides reduce hypertension by inhibiting angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and serum cholesterol. Peptides vary with bacterial species and milk type used during fermentation.Aim:To isolate and assay the antihypertensive peptides, before and after digestion, in two commercially available curd brands in Sri Lanka.Materials and Methods:Whey (Dadhi Mastu) separated by high-speed centrifugation was isolated using reverse-phase-high- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Eluted fractions were analyzed for ACE inhibitory activity using modified Cushman and Cheung method. Curd samples were subjected to enzymatic digestion with pepsin, trypsin, and carboxypeptidase-A at their optimum pH and temperature. Peptides isolated using reverse-phase-HPLC was assayed for ACE inhibitory activity.Results:Whey peptides of both brands gave similar patterns (seven major and five minor peaks) in HPLC elution profile. Smaller peptides concentration was higher in brand 1 and penta-octapeptides in brand 2. Pentapeptide had the highest ACE inhibitory activity (brand 2–90% and brand 1–73%). After digestion, di and tri peptides with similar inhibitory patterns were obtained in both which were higher than before digestion. Thirteen fractions were obtained, where nine fractions showed more than 70% inhibition in both brands with 96% ACE inhibition for a di-peptide.Conclusion:Curd has ACE inhibitory peptides and activity increases after digestion.

Aim. To identify the effects of sociodemographic status, family history, and lifestyle habits on fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting serum insulin (FSI) levels in apparently healthy subjects. Methods. Information was gathered using an interviewer-administered questionnaire from 227 apparently healthy nondiabetic subjects residing in a suburban area in Sri Lanka. Venous blood samples were collected after an overnight fast for FBG and FSI analysis. Correlations and differences were analyzed using SPSS (ver. 17) software. Results. The majority of the subjects were females, having secondary or tertiary education, monthly income ≥Rs. 25,000 (USD 175), and a positive family history of diabetes. Among the subjects, 10.1% were identified as prediabetics and the majority had familial diabetes with monthly income ≥Rs. 25,000 (USD 175). Subjects with high income had significantly higher mean FBG. In addition FBG had a significant correlation with age. Males and subjects with less than 6 hours/day sleeping duration at night had significantly higher FBG. Subjects with less vigorous physical activity and longer sitting duration had significantly higher FSI levels. Conclusions. Increasing age, higher income, positive familial history of diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, and short sleep at night have positive impact on glycaemic status in apparently healthy subjects.

Fermented milk and milk proteins have shown beneficiary health effects in humans. Angiotensin-II, which is formed from angiotensin-I by Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE), plays a major role in regulating the blood pressure in humans and animals. Two experiments were carried out to determine the effects of prolonged consumption of milk proteins (casein & whey) in comparison with fermented milk (curd) on serum ACE activity and lipid profiles in Wistar rats.In experiment I, test groups were given 2 mL of hydrolysed casein or curd, whilst in experiment II, test groups received 2 mL whey and controls received 2 mL of water. The percentage differences obtained for individual animals were analysed after eight weeks. Casein hydrolysate fed group had a 4.3% reduction in serum ACE activity when compared with 3.5% reduction in curd hydrolysate fed group. The mean percentage difference of ACE showed significantly lower values (p<0.05) in both casein and curd fed group when compared with the control. A greater reduction in serum total cholesterol was noted in the curd fed group (7.3%) when compared with the whey fed group (5.4%) and the casein treated group (0.8%). The mean percentage difference was significant (p<0.05) only in the curd and whey treated groups. There was no significant difference in feed intake, body weight, serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, between the treated groups and the control groups. This indicates that both casein and curd have the effect of lowering serum ACE activity.