Chukwunonso Ecc Ejike

Obesity in young-adult Nigerians: variations in prevalence determined by anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis, and the development of % body fat prediction equations

Background Overweight/obesity is a growing global public health concern. The variations in the prevalence of overweight/obesity, defined by Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC), Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR), Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHpR) and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), were studied and a prediction equation for % body fat (%BF) developed. Methods A total of 1584 subjects (56.4% males) were recruited for the study. Data on age, gender, height, weight, hip circumference and WC were collected from the subjects using standard protocols. BMI, WHtR and WHpR were derived using standard equations. %BF was measured using a BIA device (Omron BF-400). Appropriate statistical tools were used for the data analysis. Results The prevalence of overweight/obesity in the population was 28.4% (36.3% for males; 22.6% for females) (BIA); 20.7% (17.5% for males; 24.8% for females) (BMI); 7.5% (1.3% for males; 16.1% for females) (WC); 2.9% (4.3% for males; 1.2% for females) (WHpR); and 15.4% (14.8% for males; 16.2% females) (WHtR). Taking BIA as the reference point, WC misclassified overweight/obesity the most for males (35%), while for the females, WHpR misclassified both disorders the most (21.4%). Correlation studies showed that only BMI correlated significantly, albeit weakly, with %BF among the males, whereas all the anthropometric measures, but WHpR correlated significantly with % body fat in females. Two prediction equations for %BF were generated, and %BF predicted with the two equations correlated significantly (P < 0.001) with that measured by BIA. Conclusion The prevalence of overweight/obesity in this population vary widely depending on the definition used. The developed prediction equations could be useful in resource-poor settings, but require validation.

Synergistic postprandial blood glucose modulatory properties of Vernonia amygdalina (Del.), Gongronema latifolium (Benth.) and Occimum gratissimum (Linn.) aqueous decoctions.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Traditional healers in Nigeria use a combination of decoctions from green leafy vegetables in their blood glucose (BG) lowering recipes. Three plants Vernonia amygdalina (Del.) (VA), Gongronema latifolium (Benth.) (GL) and Occimum gratissimum (Linn.) (OG) are found consistently in such recipes. Whereas the anti-diabetic properties of extracts of these plants have been reported in animal models, little is known about the effects of their aqueous decoctions (singly or in combinations) on oral glucose tolerance (OGT) in humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty seven subjects were recruited and (on separate days) were given 150 mL of water, VA, GL and OG decoctions or blends of the decoctions to drink 45 min before a 2-h OGTT. Their OGTT curves were plotted and areas under the curves (AUCs) calculated. RESULTS The results show that each of the three decoctions neither altered the peak time of the OGTT nor significantly (P>0.05) reduced the BG concentrations (BGCs) at any time point on the test curves relative to the baseline. VA, OG and GL gave 0.4, 0.2 and 2.8% reductions in the AUCs, respectively, relative to the baseline. Blending GL and VA did not improve the results. However, a decoction containing the three vegetables in equal proportions significantly reduced the BGCs at 90 (96.8 ± 9.5 vs. 107.1 ± 10.2mg/dL; P=0.041) and 120 (92.8 ± 14.3 vs. 102.5 ± 12.1mg/dL; P=0.037) minutes relative to the baseline, and gave better reductions in the AUCs (4.1%). CONCLUSION The decoction containing the three vegetables was found to be superior in activity to any 1, or blends of only 2, of the 3 decoctions. This is a case of positive synergism, and justifies the use of these plants in ethnopharmacological BG lowering recipes.

Blood Pressure-to-Height Ratio Simplifies the Diagnosis of Hypertension in Nigerian Children

The diagnostic accuracy of blood-pressure-to-height-ratios (BPHRs) in 716 Nigerian children was studied, using standard protocols. Systolic BPHR (SBPHR) and diastolic BPHR (DBPHR) had diagnostic accuracies ranging from 0.934 to 1.000, irrespective of sex and age. Optimal thresholds of SBPHR/DBPHR are provided, and their sensitivities and specificities all exceeded 80%. BPHR is a simple, sensitive and specific tool for the diagnosis of hypertension in this population.

Child and adolescent obesity in Nigeria: A narrative review of prevalence data from three decades (1983-2013)

Child and adolescent overweight and obesity have become an important global public health problem. Prevalence data for pediatric overweight and obesity in Nigeria are available. However, a review of such data is unavailable, and is, therefore, reported in this paper. A total of 37 full-length papers and 5 detailed abstracts which met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. The subjects in the reviewed papers were 2-20 years of age. Sixty nine percent and 14% of the studies were conducted in urban and rural areas, respectively. As much as 74% of the papers and 65% of the participants were from the South of Nigeria. Half of the papers used the World Health Organization reference standards for diagnosis. When apparent outliers were excluded, the prevalence of obesity in the adolescents only and children and adolescents subgroups were 0.0-2.8% and 0.0-5.8%, while for overweight in the respective groups they were 1.0-8.6% and 5.0-12.0%. The data from this study suggests that prevalence rates of obesity and overweight in Nigeria are not only lower than the figures reported from other parts of the world, but have also remained stable (albeit within wide margins) during the period.

Inhibition of the Experimental Induction of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Possible Role for Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook f.) Seeds

Introduction: Pumpkins are thought to be useful in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The ability of a 15% Telfairia occidentalis seeds incorporated diet to inhibit hormonal induction of BPH in rats was studied. Materials and Methods: Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into 4 equal groups – one test group and three control groups. The test group was placed on the test diet and was given subcutaneous injections of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol valerate (ratio 10:1) every other day for 28 days. One control group, ‘no test diet’ (ND) group, received the hormones, but was placed on a normal diet. The other two control groups, ‘no hormone’ (NH) and ‘no hormone/test diet’ (NHD), received subcutaneous olive oil (vehicle) for the same duration and were placed on the test and normal diets, respectively. Markers of BPH and hormone profile were determined using standard methods. Results: The mean relative prostate weight (×103) was reduced in the test group (3.6 ± 0.2) relative to the ND group (4.0 ± 0.4). The protein content (mg/tissue) of the rats’ prostates decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from 68.3 ± 2.7 in the ND group to 43.4 ± 3.9 in the test group. Serum prostatic acid phosphatase levels (U/l) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from 4.8 ± 0.4 in the ND group to 4.0 ± 0.9 in the test group. Histological findings corroborate these data. The testosterone:estradiol ratio (×103) was significantly (p < 0.05) increased from 7.1 ± 0.1 in the ND group to 8.4 ± 0.4 in the test group. Conclusion: The test diet inhibited the induction of BPH in rats and may act by increasing the testosterone:estradiol ratio.

Nematicidal and antimicrobial activities of methanol extracts of seventeen plants, of importance in ethnopharmacology, obtained from the Arabian Peninsula

Aim/Background: The development of resistance to synthetic drugs by target organisms is a major challenge facing medicine, yet locked within plants are phytochemicals used in herbal medicine (especially in the Arabian Peninsula) that may find application in this regard. In pursuit of unlocking these “hidden treasures,” the methanol extracts of leaves, aerial parts, fruits, and resins of 17 plants used in the Arabian Peninsula were screened for antimicrobial activities. Materials and Methods: The nematicidal, antibacterial, and antifungal activities were determined using appropriate assays. Steinernema feltiae, Staphylococcus carnosus, Escherichia coli, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used as test organisms. Concentrations of the extracts ranging from 0.5 to 20 mg/ml were tested and appropriate statistical tests performed on the data generated. Results: The results show that extracts from Solanum incanum, Chenopodium murale, Commiphora myrrha, Anthemis nobilis, and Achillea biebersteinii were the most active and had very high activities against two or more of the test organisms at low concentrations. Extracts of the leaves of S. incanum and resins of Ferula asafoetida were the most active nematicides, with significant activity at 0.5 mg/ml. Extracts of C. myrrha and C. murale had the most active antibacterial activity with inhibition zones of 12-15 mm and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 2.5 mg/ml for both bacteria. Extracts of the leaves of A. biebersteinii were the most active fungicide, giving an MIC of 1.5 mg/ml. Conclusion: The results validate the use of these plants in ethnopharmacology, and open new vistas of opportunities for the development of cheap but effective agents that may be useful against infectious diseases.

Body shape dissatisfaction is a 'normative discontent' in a young-adult Nigerian population: A study of prevalence and effects on health-related quality of life.

This study investigates the prevalence of weight misperception, weight preference, and body shape dissatisfaction (BSD) among young-adult Nigerians and assesses the impact of these factors on population quality-of-life (QOL). Relevant anthropometric data were collected according to internationally accepted protocols. Weight perception, weight preference, and BSD were measured using Stunkard silhouettes, while QOL was determined by subjective self-reporting. The results show that 26.7% of the population (18.8% for males and 34.5% for females) misperceived their weight. Among overweight participants, 56.6% (males) and 38.3% (females) thought they were thinner, while 11.5% (males) and 43.3% (females) thought they were heavier. Thin and obese males misperceived their weights more than their female counterparts. BSD was found in 62% of the population (52% for males and 71% for females) and was highest among obese participants (91.9%) and lowest among normal-weight participants (58.2%), irrespective of sex. In participants with BSD, QOL was worse in thin and normal-weight respondents who preferred to be heavier and in overweight respondents who preferred to be thinner. The high prevalence of weight misperception may lead to inappropriate weight loss habits, while BSD, a normative discontent in this population, negatively impacts subject QOL.

‘Capiture’ plants with interesting biological activities: a case to go

Abstract The investigation of natural products used in Traditional Medicine in Africa is complicated as modern analytical and screening methods are often not available. Computer aided product identification from traditional usage records (CAPITURE) may provide an interesting alternative and has been evaluated in the context of an ethnobotanical survey on fungal diseases and their traditional treatment in Tchamba District (Togo). 53 traditional healers were interviewed and their knowledge recorded. Several indicators, the Use Value (UV), Plant Part Value (PPV), Specific Use (SU) Value, Intraspecific Use Value (IUV) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), were applied to the data. Those indices, in addition to a bibliographic review, were then fed into a computer-aided approach which predicted two interesting plants out of the 43 species survey-recorded and their specific activities: Pterocarpus erinaceus sap against ringworm, Daniellia oliveri sap against intertrigo and respectively their roots and trunk barks against candidiasis. Subsequent laboratory-based studies have confirmed the predicted antimicrobial activities with MIC (128 μg/mL to 30 mg/mL) and without any notable toxicity on a normal human cell (MRC-5 cells). Although such a method may not be flawless, it is able to provide first leads, and in the face of limited resources, is an attractive alternative worth considering.

Myco-Nourishment from the Wild: Chemical Analyses of the Nutritional and Amino Acid Profile of Termitomyces robustus Harvested from Uzuakoli, Nigeria

Though there are reports on the nutritional and phytochemical compositions of edible mushrooms in Nigeria, there is as yet no report on Termitomyces robustus sourced from the rainforest zone of South-Eastern Nigeria. To fill this knowledge-gap, fresh samples of Termitomyces robustus were purchased from locals in Uzuakoli, Abia State, Nigeria. They were sorted, cleaned up and pulverised into a fine powder. Proximate, anti-nutrient and amino acid composition of the powder were determined using standard methods. The macro-nutrients profile in general showed that Termitomyces robustus is a rich source of protein (33.8 ± 0.3%) with an excellent amino acid composition. It also had high carbohydrate content (54.3 ± 0.2%) but minimal fat content (3.4 ± 0.0%). The energy content of Termitomyces robustus was calculated to be 382.6 ± 1.4 kcal/g. The mushrooms are also good sources of minerals such as potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and calcium. Anti-nutritional factors such as oxalates, tannins and trypsin inhibitors were found to be present in the mushroom in small quantities. These findings indicate that Termitomyces robustus is a low energy, health-food that may provide the relevant nutrients without the burden of excess calories.

Co-existence of child and adolescent obesity and thinness in a city in Nigeria: Comparison of results derived from different reference standards

Objectives: The nutrition transition in developing countries has resulted in the nutrition paradox where both under- and over-nutrition exist in the same population. This phenomenon is scarcely reported in Nigeria. The prevalence of thinness and overweight/obesity was therefore studied in Umuahia, Nigeria using two international references and the results compared. Subjects and Methods: A total of 1911 children and adolescents (51.3% females) were recruited and anthropometric data obtained from them using the standard procedures. Age was determined from each subjects school records. Overweight, obesity, and thinness (stages 1-3) were defined using the Cole et al. International surveys (IS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) study references. Appropriate statistical analyses were carried out on data generated. Results: As much as 24.2% of the boys and 19.2% of the girls were thin, based on the WHO standards, whereas, 17.3% of the boys and 15.5% of the girls were thin based on the IS standard. A total of 4.9% of boys and 9.2% of girls (WHO); and 3.9% of boys and 5.8% of girls (IS) were overweight. Obesity was found in 1.1% and 1.8% of the boys and girls respectively (WHO); and 0.3% and 1.0% of the boys and girls respectively (IS). Irrespective of age, there were no significant differences ( P > 0.05) between the proportions of the population diagnosed with thinness, overweight or obesity by the two standards used. Conclusion: Under- and over-nutrition, typified by thinness and overweight/obesity respectively co-exist in the studied population. The IS and WHO reference methods give statistically similar estimates of the nutritional status in this population.