<strong>Background:</strong> Geophagy is the consumption of earth materials which occurs across several cultures. For several reasons, pregnant women in many parts of West Africa including Nigeria frequent...<strong>Background:</strong> Geophagy is the consumption of earth materials which occurs across several cultures. For several reasons, pregnant women in many parts of West Africa including Nigeria frequently consume kaolin. This study was carried out to determine the influence of kaolin consumption on serum electrolytes, glucose and amylase levels of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a Teaching Hospital in the south east Nigeria. <strong>Methods: </strong>A total of eighty pregnant women recruited for this study were grouped as follows;Group 1, (30 geophagic pregnant women in the first trimester), Group 2 (30 geophagic pregnant women in the second trimester) and Group 3 (20 non-geophagic pregnant women that served as control). Subjects in Groups 1 and 2 were subdivided into three based on the quantity of kaolin consumed per week: group A (100 g/week), group B (150 g/week) and group C (200 g/week). Preliminary analysis of the calcium content of kaolin was carried out. Serum levels of potassium, sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, glucose and amylase of the subjects were determined. <strong>Results:</strong> Calcium level in kaolin was below the recommended daily intake in food. The concentrations of potassium in geophagic pregnant women who consumed 150 g and 200 g of kaolin per week were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in both 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> trimester groups., There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in sodium concentration (132.2 ± 2.0) of the 2<sup>nd</sup> trimester pregnant women that consumed 200 g of kaolin per week. The concentrations of chloride and bicarbonate were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected in all the groups. Serum amylase concentration decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> trimester pregnant women on 150 g and 200 g of kaolin per week, while the plasma glucose concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in the same groups. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study concludes that kaolin consumption in pregnant women may predispose to gestational diabetes, electrolytes imbalance and reduced intestinal enzymes activities.展开更多
Optimal control of chronic hyperglycemia prevents both micro and macro vascular complications—a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic subjects. This study was undertaken to give credence to the traditi...Optimal control of chronic hyperglycemia prevents both micro and macro vascular complications—a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic subjects. This study was undertaken to give credence to the traditional use of Newbouldia laevis leaves in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). Dichloromethane-methanol (1:1) extract (DME) of N. laevis leaves was prepared by cold maceration. Separation of DME into column chromatographic fractions yielded the n-hexane fraction (HF), ethylacetate fraction (EF) and methanol fraction (MF). The extract and fractions were evaluated for antihyperglycemic activity in alloxanized diabetic rats. The results showed that the oral administration of extract and fractions (250, 500, 1000 mg/kg) caused a significant (P < 0.5) and dose-dependent reduction in blood glucose level in diabetic rats. The hypoglycemic potency after 24 h was in the order MF (methanol fraction;56.31%) > DME (dichloromethane/methanol extract;36.19%) > EF (ethylacetate fraction;20.70%) > HF (n-hexane fraction;10.09. The methanol fraction, which showed the highest potency in oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), was further separated into column chromatographic sub-fractions—F1, F2, F3 and F4 fractions. These sub-fractions were evaluated for antihyperglycemic activity. Sub-fractions F1, F2 and F3 (1000 mg/kg) did produce significant (P > 0.05) reduction in blood glucose level after 24 h. Sub-fraction F4 (50, 100, 200 mg/kg), however caused a significant (P < 0.05) and dose-dependent reduction in blood glucose level. The reduction at 200 mg/kg dose of F4 (74.57%) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of glibenclamide (58.04%). These findings suggest that leaf extract and fractions of Newbouldia laevis possess antihyperglycemic activities and can be the basis for the folk use N. laevis in management of diabetes mellitus.展开更多
文摘<strong>Background:</strong> Geophagy is the consumption of earth materials which occurs across several cultures. For several reasons, pregnant women in many parts of West Africa including Nigeria frequently consume kaolin. This study was carried out to determine the influence of kaolin consumption on serum electrolytes, glucose and amylase levels of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a Teaching Hospital in the south east Nigeria. <strong>Methods: </strong>A total of eighty pregnant women recruited for this study were grouped as follows;Group 1, (30 geophagic pregnant women in the first trimester), Group 2 (30 geophagic pregnant women in the second trimester) and Group 3 (20 non-geophagic pregnant women that served as control). Subjects in Groups 1 and 2 were subdivided into three based on the quantity of kaolin consumed per week: group A (100 g/week), group B (150 g/week) and group C (200 g/week). Preliminary analysis of the calcium content of kaolin was carried out. Serum levels of potassium, sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, glucose and amylase of the subjects were determined. <strong>Results:</strong> Calcium level in kaolin was below the recommended daily intake in food. The concentrations of potassium in geophagic pregnant women who consumed 150 g and 200 g of kaolin per week were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in both 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> trimester groups., There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in sodium concentration (132.2 ± 2.0) of the 2<sup>nd</sup> trimester pregnant women that consumed 200 g of kaolin per week. The concentrations of chloride and bicarbonate were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected in all the groups. Serum amylase concentration decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> trimester pregnant women on 150 g and 200 g of kaolin per week, while the plasma glucose concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in the same groups. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study concludes that kaolin consumption in pregnant women may predispose to gestational diabetes, electrolytes imbalance and reduced intestinal enzymes activities.
文摘Optimal control of chronic hyperglycemia prevents both micro and macro vascular complications—a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic subjects. This study was undertaken to give credence to the traditional use of Newbouldia laevis leaves in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). Dichloromethane-methanol (1:1) extract (DME) of N. laevis leaves was prepared by cold maceration. Separation of DME into column chromatographic fractions yielded the n-hexane fraction (HF), ethylacetate fraction (EF) and methanol fraction (MF). The extract and fractions were evaluated for antihyperglycemic activity in alloxanized diabetic rats. The results showed that the oral administration of extract and fractions (250, 500, 1000 mg/kg) caused a significant (P < 0.5) and dose-dependent reduction in blood glucose level in diabetic rats. The hypoglycemic potency after 24 h was in the order MF (methanol fraction;56.31%) > DME (dichloromethane/methanol extract;36.19%) > EF (ethylacetate fraction;20.70%) > HF (n-hexane fraction;10.09. The methanol fraction, which showed the highest potency in oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), was further separated into column chromatographic sub-fractions—F1, F2, F3 and F4 fractions. These sub-fractions were evaluated for antihyperglycemic activity. Sub-fractions F1, F2 and F3 (1000 mg/kg) did produce significant (P > 0.05) reduction in blood glucose level after 24 h. Sub-fraction F4 (50, 100, 200 mg/kg), however caused a significant (P < 0.05) and dose-dependent reduction in blood glucose level. The reduction at 200 mg/kg dose of F4 (74.57%) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of glibenclamide (58.04%). These findings suggest that leaf extract and fractions of Newbouldia laevis possess antihyperglycemic activities and can be the basis for the folk use N. laevis in management of diabetes mellitus.
