Functional Properties of Gelatin Hydrolysate from Salmon Skin (Salmo salar)
Pages 87-94
Poh Yi Cheng, Nur ‘Aliah Daud and Abdul Salam Babji

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-5634.2014.03.02.7

Published: 15 June 2014

Lathosterol and Noncholesterol Sterols in Routine Use for the Differentiation and Monitoring of Dietary and Drug Induced Treatment of Hypercholesterolemias in Children and Adolescents
Pages 1-12
Josef Hyanek, Frantisek Pehal, Ladislava Dubska, Vera Martinikova, Jana Privarova and Ludek Taborsky

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-5634.2014.03.01.1

Published: 31 March 2014

Abstract: Aims: The authors discuss their 15 years of experience with use of noncholesterol sterols (NCS) when diagnosing heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HFH) and the dietary and drug treatment of children and adolescents when lathosterol (Lat) and desmosterol (Des) as cholesterol synthesis precursors, and campesterol (Cam) and sitosterol (Sit) as cholesterol absorption precursors are included.

Patients and Methods:38 children and adolescents (6-18 yrs) with HFH proven by molecular genetic testing of LDL-cholesterol deficit; 107 children patients with clinical and laboratory symptoms of other hypercholesterolemias; 84 healthy school-age children as a control group. Routine lipid spectrum scan—total cholesterol (TCh), LDL-Ch, HDL-Ch, TAG, with additional apo A1, apo B, Lp (a), LDL-receptors, apo E polymorphism; Lat, Des, Cam and Sit in the plasma—was established by means of GC/MS.

Results: The HFH patients on a low cholesterol diet (LCHD) who come to our lipid outpatient clinic have elevated levels of Lat and Des, unlike patients with alimentary hypercholesterolemia (p<0, 001). Lat and Des levels are high following interruption of medical treatment during long vacations or when drug treatment is neglected. Administration of statins only in sufficiently high therapeutic doses reduces Lat and Des (p<0, 001). Compensatory elevation of Cam and Sit occurs only in few pediatric patients. Ezetimibe decreases Cam and Sit more efficiently than Lat or Des. Combination of statin with ezetimibe is most efficient in decrease of not only TCh but also Lat and Des, as well as Cam and Sit.

Conclusions: Extending the laboratory spectrum by precursors of cholesterol synthesis and absorption improves the differential diagnosis of HFH and makes monitoring and/or treatment of children and adolescents more precise.

Cellular Mechanisms of Saline Extract of Alligator Pepper (Zingiberaceae Aframomum melegueta) for Specific Protection against Fetal Macrosomia
Pages 13-17
Ute Inegbenebor and Maureen Ebomoyi

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-5634.2014.03.01.2

Published: 31 March 2014

Abstract: Introduction: Aqueous extract of Alligator pepper is known to reduce gestational weight gain and litter size in Sprague Dawley rats. This study was done to determine the underlying hormonal and cellular mechanisms of action.

Methods: We performed a controlled cross sectional intervention study with 45 female Sprague Dawley rats, which after acclimatization for two weeks, were allowed to mate with male rats for three days. Thereafter, these female rats were randomly allocated into three groups A, B and C with 15 female rats in each group. These three major groups were further randomly allocated into three subgroups so that each subgroup had 5 female rats. Pregnant female rats in Group A were injected with 2ml of normal saline intraperitoneally on day 4. Pregnant female rats in groups B and C were injected intraperitoneally with 6.7mg/Kg body weight and 13.3mg/ kg body weight of saline extract of Alligator Pepper respectively on day 4. Glucose levels were estimated with glucometer on days 7, 14, and 21. Blood was collected by intra-ventricular puncture and assayed for insulin levels. Observed differences between control and experimental groups were subjected to tests of significance.

Results: Alligator pepper treated pregnant rats had significantly higher serum glucose levels than control group. Low dose and high dose Alligator pepper depressed serum insulin levels in the experimental group on day 7 and days 7 and 14 respectively

Conclusion: Intraperitoneal injection of saline extract of Alligator pepper prevents first and second trimester hyper-insulinemia in pregnant Sprague Dawley rats.

Relationship Between Vitamin D and Cardio-Metabolic Biomarkers Among Saudi Postmenopausal Women
Pages 18-25
Eman M. Alissa, Wafa A. Alnahdi, Nabeel Alama and Gordon A. Ferns

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-5634.2014.03.01.3

Published: 31 March 2014

Abstract: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent worldwide, and in Saudi Arabia in particular. There is growing evidence that hypovitaminosis D is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. We determined concentrations of serum 25 hydroxy 25(OH) vitamin D in relation to several metabolic biomarkers including total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), atherogenic index (AI), glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP), adiposity, and blood pressure in a cross-sectional analysis in 300 Saudi postmenopausal women. Participants completed a detailed questionnaire and fasting blood samples were collected. Vitamin D deficiency was common, affecting 89% of individuals. Higher serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels were consistently found among subjects with no prevalent cardiovascular risk factors (p>0.05) except for those subjects with serum CRP level ≥3mg/dl, HDL-C <1.04mmol/L, AI≥5, exercising ≥3times/week, and those with 4 or more pregnancies. Hypovitaminosis D was inversely correlated with DBP (r=-0.118, p=0.042), TC (r=-0.165, p=0.004), TG (r=-0.119, p=0.040), LDL-C (r=-0.138, p=0.017), AI (r=-0.125, p=0.031), and veiling type (r=-0.127, p=0.028). No significant impact of hypovitaminosis D on CRP, levels of which were similar among vitamin D sufficient and deficient subjects. However, hypovitaminosis D was significantly related to dyslipidemia and diastolic blood pressure in a group of Saudi postmenopausal women.

Cellular Mechanisms of Saline Extract of Alligator Pepper (Zingiberaceae Aframomum melegueta) for Specific Protection against Preeclampsia
Pages 26-30
Ute Inegbenebor and Maureen Ebomoyi

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-5634.2014.03.01.4

Published: 31 March 2014

Abstract: Preeclampsia is a clinical syndrome defined as the new onset of hypertension and proteinuria during the second half of pregnancy. Though it is easily diagnosed clinically, affected persons must book in a health service facility for the diagnosis to be made. Furthermore regular screening is necessary during several antenatal visits and skilled attendant’s supervised labor before diagnosis can be made. Predictive tests are not yet well developed and not readily available in developing countries and medically underserved areas where they are needed most. There is therefore a need for specific protection against preeclampsia to be developed. This will ensure that all women are protected even when they choose not to visit an antenatal clinic. Specific protection is potentially capable of preventing preeclampsia in 5 % to 7% of pregnant women, the proportion of pregnant women that are affected by preeclampsia worldwide. This article builds on a previous article on the study of the cellular mechanisms underlying gestational weight gain and litter weight reduction effect of aqueous extract of Alligator pepper and attempts to analyze how the anti-hyperinsulinemic property of the constituents of Alligator pepper in that study can also prevent preeclampsia and suggests the use of some of the constituents of alligator pepper as specific protection (vaccine) for the prevention of preeclampsia.