Sk Nazrul Islam

Nutritional status of drug addicts undergoing detoxification: prevalence of malnutrition and influence of illicit drugs and lifestyle

The aim of the present study was to investigate the nutritional status of drug addicts, the prevalence of malnutrition among them and the influence of their drug habit and lifestyle factors on their nutritional indices. The study was conducted among 253 male drug addicts, who sought detoxification at the Central Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital, Dhaka, during the period of June 1998-July 1999. One hundred age-, height- and socioeconomic-matched non-addicted healthy men were recruited by convenience as cohort controls. Results showed that the drug addicts had significantly (P<0.001) lowered BMI, haemoglobin, and serum total protein and albumin levels. Clinical signs of nutrient deficiency were diagnosed in about 74 % of drug addicts. The BMI, biochemical values and nutrient deficiency signs indicated that more than 60 % of drug addicts were suffering from multiple malnutrition. One-way ANOVA demonstrated a significant (P<0.05) negative correlation between drug habit, sexually transmitted diseases and selected nutritional indices, and a positive correlation between education, income and the nutritional indices. A series of multiple regression analyses revealed that education, income and age showed significantly predicted BMI and biochemical indices, and the group (non-drug addicts or drug addicts) had a significant negative effect on these parameters in favour of controls.

Serum vitamin E, C and A status of the drug addicts undergoing detoxification : influence of drug habit, sexual practice and lifestyle factors

Background: The study was carried out on the hypothesis that drug addicts would have reduced vitamin E, C and A status which could be influenced by drug habit, sexual practice and lifestyle factors.Method: Serum concentrations of Vitamin E, C and A of male drug addicts and cohort controls were analysed, and influence of drug habit, sexual practice and lifestyle factors of the addicts on the vitamin status was assessed. The study was conducted among 253 drug addicts who sought detoxification voluntarily during the period of June 1997 to July 1998 at the Central Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital, Dhaka, and 100 cohort control men. Research instruments were questionnaire and blood specimens. HPLC and spectrophotometric methods were used to determine the vitamin levels in sera of drug addicts.Results: α-Tocopherol (12.60±3.73 compared with 16.3±3.37 µmol/l; t=8.6, P=0.05), ascorbic acid (21.59±10.5 compared with 38.3±13.62 µmol/l; t=10.93, P=0.003) and retinol (1.15±0.39 compared with 1.33±0.30 µmol/l; t=5.28, P=0.048) in the drug addicts were significantly low as compared to those in the cohort controls. Use of multiple illicit drugs for a longer period of time did result in reduced levels of these vitamins. A significant reduction in retinol concentration was noted among the multiple drug users (F(2,250)=3.23, P=0.041). Duration of addiction had a significant linear correlation with the level of reduction in retinol (F(2,250)=3.23, P=0.041) and α-tocopherol (F(2,250)=3.06, P=0.049). Apart from having a significant negative correlation between number of sexual partners and retinol level (F(3,247)=2.65, P=0.049), sexual practice did not have any influence on the vitamin status of the addicts. Occupation did have a significant effect on the ascorbic acid level (F(4,248)=2.46, P=0.046), but other socioeconomic factors like income, age etc did not influence the vitamin E, C and A levels. Body mass index had a positive linear correlation with the vitamins, but it was significant only with vitamin C (F(2,250)=7.06, P=0.001).Conclusions: These results could have important implications for providing an antioxidant therapy to drug addicts and thus rehabilitating them into normal life. Risk of HIV infection and transmission (if any) could be reduced or inhibited.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 1022–1027

Constituents and cytotoxicity of Zanthoxylum rhesta stem bark

3,5-Dimethoxy-4-geranyloxycinnamyl alcohol (1), 8-methoxy-N-methylflindersine (2), xanthyletin and sesamin have been isolated from petroleum ether extract of the stem bark of Zanthoxylum rhesta. The petroleum ether extract and 8-methoxy-N-methylflindersine showed cytotoxicity on brine shrimp nauplii.

Serum antioxidant micromineral (Cu, Zn, Fe) status of drug dependent subjects: Influence of illicit drugs and lifestyle

BackgroundUse of illicit drugs induces multiple nutrient deficiencies. Drug habit, sexual practice and socioeconomic factors influence the nutrient profile of drug dependent subjects. The literature on this issue is still insufficient. This study has tested the hypothesis that illicit drug use and lifestyle impair mineral status. To test this hypothesis, 253 men multiple drug users of age 18–45 years were recruited to investigate their serum copper, zinc and iron levels. Influence of illicit drugs and their lifestyle on the mineral levels was also examined. The study subjects were drug dependent who had shared needles and had sexual activity with multiple partners. Serum concentrations of the minerals were estimated by atomic absorption flame spectrometry.ResultsResults showed a significant increase in serum copper and zinc concentrations, and decrease in iron level in drug dependent subjects. The increase of copper level was found to be much higher than that of zinc. Period of drug abuse had made a significant positive influence on the copper and iron levels, but it was apparently reversed for zinc concentration. Multiple sexual partnerships had significant influence on zinc status. There also were significant relationships observed between body mass index (BMI) as well as certain socioeconomic factors, and mineral status of drug dependent subjects and non-drug dependent controls. A series of multiple linear regression analysis predicted mineral values for education, age and BMI. The group (drug dependent subject = 1, non-drug dependent control = 2) had a significant influence on these parameters. However, after controlling these factors, it was shown that illicit drug use significantly contributed to influence the serum mineral levels.ConclusionIllicit drug use impairs serum mineral value causing an increase in copper and zinc and a decrease in iron. Lifestyle and nutritional status of drug dependent subjects influence serum mineral concentrations.

Prevalence of HIV infection in the drug addicts of Bangladesh: drug habit, sexual practice and lifestyle

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of HIV infection in drug addicts and to address their drug habit, sexual life style and socioeconomic factors. This study was conducted among 505 male drug addicts comprising 250 intravenous drug users (IDUs) and 255 non-IDUs. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to screen HIV antibody in the sera of drug addicts. Seropositivity was confirmed by line immunoassay method. Results showed 3.76% (n =19) HIV-seroprevalence, of which 2.77% (n =14) were IDUs and the rest (0.99%, n =5) were non-IDUs. Amongst the IDUs (n =250) the seroprevalence rate was 5.6% (n =14) and in the non-IDUs (n =255), it was 1.96% (n =5). The seropositive addicts used multiple drugs for long periods of time, the majority of them (63.2%, n =12) started addiction with cannabis but ended up with heroin. Unprotected sex (did not use condom), multiple sexual partnerships and sexually transmitted diseases were common among the seropositives. Prevalence of these behavioural and biological risk factors in drug addicts was responsible for their being HIV infected. Most of the HIV-positive addicts were literate young adults (84.2%), employed (73.7%) and married (63.2%). None of them were homosexual. This study reveals that HIV-seroprevalence in the drug addicts of Bangladesh is still at the embryonic stage, it has not yet reached the threshold level.

Biological activities of the secondary metabolites isolated from Zieria smithii and Zanthoxylum elephantiasis on microorganisms and brine shrimps

Eight secondary metabolites, two isolated from Zieria smithii and six from Zanthoxylum elephantiasis were investigated for their biological (antimicrobial and cytotoxic) activities against 15 pathogenic microorganisms and on brine shrimps. Canthine‐6‐one obtained from Z. elephantiasis was shown to have significant antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activities. 6‐Methoxydihydrochelerythrine also from the Z. elephantiasis showed satisfactory antibacterial properties but no effect on brine shrimps. Dipetalolactone, methyl eugenol and 3,4‐dimethoxycinnamaldehyde were found to have antibacterial activities against a single pathogenic strain.

Determination of Serum Antioxidant Vitamins, Glutathione and MDA Levels in Panic Disorder Patients

There are sufficient experimental evidences to establish the relationship between the elevated level of malondealdehyde (MDA)-the lipid peroxidation product and depleted level of antioxidants (Vitamin A, E, C and glutathione) in several psychiatric disorders. But previously no study was carried out to determine these components in panic disorder (PD) patients of Bangladesh. This study was conducted to assess the serum concentration of antioxidant vitamins, MDA and glutathione in 54 panic disorder patients and 52 healthy volunteers. Patients were recruited from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh by random sampling. Serum level of MDA, glutathione and vitamin C were determined by UV spectrophotometric method whereas Vitamins A and E were detected by RP-HPLC method. Data were analyzed by independent t test and Pearsons correlation analysis. It had been found that the PD patients had low level of antioxidants like vitamin A (p=0.041) and vitamin E (p=0.018) than the healthy controls whereas the change of vitamin C is not significant. It had been found that the MDA content was significantly higher (p<0.05) in PD patients than that of controls. There was no significant difference for the glutathione content between the 2 groups. Pearsons correlation coefficient suggested that there were significant negative correlation between the glutathione level and vitamin C (p=0.013) and a positive correlation between the vitamin E and vitamin A (p=0.020) in patient group. Our study reveals that panic disorder patients have considerably higher level of MDA, lower level of antioxidant vitamins and glutathione than the healthy control subjects.