Status of polyunsaturated fatty acids in serum of persons aged 10–72 in Nepal

Environ Health Prev Med

et al. 2001

Self Cite

We present here a study on the health system in Nepal. Approximately two-thirds of the health problems in Nepal are infectious diseases. Epidemics occur frequently with a high rate of morbidity and mortality and there are occasional outbreaks of infectious diseases of unknown etiology. In addition, the rapid rate of HIV infection in the Indian sub-continent is likely to add a new dimension of opportunistic infections. Until now, the Health System introduced as the General Health Plan in 1956 has been expanded by focusing on primary health care, and a comprehensive network-like Health System has been developed; the most basic unit is a Sub-Health Post or Health Post in each Village Development Committee area. However, the expansion of the Health System has not been matched by an expansion in the domestive resources, workers and supplies, and the available resources are not efficiently distributed. In addition, insufficient resources available for preventive and promotive medicine and the occurrence of non-infectious diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases has been increasing. The Government recently introduced a Health Policy encouraging the private sector to invest in the production of health workers and in providing quality health services. As a result, several private health institutions have been founded and are expected to contribute to the development of the human resources required by Nepal.

Section: ) Non-infectious Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 75%

The health system in Nepal—An introduction

Shiba

Rai

Environ Health Prev Med

et al. 2001

Self Cite

Lower eicosapentaenoic acid and higher arachidonic acid levels in Sera of young adults in the Netherlands than in Japan

Environ Health Prev Med

Horiuchi

Ohno

et al. 2000

To survey risk factors in coronary heart disease, we compared serum fatty acid composition and lipids for university students in Japan (33 males and 29 females) and in the Netherlands (20 males and 19 females). No significant differences were found between the mean levels of cholesterol (Chol) and triglycerides (TG) between the subjects in the two countries. The mean levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and saturated fatty acid (SFA) of Japanese students were similar to those of the Dutch students. In both countries, the levels of Chol showed a positive correlation with the levels of PUFA, n-6 PUFA, linoleic acid (C18:2n-6), and arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4n-6) but no correlation with the percentages of PUFA and the ratio of PUFA/SFA. On the other hand, the TG levels correlated inversely with the percentage of PUFA and the ratios of PUFA/SFA in both countries. When compared to those of Japanese students, low eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and high AA were found in the Dutch students (p < 0.001, respectively). The total amounts of n-3 PUFA in the Dutch were significandy lower than those in the Japanese (p < 0.001) but no differences among those of n-6 PUFA. The ratios of EPA/AA and n-3/n-6 PUFA of the Dutch students were lower than those of the Japanese students (p < 0.001, respectively). The ratio of EPA/AA showed a positive correlation with EPA but not with AA in both countries. The levels of Toc which will decrease the risk of coronary vascular disease (CVD) were lower in Japan than those in the Dutch in both sexes (p < 0.01, respectively). These results suggest that the low EPA and high AA levels and the low n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio may lead to greater incidence of CVD.

Lower Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Higher Arachidonic Acid Levels in Sera of Young Adults in the Netherlands than in Japan.

Environ. Health Prev. Med.

Horiuchi

Ohno

et al. 2000

To survey risk factors in coronary heart disease, we compared serum fatty acid composition and lipids for university students in Japan (33 males and 29 females) and in the Netherlands (20 males and 19 females). No significant differences were found between the mean levels of cholesterol (Chol) and triglycerides (TG) between the subjects in the two countries. The mean levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and saturated fatty acid (SFA) of Japanese students were similar to those of the Dutch students. In both countries, the levels of Chol showed a positive correlation with the levels of PUFA, n-6 PUFA, linoleic acid (C18:2n-6), and arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4n-6) but no correlation with the percentages of PUFA and the ratio of PUFA/SFA. On the other hand, the TG levels correlated inversely with the percentage of PUFA and the ratios of PUFMSFA in both countries. When compared to those of Japanese students, low eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and high AA were found in the Dutch students (p < 0.001, respectively). The total amounts of n-3 PUFA in the Dutch were significantly lower than those in the Japanese (p < 0.001) but no differences among those of n-6 PUFA. The ratios of EPA/AA and n-3/n-6 PUFA of the Dutch students were lower than those of the Japanese students (p < 0.001, respectively). The ratio of EPA/AA showed a positive correlation with EPA but not with AA in both countries. The levels of Toc which will decrease the risk of coronary vascular disease (CVD) were lower in Japan than those in the Dutch in both sexes (p < 0.01, respectively). These results suggest that the low EPA and high AA levels and the low n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio may lead to greater incidence of CVD.