micronutrients

Kerosene is used extensively in the developing world as fuel and indiscriminate exposure is common. The aim of this study is to determine how early in the course of exposure to small quantities of kerosene antioxidant micronutrient alterations occur. Thirty female rats were divided into five groups. Rats in groups 1 & 2 were treated with 0.3 ml/kg body weight of kerosene via oral or dermal route respectively; groups 3 and 4 received the same treatment. Group five served as the control. While groups 1 & 2 study was terminated after 1 week, exposure was for 3 weeks for groups 3 and 4. Irrespective of the route of administration, after 1 and 3 weeks kerosene exposure only zinc, copper, selenium and manganese were significantly decreased compared with control.  In addition, of all the vitamins only niacin, riboflavin, thiamine and vitamin D were significantly decreased at the end of 1 week; although all vitamins were significantly decreased by the end of the third week. The toxic effects of kerosene were demonstrated through the results of this study, with antioxidant vitamins and minerals being depleted by the first week and the depletion persisting till the third week.    

Micronutrients, known for their important physiologic roles in maintenance of health, have been identified to be significantly affected in rats exposed to phosphide residue contaminated cowpea.  Processing of such cowpea was carried out prior to their exposure to rats, so as to identify if cooking will modify the micronutrient depletion-characteristic property of such residue. Eighteen female Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups of 6 rats each.  While the first group served as the control, the second and third groups were supplied cooked phosphide-residue contaminated and uncontaminated cowpea respectively. Blood obtained through retro-orbital bleeding was used for the estimation of Mg, Zn, Cu, Se, Mn, Fe, Co, Mo, and Cr as well as vitamins (folic acid, vitamins A, C, D, E, niacin, riboflavin). Results revealed non-significant differences (p>0.05) in the levels of all vitamins and minerals for the uncontaminated and contaminated groups except Zn, Cu and vitamin D that were significantly reduced (p

The effect of Nigerian dietary vegetable mixtures composed of Vernonia amygdalina, Ocimum gratissimum, Gongronema latifolium, Solanum melongena, Phyllanthus amarus, and Piper nigrumas acclaimed as potent anti-hyperglycaemic agents were evaluated in accordance with local finished medicine products and practices in alloxan-induced diabetic guinea pigs. Blood glucose level analysis was used as diabetic indices. Taken together, the results of the present study, suggests that the strong cooperative additive/synergistic effects of the dietary vegetable mixtures (50/50/50) significantly (p