Background: Environmental and endocrine factors have been implicated in the aetiology of recurrent abortion, with poorly understood roles. Luteal phase insufficiency marked with insufficient progesterone secretion has been reported. Objective: To define the involvement of progesterone, trace metals, and Vitamin E in pregnant women with history of recurrent spontaneous abortion. Methods: Convenience sampling method was used to recruit 69 pregnant women aged 21-41 years with gestational age of 0-20 weeks in this case-control study. Thirty five (cases) and thirty four (controls) had previous and no history of recurrent spontaneous abortion respectively. Demographic characteristics and 10mls of blood samples were obtained from each subject. Serum obtained was used for the determination of progesterone, zinc, copper, selenium, iron, magnesium, manganese, chromium, lead, cadmium, and serum vitamin E by standard methods. Results: Results showed statistically significant decreases (p<0.05) in the serum zinc, copper, and vitamin E and a significant elevation (p<0.05) in the serum selenium, lead, and cadmium in cases compared with controls. Insignificant decrease (p=0.07) was observed in the serum progesterone when cases were compared with controls. Conclusion: Results suggest that elevated serum heavy metals (cadmium and lead) and reduction of essential micronutrients (zinc, copper and vitamin E) may contribute to recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Leaves of two varieties of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) -TME1 (local) and TMS30572 (improved) -were subjected to African household processing (heat-treated, pounded and cooked and crushed, ground and cooked) and compared for proximate composition, minerals, vitamins and antinutritional factors. The processing methods had no effect on ash, lipids, protein, fiber, total carbohydrate, carotene, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, copper, zinc and manganese but produced diminution in free sugars (23.2% reduction), ascorbic acid (77.7% reduction), thiamine (37.1% reduction), cyanogenic potential (>99% reduction) and tannin (55.2% reduction;) levels. On the contrary, iron level increased three-to fivefold with grinding but not with the pounding process. This study showed that adequate processing practically detoxifies cassava leaves with considerable nutrient retention, thus enhancing utilization of cassava leaves for human consumption. 5 Corresponding author.

The rate of cassava leaf consumption in Africa was assessed by a combination of informal interviews, the use of questionnaires and information from the literature. Countries were rated to have high, average, low, or no consumption of cassava leaves. The mode of cassava leaf preparation was studied with six housewives who are nationals of Congo (3), Sierra Leone (1), Madagascar (1), and Nigeria (1). In each case, the procedure was observed from leaf-picking in the field to serving the cooked dish. The first matured leaf up to leaf position 9 or 10 were selected for consumption. The tender petioles and stem were also taken. There were country variations in the preference for particular varieties based on petiole color and mild mosaic infection. Prior to cooking, cassava leaves are usually pounded or ground but pounding is the most popular method. The recipes from Sierra Leone and Nigeria took 40-60 minutes while the standard Congolese recipe took 90 minutes. However, there is a Congolese recipe using sodium bicarbonate that cooks in only 20 minutes. From the comments made by 50 interview respondents from different African countries, it appears that there is a wide variety of cassava leafbased recipes suggesting that cassava leaves are a major food in Africa.

Riboflavin status was assessed in 42 secondary school students before and after supplementing the food intake with 5 mg riboflavin daily for 7 days. Energy, protein, and riboflavin intakes were determined on foods actually consumed by each student. Riboflavin nutriture was based on urinary riboflavin excretion and erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient. The energy and riboflavin intakes of the students were 68 to 82% and 80 to 88%, respectively, of the recommended allowance. The basal urinary riboflavin excretion was 0.335 mg/g creatinine and increased significantly to 3.51 mg/g creatinine after supplementation. The basal erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient values indicated an overall prevalence of 38% biochemical ariboflavinosis (erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient greater than 1.30) and dropped significantly (p less than 0.001) from 1.26 to 1.08. The results confirm that urinary riboflavin is of limited value in the assessment of riboflavin status while erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient more precisely assesses metabolic availability of riboflavin and more accurately detects biochemical ariboflavinosis.

The effect of supplementing a regular diet with riboflavin or a combination of riboflavin and ascorbic acid on haematological indices was studied in 27 young Nigerian adults. Vitamin supplementation produced a significant increase (p < 0.001) in haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit level and erythrocyte count. Both males and females responded similarly to the supplementation. The effect of riboflavin was similar to the combined effect of riboflavin and ascorbic acid. A significant association suggestive of enhanced erythropoiesis existed between Hb concentration and erythrocyte count in vitamin‐supplemented subjects (r = 0.9722, p < 0.002). The withdrawal of vitamin(s) supplements significantly diminished Hb concentration, haematocrit level and erythrocyte count to values similar to placebo. The data further showed that, even in malarial infection, Hb concentration, Hct level and erythrocyte count were maintained if high vitamin status was established through supplementation.