No abstract

No abstract

Aim/Background:Given the prevalence of toxicants in foods, beauty products, etc., and the increasing demand for “green” products, there is a need for the development of “nutri-drinks” with hepatoprotective properties. The usefulness of tigernut milk (TNM) in preventing acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury was, therefore, investigated.Materials and Methods:A total of 25 rats were randomized into five equal groups. Four groups were treated with 0, 500, 1000, and 2000 kg/mg body weight (bw) TNM, respectively, per os for 2 weeks before they were challenged with 2500 mg/kg bw APAP. Biochemical markers of hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress were determined in the sera of the rats at the end of the study.Results:Serum alanine aminotransferase concentrations decreased significantly (P < 0.001) and dose-dependently from 334.3 ± 16.1 in the negative control group to 65.4 ± 8.3 in the 2000 mg/kg bw TNM group. Other studied liver enzymes were similarly dose-dependently reduced. These data are corroborated by histological findings. Superoxide dismutase activity (U/mg protein) was increased significantly (P < 0.001) from 108.0 ± 7.4 in the negative control group to 291.0 ± 11.3 in the 2000 mg/kg bw TNM group, and indeed all the test groups. The malondialdehyde concentrations in the test rats were slightly lower than that of the negative control group.Conclusion:TNM at the tested concentrations significantly prevented liver injury. Phytochemicals in TNM, working directly as antioxidants or indirectly by inducing the synthesis of glutathione, may be responsible for the observed effect.

Aim: This study assessed fat-related anthropometric variables and regional patterns of body size and adiposity of adolescents in Aba South LGA. Methods: A total number of 600 adolescents who were secondary school students aged 10 to 19 years wereselected from 61 registered secondary schools. A multi-random sampling technique was used to select the patients. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained from the patients who participated in the study. Each patient was subjected to weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and skinfolds measurements using standard methods. Body fat percentage was calculated by the formulas described by Slaughter, Siris, and Shailk equations. Descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation were used to examine the gender-specific anthropometric indices. Chi-square and independent t test were also applied to determine the differences between the parameters or variables of the genders at P< .05. Results: The respondents aged 19 years had the highest measurement for triceps (14.60 mm), thigh (35.05 mm), and MUAC (25.95 mm), while those aged 18 years had the highest measurement for suprailiac (15.00 mm) and subscapular (16.94 mm). Females had more fat deposits than males in all the skinfold sites. They also had a significantly (P ¼ .05) higher body fat percentage than males. A multiple regression analysis revealed that maximum calf fat was a strong predictor of body fat percentage of the patients. Conclusion: High prevalence of obesity was found in this study, and the 3 equations of body fat percentage showed similar findings that more females than males had higher body fat percentage.

This study determined the glyceamic indices of unripe red banana and unripe plantain flour meals. Unripe plantain and red banana were processed into flour and were subjected to proximate analysis using standard procedures. Twelve apparently healthy normo-glycaemic adults of normal body weight consumed 50 g digestible carbohydrate from glucose drink and test diets. Blood glucose concentration was measured prior to the consumption of the control and test diets and at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after consumption of the standard and test diets. Glycaemic indices of the test diets were calculated. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics of SPSS version 16 and were presented as means and standard deviations. Unripe plantain and unripe red banana flours contained crude fiber (0.82% and 1.11%) and carbohydrate (85.85% and 86.77%), respectively. Glycaemic indices of unripe plantain and unripe red banana flour meals were 52.80 and 54.96, respectively.