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Cancer metastasis to the lymph nodes is indicative of a poor prognosis. An endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EBUS-FNA) biopsy is increasingly being used to sample paratracheal lymph nodes for simultaneous cancer diagnosis and staging. In this prospective, single-center study, we collected dedicated EBUS-FNA biopsies from 27 patients with enlarged paratracheal and hilar lymph nodes. Cytokines were assayed using Bio-Plex Pro human cancer biomarker panels (34 cytokines), in a Bio-Rad 200 suspension array system. A mean cytokine value was taken from each subject with more than 1 lymph node station EBUS-FNA biopsies. Malignant and benign histologic diagnoses were established in 16 and 12 patients, respectively. An initial analysis using the Kruskal-Wallis test with Sidak correction for multiple comparisons, showed significant elevation of sVEGFR-1, IL-6, VEGF-A, Angiopoeintin-2, uPA, sHER-2/neu and PLGF in malignant lymph node samples compared to benign samples. The univariate logistic regression analyses revealed that 6 cytokines were significant predictors and 1 cytokine (PLGF) was marginally significant for discrimination between benign and malignant samples. The prediction power of these cytokines as biomarkers were very high according to the area under the ROC curve. Multiple logistic regression for subsets of the seven cytokine combined; provided an almost complete discrimination between benign and malignant samples (AUC=0.989). For screening and diagnostic purposes, we presented the optimal discrimination cut-off for each cytokine: sVEGFR-1 (2124.5pg/mL), IL-6 (40.2pg/mL), VEGF-A (1060.1pg/mL), Angiopoeintin-2 (913.7pg/mL), uPA (248.1pg/mL), sHER-2/neu (5010pg/mL) and PLGF (93.4pg/mL). For the very first time, a novel cytokine profile associated with cancer metastasis to the paratracheal lymph nodes were reported.

Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy is an independent risk factor for neural tube defects and other neurological problems in infants. We determined the vitamin B12 status of 143 pregnant women in Nigeria representing all trimesters who presented to an antenatal clinic in Jos, Nigeria, using holotranscobalamin II levels (holoTCII), which is a measure of the vitamin B12 that is available for uptake into tissues. The holoTCII concentration ranged from 13 to 128 pmol/L. Using a cutoff of 40 pmol/L, 36% of the women were classified as vitamin B12-deficient. HoloTCII concentrations correlated negatively with plasma homocysteine levels ( 𝑟 = − 0 . 2 4 , 𝑃 = 0 . 0 0 3 ) and positively with red blood cell folate concentrations ( 𝑟 = 0 . 2 8 , 𝑃 < 0 . 0 0 1 ). These data underscore the importance of supplementing pregnant women in Nigeria with vitamin B12 in order to ensure adequate vitamin B12 status and decrease the risk for neural tube defects.

The purpose of this study was to assess the vitamin D status of Fulani men and women in northern Nigeria. The Fulani are seminomadic pastoralists whose culture, economy, and diet are centered on cattle. Most of the foods consumed by the Fulani are not good sources of vitamin D. Also being Muslim, the women do not derive much benefit from the vitamin D-generating effects of sunlight due to their dress habits. Furthermore, childhood rickets is common in the region. Serum was collected from 22 Fulani men (age, 47.6 +/- 8.3 years; body mass index [BMI], 21.1 +/- 3.2 kg/m2) and 29 women (age, 55.5 +/- 13.5 years; BMI, 21.6 +/- 3.1 kg/m2) in rural northern Nigeria and analyzed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3 using ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry Eighty-three percent of the women and 45% of the men had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in the hypovitaminosis D range (10-30 ng/mL). In the males, there was a strong negative correlation between serum vitamin D and BMI (r = -0.49, p = .022) and percent body fat (r = -0.51, p = .015). No such correlations were observed in the Fulani women. Our main conclusion is that about half the men and most of the women in the Fulani community where this study was conducted are inadequately nourished with respect to vitamin D. A high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D indicates an elevated risk for rickets in children and bone fractures in adults.

Objective We identified factors that account for differences between lean body mass computed from creatinine kinetics (LBM cr ) and from either body water (LBM V ) or body mass index (LBM BMI ) in patients on continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD). Design We compared the LBM cr and LBM V or LBM BMI in hypothetical subjects and actual CPD patients. Patients We studied 439 CPD patients in Albuquerque, Pittsburgh, and Toronto, with 925 clearance studies. Intervention Creatinine production was estimated using formulas derived in CPD patients. Body water (V) was estimated from anthropometric formulas. We calculated LBM BMI from a formula that estimates body composition based on body mass index. In hypothetical subjects, LBM values were calculated by varying the determinants of body composition (gender, diabetic status, age, weight, and height) one at a time, while the other determinants were kept constant. In actual CPD patients, multiple linear regression and logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with differences in the estimates of LBM (LBM cr V , or LBM cr BMI ). Main Outcome Measure We sought predictors of the differences LBM V – LBM cr and LBM BMI – LBM cr . Results Both LBM V (regardless of formula used to estimate V) and LBM BMI exceeded LBM cr in hypothetical subjects with average body compositions. The sources of differences between LBM estimates in this group involved differences in the coefficients assigned to gender, age, height, weight, presence or absence of diabetes, and serum creatinine concentration. In CPD patients, mean LBM V or LBM BMI exceeded mean LBM cr by 6.2 to 6.9 kg. For example, the LBM V obtained from one anthropometric formula was 50.4±10.4 kg and the LBM cr was 44.1±13.6 kg ( P cr >LBM V . The differences in determinants of body composition between groups with high versus low LBM cr were similar in hypothetical and actual CPD patients. Multivariate analysis in actual CPD patients identified serum creatinine, height, age, gender, weight, and body mass index as predictors of the differences LBM V −LBM cr and LBM BMI −LBM cr . Conclusions Overhydration is not the sole factor accounting for the differences between LBM cr and either LBM V or LBM BMI in CPD patients. These differences also stem from the coefficients assigned to major determinants of body composition by the formulas estimating LBM.

Malnutrition compromises the growth of children in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, the prevalence of childhood malnutrition approaches 40%. There are few reports relating the growth characteristics of breast-fed Nigerian infants to the anthropometric properties of their mothers. A total of 100 urban and rural mother/baby pairs were recruited. The mean BMI values of the urban and rural mothers were 24.2 and 21.3 kg m(-2), respectively. The mean length, weight and head circumference of the rural infants were significantly lower than those of the urban infants. Z-scores based on World Health Organization standards showed: (i) length-for-age z-score

In addition to the maintenance of normal extracellular electrolyte composition, the prescription of continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD) should address four other specific issues: (i) prevention of uremia by achievement of adequate clearance of azotemic substances, (ii) prevention of progressive expansion of the extracellular volume by adequate peritoneal ultrafiltration, (iii) prevention of loss of residual renal function, and (iv) prevention of deterioration of the peritoneal membrane structure and function. Urea clearance, in the form of Kt/V(Urea), is the index of removal of azotemic substances proposed by current guidelines. The target total (renal plus peritoneal) Kt/V(Urea) is >or=1.7 weekly. To provide the desired peritoneal Kt/V(Urea) (K(p)t/V(Urea)), the prescription of peritoneal dialysis must provide a daily drain volume (Dv) defined by the clearance equations as Dv = V x (K(p)t/V(Urea))/(D/P(Urea)), where V is body water obtained from published anthropometric formulas, K(p)t/V(Urea) = (1.7 - renal Kt/V(Urea))/7 and D/P(Urea) is the dialysate-to-plasma urea concentration ratio at the dwell time prescribed. Computer programs obtain the relevant D/P(Urea) values from formal studies of peritoneal transport. In the absence of these studies (for example, at initiation of CPD), D/P(Urea) values can be obtained from published studies with similar dwell times. Body size, indicated by V, is the major determinant of the K(p)t/V(Urea) limit provided by a given CPD schedule. Other obstacles to achievement of adequate urea clearance are created by poor patient compliance, inaccuracies of the anthropometric formulas estimating V, and mechanical complications of CPD that lead to retention of dialysate in the body. The main requirements for the prescription of adequate ultrafiltration are knowledge of the individual peritoneal transport characteristics, monitoring of urinary volume, and restriction of dietary sodium intake. Excessive dietary sodium intake is the major cause of extracellular volume expansion in CPD. Ideally, sodium intake should be kept at the level of total (peritoneal plus renal) sodium removal. Preventing the loss of residual renal function involves avoidance of nephrotoxic influences in the form of medications, radiocontrast agents, urinary obstruction and infection, and possibly other influences, such an elevated calcium-phosphorus product and anemia. Use of the lowest dialysate dextrose concentration that will allow adequate ultrafiltration is currently the most widespread practical measure of prevention of peritoneal membrane deterioration. Formulation of biocompatible dialysate is a major ongoing research effort and may greatly enhance the success of CPD in the future.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with impaired growth and skeletal maturation. Decreased fat-free mass (FFM) and body fat (BF) have been reported in Nigerian children with SCD relative to healthy age- and gender-matched controls. Pulmonary abnormalities, including reduced forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) and total lung capacity (TLC), have also been described in children with SCD. Since undernutrition is common in sub-Saharan Africa, we were interested in knowing the relationship between pulmonary function and body composition in Nigerian children and young adults with SCD. Body composition was determined using bioelectrical impedance and pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry in Nigerian children and young adults aged 7-35 years (n = 102) as well as healthy age-and gender-matched controls (n = 104). Age-adjusted data revealed 19-26% lower FFM for male (P < 0.001) and female (P < 0.001) subjects with SCD relative to the controls. FVC, FEV 1 and PEF were also significantly reduced in male and female children and young adults with SCD compared to their control counterparts. For both male and female patients and controls, FVC, FEV 1 and PEF correlated positively with FFM (P < 0.001). PEF for the female subjects with SCD diverged progressively with increasing age relative to the controls and the rate of change was significantly lower (P < 0.001). We conclude that pulmonary function is reduced in Nigerian children and young adults with SCD compared to controls and that for both groups, pulmonary function is directly related to body composition. These findings underscore the need for early nutritional intervention for children with SCD.

The state of hydration affects the outcomes of chronic dialysis. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) provides estimates of body water (V), extracellular volume (ECFV), and fat-free mass (FFM) that allow characterization of hydration. We compared single-frequency BIA measurements before and after 14 hemodialysis sessions in 10 Nigerian patients (6 men, 4 women; 44+/-7 years old) with clinical evaluation (weight removed during dialysis, presence of edema) and with estimates of body water obtained by the Watson, Chertow, and Chumlea anthropometric formulas. Predialysis and postdialysis values of body water did not differ between BIA and anthropometric estimates. However, only the BIA estimate of the change in body water during dialysis (-0.8+/-2.9 L) did not differ from the corresponding change in body weight (-1.3+/-3.0 kg), while anthropometric estimates of the change in body water were significantly lower, approximately one-third of the change in weight. Bioelectrical impedance analysis correctly detected the intradialytic change in body water content (the ratio V/Weight) in 79% of the cases, while anthropometric formula estimates of the same change were erroneous in each case. Compared with patients with clinical postdialysis euvolemia (n=7), those with postdialysis edema (n=5) had higher values of postdialysis BIA ratios V/FFM (0.77+/-0.01 vs. 0.72+/-0.03, p

Purpose To identify the extent of underdialysis, chronic inflammation and malnutrition and their interrelationships in Nigerian hemodialysis patients. Methods In a prospective study including 10 adult patients, (6 men, 4 women) on hemodialysis in North Central Nigeria, malnutrition was assessed by body mass index (BMI), serum albumin and prealbumin, and bioimpedance (BIA) pre-and post dialysis, inflammation was evaluated by C-reactive protein (CRP) and adequacy of dialysis was judged by frequency of the hemodialysis sessions and Kt/V urea. Results Post-dialysis BMI was 21.3 (19.9, 24.3) kg/m2 (< 20 kg/m2 in 4 patients), serum albumin 31.5 (24.0, 32.0) g/L (< 30.0 g/L in 5), serum pre-albumin 25.2 (15.3, 31.1) mg/dL (< 18.0 mg/dL in 4), serum CRP 4.8 (1.2, 11.5) mg/dL (> 1.0 mg/dL in 8), phase angle 4.2 (3.7, 5.1)° (< 3° in 3) and body fat deficit was diagnosed by BIA in 4 patients. Weekly frequency of dialysis was 3 times in 2 patients, twice in 1 and ≤1 time in 7. Single-pool Kt/V urea was 0.81 (0.68, 0.95, 1.2 in one patient receiving dialysis only twice weekly). By combined frequency of dialysis and Kt/V urea values, no patient received an adequate dose of dialysis and, indeed, all patients had overt symptoms of uremia. Low body weight, low serological and BIA nutrition indices, and high CRP levels occurred in the same patients. Patients on dialysis for > 1 year had worse nutrition indices than those on dialysis for < 1 year. Conclusions Underdialysis was universal, while poor nutrition and chronic malnutrition were found in the majority of the small number of patients studied. These three adverse conditions, which were interlinked, may be common in Nigerian hemodialysis patients, because their underlying socioeconomic causes are widespread. (Int J Artif Organs 2006; 29: 1067–73)

From the milk of their cows, the Fulani pastoralists who inhabit northern Nigeria and other regions of the western Sahel produce a high-fat product called man shannu or butter oil. Since cow milk and dairy products contain a variety of trans fatty acids (TFAs) and conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) which, depending on the particular TFA or CLA, can affect human health either adversely or positively, we were interested in determining the fatty acid composition of the milk fat of Fulani cattle and the butter oil manufactured therefrom. Milk from 12 Fulani cows and three different preparations of man shannu were analyzed for their content of TFAs and CLAs. The average fat content of the Fulani cow milk and man shannu was 3.84% and 62.5%, respectively. The milk fat contained relatively large proportions of trans vaccenic acid (mean, 3.82%) and the CLA, rumenic acid (mean, 1.35%). The percentage of the 4 major trans 18:1 isomers in man shannu was 2.23-fold higher than it was in the milk fat (10.4% versus 4.61%, respectively); in contrast, the c9,t11-18:2 percentage of man shannu was 80% lower than it was in the milk fat of the Fulani cows (0.23% versus 1.35%, respectively). Eighty percent or higher reductions were observed in the proportions of α -linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid in the man shannu relative to the milk fat. These data show that: (1) the fat of Fulani cow milk and man shannu both contain large amounts of TFAs; and (2) substantial quantities of the healthful CLAs and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are lost during the preparation of man shannu .

Background: Trans fatty acids (TFAs) and conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) are present in dairy products and human milk and can have detrimental and beneficial effects in humans. The content of TFAs and CLAs in milk is determined largely by the diet of the mother. Methods: We compared the proportions of TFAs and CLAs in the milk of rural Fulani in northern Nigeria who consume dairy products to that of women living in an urban center who consume little in the way of dairy products. Lactating Fulani women (n=41) and women residing in the city of Jos, Nigeria (n=41) were recruited into the study. We predicted that the milk of the Fulani pastoralists would contain higher amounts of TFAs and CLAs compared to their urban counterparts. Results: The mean total TFA proportions for the Fulani and urban women were 0.22% and 0.34%, respectively, and were not significantly different. The percentages of CLAs in milk fat were not different between rural and urban women (0.16% vs 0.14%). These TFA and CLA values were 4- to 10-fold lower than for milk of women elsewhere in the world. Conclusions: The percentages of TFAs and CLAs in milk were not different between rural and urban dwellers in northern Nigeria whose diets differ greatly in the amounts of dairy products they contain. However, the fact that the percentages of TFAs and CLAs in the milk of Nigerian women were much lower than the percentages reported from other parts of the world may have implications for the long-term growth and development of infants in the northern Nigeria and elsewhere in the Western Sahel. D 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

People who live in food and water deficit regions of Sahelien West Africa employ various coping strategies as they attempt to meet their food and water needs. In this paper we discuss various coping strategies employed by rural Nigeriens living in the Tanout and Mirriya administrative regions of central Niger. In rural Niger people often harvest or buy wild plant foods to eat. Laboratory studies of the nutritional content of these plants indicate that there are benefits to eating wild plant foods. In this study we summarize the results of field research conducted during the summer of 2002 on the use of wild plant foods in three regions of rural central Niger. Comparing local use of various wild plant foods with major nutrition-related health problems including protein deficiency, essential fatty acid deficiency, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, calcium deficiency rickets, and zinc deficiency, suggests potential recommendations for consumption of these plants. However, further research on the bioavailability of these nutrients is needed to confirm the potential benefits of these plants.

Complementary foods (CF), commonly known as weaning foods, are semi-solid or solid foods that are used to transition infants from breast milk to an adult diet. Their nutritional content is important to the growth and development of children, particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria. In a previous study five CF produced in Jos, Nigeria were analyzed for their nutritional content. Based on those findings, three new CF were formulated in an effort to improve the nutritive value. The new formulations (second-generation CF) were analyzed for fatty acid (FA), amino acid, and mineral and trace element content. The results were compared to those of the most nutritious CF previously analyzed (designated Soy). The total FA content of all three second-generation CF (3.89–20.8 mg/g) was lower than the first-generation Soy mixture (105 mg/g). The content of linoleic and α-linolenic acids among the second-generation CF (1.64–10.1 and 0.084–0.63 mg/g, respectively) was also lower than the Soy CF (59.7 and 7.46 mg/g). The second-generation CF all had higher iron content than Soy (138–288 versus 98.1 μg/g). The amounts of magnesium (1030–1733 versus 2255 μg/g), phosphorus (2237–3830 versus 5685 μg/g), and zinc (28.9–37.9 versus 54.8 μg/g) in the second-generation CF were lower than in Soy. The second-generation CF also had lower protein content than Soy (66–197 versus 355 mg/g). Overall, the new second-generation CF had a lower nutritive content than the original Soy CF.

People in Niger and elsewhere in the western Sahel consume wild and cultivated edible plants to satisfy their nutritional requirements. In many parts of the Republic of Niger farmers in rural areas produce insufficient yields of millet, the staple grain of the region. During periods of grain shortage people in rural Niger increase their reliance on wild plant foods to supplement their diets. Having a database of the nutrient content of wild and cultivated edible plants available in the region would be of value to educators and public health officials positioned to provide dietary advice to the food-stressed populations. Herein we report the fatty acid, amino acid and mineral and trace element content of three leafy plant foods collected in July 2002 in the villages of Droum and Zongon Mallam in the Republic of Niger: cecego (Sesbania pachycarpa), godilo/gudai (Crataeva religiosa), and cabbage leaf (Brassica oleracea var. capitata). All three plants contained large amounts of protein (18.6–36.2%) whose proportions of essential amino acids compared favorably with the WHO standard. Godilo/gudai and cabbage leaf contained large amounts of calcium (23.5–27.4 mg/g dry weight). All three plants contained potentially useful amounts of copper, zinc, iron, and a number of other essential minerals and trace elements, but no detectable selenium. However, the levels of the essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid, were low compared to other edible plant foods that are widely available in Niger. The data in this report underscore the potential value and utility of wild edible plants relative to the nutrition of people who live in rural Niger and elsewhere in the Sahel.

Children in northern Nigeria and elsewhere in the hot, arid western Sahel, are at risk of having their lung function compromised by a variety of factors, including undernutrition, environmental factors (e.g. airborne pollutants such as dust and smoke from wood fires), chronic upper-respiratory tract infections, and low socioeconomic class. We were interested in using spirometry to compare the pulmonary function of Nigerian children and adolescents aged 6-18 years who were living in urban and rural settings with the corresponding standards for African-American children. A total of 183 boys and girls in the rural village of Sabon Fobur on the Jos Plateau and another 128 boys and girls in the city of Jos were tested to determine their forced vital capacity (FVC), FVC at 1 s (FVC1), and peak expiratory flow (PEF). The nutritional status of the subjects was determined by measuring the body mass index (BMI), triceps skin-fold thickness, and mid-arm circumference, and fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) by bioelectrical impedance analysis. According to the results of anthropometry, the subjects in Sabon Fobur and Jos were lean but generally adequately nourished. The mean FVC, FVC1 and PEF values for the rural males were 1.851,1.761, and 3.521, and for the urban males they were 1.971,1.791, and 3.471, respectively. The corresponding values for the rural females were 1.791,1.701, and 3.371, and for the urban females they were 1.761,1.671, and 3.091. These values were approximately 100 per cent of the corresponding values for African-American children. In general, strong correlations were found between each of the three lung function parameters and age, weight, height (only for the males), BMI, MAC, and FFM. These results show that: (1) the lung function of Nigerian children and adolescents living in either rural or urban areas were similar and compared favorably with African-American standards, and (2) weight was as important as height in determining pulmonary function. The inclusion of FFM as an explanatory variable did notfurther increase the accuracy of the prediction, even in a population where malnutrition may be prevalent. Therefore, we conclude that measurements of height and weight are all that are required for the assessment of lung function using spirometry in Nigerian children.

The dietary intake of calcium by African populations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, is relatively low compared to the recommended intake for US adults. However, the rate of osteoporotic fractures in West African women is reported to be less than that for Caucasian populations. Because there is little published data regarding the skeletal status of African men and women, we used quantitative ultrasound (QUS) to assess the bone density of 435 Nigerian women and 321 Nigerian men between 16 and 89 years of age. A progressive decline in bone quality was observed beginning at about 40 years of age for both men and women. The mean stiffness index (SI) for the women between 20 and 35 years of age ( n = 186) in this study was 102 ± 17. The equation that best described the age versus SI relationship for women was SI = 79.7 + 1.887 (age) + −0.043 (age) 2 + 0.00020 (age) 3 . For Nigerian men, the peak SI of 115 ± 17 was seen in the 20- to 29-year-old age group. For men, the SI values remained above 100 until about age 60 years when a significant decline in SI was then observed. The best-fit curve of SI versus age for men was SI = 134.9 − 1.27 (age) + 0.019 (age) 2 − 0.00014 (age) 3 . The broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS), and SI values for the Nigerian men and women were comparable to or higher than those reported for Caucasian and Asian populations. These data should serve as reference values for adult men and women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background. Preeclampsia/eclampsia is one of the most common complications of pregnancy. It is a cause of high morbidity for both mother and fetus, especially in developing countries. In a recent survey conducted in Gombe, Nigeria, eclampsia was found to be a major cause of maternal mortality (24.2%), second only to obstetric hemorrhage (27.1%). Previous studies have produced contradictory findings regarding total homocysteine (tHcy) levels in women with preeclampsia/eclampsia and there is little information about the relationship between particular serum lipids and tHcy. The objective of this study in Gombe was to compare the levels of serum lipids and homocysteine in healthy pregnant women and women with preeclampsia/eclampsia in Nigeria. Methods. The experimental subjects included 43 women with preeclampsia/eclampsia and 130 healthy pregnant women served as controls. The criteria for preeclampsia/eclampsia included the following: hypertension (blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg), total protein (> 190 mg/g cr...

Preeclampsia/eclampsia is one of the major causes of maternal and fetal mortality in Nigeria and many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We determined if serum and urine concentrations of amino acids were abnormal in women with this disorder of pregnancy in Gombe, Nigeria.Free amino acids were measured in serum and urine of women (ages, 15 to 40 years) with preeclampsia/eclampsia (n=37) and their pregnant age and gestational age matched controls (n=16).The concentrations of 19 of the 20 serum amino acids that are common in proteins were not significantly different between the control and preeclamptic groups. Phenylalanine was increased in the preeclamptic women compared to the controls (p0.05); however, the difference between the two values was small (119 vs. 104 umol/l, respectively). The concentrations of urine free amino acids were indexed to urine creatinine (i.e., nmol/mg creatinine). Five amino acids were significantly elevated in the urine of preeclamptic patients vs. the control group: proline (100%, p0.05), the branched amino acids, valine (80%, p0.05), leucine (61%, p0.05), isoleucine (49%, p=0.01), and methionine (52%, p0.005). On the other hand, the concentrations of a nutritionally non-essential amino acid, glycine (p=0.01), and an essential amino acid, histidine (p=0.01), were both reduced by about one-third in the urine of the preeclamptic women.Our findings indicate that there are disturbances in urinary amino acid excretion but not in the serum amino acid profile in the preeclamptic patients. The degree of aminoaciduria is probably not sufficient to significantly affect overall nitrogen balance or precipitate a deficiency of one or more of the essential amino acids.

Wild plant foods in the Sahel region of West Africa play an important role in the diets of local residents. During periods of grain shortage, people in rural Niger increase their reliance on wild plant foods to supplement their diets. We report the partial nutrient content of the pit of the seed Sclerocarya birrea , a snack food eaten by children in rural Niger. The pit contained relatively large amounts of copper (24.8 μg/g dry wt), magnesium (4210 μg/g dry wt), and zinc (62.4 μg/g dry wt). The protein content of the pit was high (36.4% of dry wt); however, the protein fraction contained relatively low proportions of leucine, phenylalanine, lysine, and threonine. Fatty acids accounted for 47 mg/g dry wt of the pit, two-thirds of which was due to oleic acid. The essential fatty acid linoleic acid was present (24.5 mg/g dry wt), but the other essential fatty acid, α -linolenic acid, was absent. Such data are useful for health and nutrition program planning by governmental and non-governmental organizations in Niger. The consumption of daniya pits by just children highlights the need to better understand the cultural context of how wild plant foods are used in a particular local context.

To identify differences that may affect morbidity and mortality of type 2 diabetic patients reaching ESRD between countries with different socioeconomic conditions.Comparison of clinical and laboratory features between 21 Nigerian (N) and 57 American patients (A) reaching ESRD over a 30 month period.Differences were noted in age at ESRD (N, 55.5+/-9.8; A, 64.5+/-9.6 years), duration of diabetes (N, 5.2+/-2.8, A: 14.9+/-4.9 years), body mass index (N, 24.5+/-4.1; A; 27.6+/-6.3 kg/m2), prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (N; 14%; A, 89%) and ischemic heart disease (N, 26%; A, 67%), blood pressure (N, [166.2+/-26.7]/[98.6+/-16.5] mmHg; A, [146.8+/-23.6]/[72.5+/-13.3] mmHg), creatinine clearance (N, 6.1+/-3.6; A, 14.8+/-3.5 ml/min), urine protein excretion (N, 1.2+/-0.7; A, 6.1+/-4.9 g/24-h), hematocrit (N, 28.0+/-6.0; A, 35.0+/-5.0%), serum glucose (N, 5.6+/-1.6; A, 10.5+/-5.5 mmol/l), and serum cholesterol (N, 5.32+/-2.57; A, 4.19+/-1.16 mmol/l) (all at Por = 0.05). Differences were also found in the number of antihypertensive medications (N 1.4+/-0.6; A 2.4+/-1.2 per patient), and use of medications for diabetes (N 29%, A 79%), statins (N zero, A 61 %) and erythropoietin (N zero, A 39%). 72% of the A, but none of the N patients had a functional dialysis access prior to ESRD.Between A and N patients reaching ESRD, there are differences in clinical features and laboratory values that may affect morbidity, mortality and impact on the health care resources. These differences indicate areas where further studies that could assist in the planning for ESRD care in both Nigeria and USA are required.

The contents of sugars, organic acids, and amino acids (after acid hydrolysis) were determined during development and maturation of medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) fruit from 39 days after full bloom (DAF) until 2 weeks after the beginning of fruit drop (161 DAF). Fructose, glucose and sucrose were identified as the principal sugars and their levels varied remarkably during development. The fructose level increased continually through development reaching its maximum by 161 DAF (1200 mg/100 g fresh weight) while the increase of sucrose reached maximum at 131 DAF and had decreased at 161 DAF. After some fluctations at 69 DAF, glucose level remained high (686 mg/100 g fresh weight) at 161 DAF, when compared with Stage IV (131 DAF). While the level of malic acid increased continually, the ascorbic acid level decreased dramatically through fruit development; both acids reached their maximum and minimum levels at 161 DAF, i.e. 428 and 8.4 mg/100 g fresh weight, respectively. The total amino acid composition also changed in decreasing trend throughout development and remained low at 161 DAF. In the ripe fruit, glutamate and aspartate were the major amino compounds identified. These changes in the identified compounds can be related to the metabolic activity during fruit development and maturation.

The mineral composition of medlar fruit collected (June 15 - October 8) in Turkey at five stages of development was studied. In the fruit, 32 minerals were analyzed and 16 minerals (Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Co, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Sr, Ti and Zn) were present at detectable levels. The ripe medlar fruit was richest in potassium (7370 μg/g dry wt), calcium (1780 μg/g dry wt), phosphorus (1080 μg/g dry wt), magnesium (661 μg/g dry wt) and sodium (183 μg/g dry wt). During the fruit development, Al, Ba, Fe, Mn, P, Sr, and Zn were highest in August (unripe fruits) while the concentrations of K, Ca, Mg and Cu gradually decreased throughout development. The ripe medlar fruit is an important source of nutritionally needed minerals and trace elements, in particular Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and Zn, for human populations in southeastern Europe, Turkey and Iran.

Estimates of body water, fat-free mass, and body fat in patients on peritoneal dialysis by anthropometric formulas. Background Anthropometric formulas that are used to estimate body water in peritoneal dialysis patients can also be used to estimate fat-free mass and body fat. Evaluation of body composition by the anthropometric formulas rests on two assumptions: ( 1 ) fat contains no water, and ( 2 ) the water content of the fat-free mass is constant (72%). Methods We compared estimates of body water, fat-free mass, and body fat by anthropometric formulas to estimates employing dilution of tracer substances to measure body water and standard methods to analyze body composition in studies performed on peritoneal dialysis patients. We also analyzed the potential errors of the estimates of body composition by the formulas. Results Estimates of the average body composition provided by the anthropometric formulas agreed with estimates provided by the standard methods. However, these formulas have the potential of introducing large errors when estimating body composition in individuals differing from the average subject, either because the anthropometric formulas do not account for major determinants of body composition, such as physical exercise, nutrition, and catabolic illness, or because these formulas systematically overestimate body water in subjects who are obese or experiencing volume excess. Conclusion Anthropometric formulas currently in existence can provide only approximations of body composition and may be the sources of large errors in evaluating body composition in peritoneal dialysis patients. The potential errors include estimates of body water. These errors may alter the interpretation of urea kinetic studies in certain categories of peritoneal dialysis patients (e.g., obese subjects).

Fructose, glucose, and sucrose as the major soluble sugars, and citric, malic, and ascorbic acids as the major organic acids were determined by HPLC, and palmitic acid (16:0) and stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1), linoleic acid (18:2n-6) and linolenic acid (18:3n-3) as the major fatty acids were determined by GC in medlar (Mespilus germanica 'Dutch') fruit. The compositional changes of these constituents were monitored during the post harvest period of commercially sold Dutch form throughout its rapid ripening (fruit softening-darkening). Sucrose was highest at 1 WAH (228.4 mg/100 g fresh wt) and then decreased, remaining very low at 4 WAH (1.4 mg/100 g fresh wt). As for the levels of fructose and glucose, their levels shifted up to 2230.8 and 845.2 mg/100 g fresh wt at 2 and 3 WAHs, then the levels lessened to their lowest concentration. The levels of the three acids were high at the beginning, except malic acid level at 2 WAH, all acids leveled off through the latter weeks of post harvest period. In the fruit studied, the levels of saturated palmitic acid (16:0) and stearic acid (18:0), and unsaturated oleic acid (18:1), linoleic acid (18:2n-6) and linolenic acid (18:3n-3) were most abundant fatty acids detected throughout medlar ripening (pulp softening and darkening). The level of palmitic and stearic acids as well as the level of linoleic and linolenic acids were the highest at 1 WAH and then suddenly decreased as the medlar soften and the pulp becomes slightly (2 WAH) and fully (3 WAH) brown through 2 and 4 WAHs. In addition to these prominent fatty acids, a remarkable decrease was also obtained in the content of some other fatty acids (C10–15, C16:1, C20–24).

For the Makiritare (Ye'Kuana) native people of the Alto Orinoco (Venezuela), earthworms (Anellida: Glossoscolecidae) are an important component of the diet. Two species in particular are widely consumed: 'kuru' (Andiorrhinus kuru n. sp.) and 'motto' (Andiorrhinus motto). We analysed eviscerated kuru body proper, and whole and smoked preparations of motto for their content of protein and amino acids, fatty acids and 20 minerals and trace elements. The samples contained large amounts of protein (64.5-72.9% of dry weight), essential amino acids, calcium and iron together with notable quantities of other important elements, indicating that these earthworms contain potentially useful quantities of many nutrients that are critical to the health of the humans who consume them.

Maintaining a proper fluid character of human milk requires that the triglycerides be liquid. The mean melting points (MMPs) of milk lipids were determined using the mol percentages and melting points of the constituent fatty acids of the lipids in milk from three different ethnic groups in Nigeria and Nepal. The MMPs of the milk lipids of Fulani (n = 34) and Kanuri (n = 89) women in northern Nigeria and Nepalese women (n = 48) were 35.4°C, 35.5°C, and 35.8°C, respectively (mean, 35.6°C). We also tested the correlation between MMP and the mol% of individual fatty acids. The strongest correlations were observed with lauric acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and arachidonic acid. The results indicate that the fluidity of the lipid fraction of milk is maintained at 2–3°C below normal body temperature and raises interesting questions about the mechanism(s) by which the mammary gland regulates the fatty acid composition of the triglycerides it produces and secretes into milk.

Growth and skeletal maturation are impaired in sickle cell disease (SCD). SCD is also associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD) as determined by dual X-ray and photon absorptiometry. Quantitative ultrasound (US), which is as good a predictor of fracture as absorptiometry, provides additional information about bone architecture and elasticity. It is not known if the quantitative US parameters, broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound (SOS), are affected in children and adolescents with SCD. We therefore compared the bones of 80 children with SCD in Nigeria to those of age- and gender-matched controls using calcaneal ultrasound and the serum bone markers N-telopeptide of type1 collagen (NTx) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP), which are indicators of bone resorption and formation, respectively. BUA, which is reflective of BMD, was significantly lower for both the male and female SCD subjects compared with controls (86 vs 113 dB/MHz, P < 0.001 and 87 vs 100 dB/MHz, P < 0.001, respectively). However, SOS, which is more indicative of bone elasticity, was significantly different only for the male SCD subjects. Both NTx and BSAP were significantly reduced in the serum of the male and female SCD subjects. Correlations between BUA and serum NTx were found for both female controls and SCD subjects (r = 0.58, P < 0.001 and r = 0.32, P = 0.05, respectively), but not for the male subjects or controls. Significant correlations between BUA and BSAP were observed only for the female controls. In summary, we have shown that US analysis, in combination with serum markers of bone metabolism, can be used to distinguish bone development in children with SCD from that of nonaffected controls.

Five plant-based weaning foods (WF) (Dietrend, Jot-M, Soy, Ang, and Vic-T) locally prepared in Jos, Nigeria were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography, reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography, and atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma to determine their fatty acid (FA), amino acid, and trace mineral contents, respectively. Results of these direct analyses were compared to expected values derived from food composition tables prepared by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Additionally, results were compared against recommended nutrient values, using breast milk as the standard for FA content and recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for amino acid and mineral contents. The overall nutritional value of the five WF varied considerably and the quantities of particular nutrients determined by direct analysis differed markedly from those estimated using USDA food tables. Comparison of WF fatty acid composition relative to the RDA recommendations and a human milk standard revealed a much higher proportion of both linoleic (35-55 wt%) and alpha-linolenic acids (1%-7 wt%) relative to human milk lipids (11%-12% and 0.8%-0.9% wt, respectively); however, the WF were devoid of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Soy contained the highest amounts of linoleic acid (59.7 mg/g) and alpha-linolenic acid (7.46 mg/g) compared to the other four WF (10.2-41.0 and 0.35-3.18 mg/g, respectively). The linoleic acid/alpha-linolenic acid ratio was within the recommended range (5:1 to 10:1) in only Jot-M (10:1) and Soy (8:1). Dietrend, Vic-T and Ang, contained linoleic/alpha-linolenic ratios of 12:1, 29:1, and 82:1, respectively. The Soy weaning food would provide the most protein (24.3 g/day), based on an estimated daily intake of 65 g of weaning food by a normal six-month-old infant, compared to Jot-M (11.9 g/day), Dietrend (11.7 g/day), Ang (8.07 g/day), and Vic-T (7.26 g/day). The protein RDA for children up to 1 year of age is 13-14 g/day. Comparison of the mineral contents of the WF to the RDAs for various minerals indicated that all five would provide suboptimal amounts of calcium (16 to 250 mg/day) and zinc (1.42 to 3.56 mg/day) compared to respective RDAs of 400 mg/day and 5 mg/day. These data show that the Soy weaning food is an excellent source of linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, as well as being a good source of high quality protein. Jot-M and Dietrend provide useful amounts of the essential FA; however, it is advisable to reevaluate the composition of Ang and Vic-T to find ways to improve the linoleic/alpha-linolenic ratio of each and increase their total protein content. These results document the shortcomings of using published food composition tables based on foods in America when devising weaning foods based on ingredients in another part of the world.

Although abnormalities in the fatty acid composition of serum and red cell membrane phospholipids of patients with type 2 diabetes are well-documented, lacking are studies of this issue in prediabetic individuals.For this cross-sectional study, we recruited 180 subjects (30-80 years), 56 of whom were normal with regard to glucose control (HbA1c,5.7%), 61 who had prediabetes (HbA1c, 5.7%-6.4%) and 59 who had type 2 diabetes (HbA1c,6.5%). Serum phospholipids were isolated and analyzed for fatty acids.Most importantly, the fatty acid compositions of the controls and prediabetic subjects were not different for 19 fatty acids. However, the fatty acid profile of the phospholipids of the patients with diabetes differed from the other two groups; the 14 to 18-carbon saturated fatty acids were decreased by 12%-26% whereas the unsaturated fatty acids 16:1n-7, 18:1n-9, 18:2n-6, 20:3n-6 and 20:4n-6 were increased by 45%-64%. Of note, the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status of individuals in all three study groups was remarkably low compared with international values, as indicated by DHA proportions in the 1.62%-2.07% range, and there were no differences between groups. The mean melting point of the phospholipid fatty acids of the diabetic patients (32.2°C) was significantly lower (p0.001) than that of the prediabetic subjects (38.1°C) and the controls (39.9°C) which were not different from each other.These observations indicate that the fatty acid changes associated with type 2 diabetes follow the onset of the disease as opposed to being a causative factor of poor glucose control and insulin insensitivity.

Background: The Fulani of northern Nigeria are seminomadic pastoralists who consume a diet rich in saturated fats, do not use tobacco, are lean and have an active lifestyle. Little is known about their serum lipid profiles and corresponding risk of cardiovascular disease. Objective: We measured serum lipid, homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B-12 concentrations in Fulani men and women and assessed the nutrient content of their diet. Design: Blood samples from 42 men (18-64 y old) and 79 women (15-77 y old) living in the Jos Plateau of Nigeria were analyzed for cholesterol (total, HDL, and LDL), triacylglycerol, homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B-12 serum concentrations. Body composition was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Dietary information was obtained with use of a 7-d dietary recall and a food-frequency questionnaire. Results were compared with US referent ranges. Results: The mean energy content of the Fulani diet was relatively low (men, 6980 kJ; women, 6213 kJ) and the mean protein content was high (men, 20% of energy; women, 16% of energy). Nearly one-half of energy was provided by fat, and one-half of that was derived from saturated fatty acids. The diet provided marginal to adequate amounts of vitamins B-12, B-6, and C but only one-third of the US recommended dietary allowance for folate. The mean total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triacyl-glycerol concentrations of Fulani adults were within the referent ranges; the mean LDL-cholesterol concentration of Fulani adults below the range; and the mean serum homocysteine concentration of Fulani men above the range. Homocysteine and folate concentrations were inversely correlated for both men and women. Conclusions: Despite a diet high in saturated fat, Fulani adults have a lipid profile indicative of a low risk of cardiovascular disease. This finding is likely due to their high activity level and their low total energy intake.

Background: Numerous animal and population studies of diabetes have identified markers of oxidative stress. However, for most markers that have been measured the results are not consistent. In addition, it is less clear whether oxidative stress is related to the development of diabetic complications. The objective of this study was to evaluate a series of plasma markers and leukocyte markers to test the hypothesis that type 1 Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) subjects experience oxidative stress. A related question was whether markers of oxidative stress are higher in IDDM subjects who have developed long-term complications. Methods: The study population consisted of 22 IDDM subjects with diabetic complications and 22 IDDM subjects without complications, both groups matched by age and gender and with similar HbA1c levels, and 16 nondiabetic control subjects. Plasma levels of organoperoxides were determined by the ferrous oxidation/xylenol orange (FOX) assay, malondialdehyde by the thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) assay, and vitamin E by HPLC. Mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear cells were analyzed for ascorbic acid by HPLC and for glutathione (GSH) by enzymatic recycling. In addition, GSH peroxidase, GSH transferase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase levels were determined in both cell fractions. Results: Plasma organoperoxides were significantly elevated in the IDDM subjects compared to controls (p = 0.02) while TBARS and vitamin E levels were not significantly different. In the IDDM subjects, mononuclear cell levels of ascorbic acid were significantly lower (p < 0.02) and levels of GSH were lower, approaching significance (p = 0.07), compared to controls. Ascorbic acid and GSH levels in polymorphonuclear cells were not significantly different between IDDM subjects and controls, nor were enzyme levels different. In addition, the plasma and intracellular indices of oxidative status in IDDM subjects were not different when IDDM subjects with complications were compared to IDDM subjects without complications. Conclusion: Demonstration of oxidative stress in IDDM subjects depends upon which markers are measured. This is in agreement with previous studies of oxidative stress in various disease states including diabetes. Plasma levels of organoperoxides may be the most reliable indicators of oxidative stress. However, it is unclear whether elevated plasma organoperoxides indicate a generalized systemic stress or are produced in localized areas. By comparison, oxidative stress indices determined with isolated blood cells may provide a clearer picture. Depressed levels of ascorbic acid and GSH were observed only in mononuclear cells, which are mainly long-lived T lymphocytes. Mononuclear cells antioxidant status may reflect systemic oxidative stress. In this study, neither plasma markers nor intracellular markers of oxidative stress were different in IDDM subjects with long-term diabetic complications compared to subjects without complications.

Children with calcium-deficiency rickets experience increased urinary excretion of both essential and non-essential amino acids compared to non-rachitic children of the same age. Chronic wastage of amino acids into the urine could lead to a deficit in fat-free mass (FFM) in rachitic children. We therefore determined the FFM of children with calcium-deficiency rickets in northern Nigeria using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Because of the leg deformities present in the rachitic subjects, we calculated a 'corrected' height for each rachitic subject using the relationship between arm length and height in non-rachitic subjects over the same age range (r = 0.94). A total of 28 children (4 male and 24 female), 2-9 years of age with calcium-deficiency rickets and an equal number of age- and gender-matched controls were recruited into the study. Resistance and reactance measurements were obtained for all subjects and the total body water was calculated using age-specific equations. FFM was then calculated using age- and gender-specific hydration constants. No significant differences were found in the weights or FFM between the rachitic subjects and the controls (8.41 kg +/- 2.19 vs. 8.85 kg +/- 1.90, respectively). We conclude that chronic urinary wastage of amino acids by rachitic children does not result in a deficit in FFM.

The content of many nutrients in breast milk are dependent on the nutritional status of the lactating woman. This is particularly true for fat and water-soluble vitamins, some of which have antioxidant properties. We have previously reported that the total antioxidant content of the milk of women residing in different regions of the developing world varies significantly. In this report we describe the relationship between the antioxidant status of lactating women and their exclusively breast-fed infants from different ethnic groups in Nigeria and the antioxidant content of breast milk. The total antioxidant content of milk from 47 Nigerian women (32 Fulani, 8 Ibo, 3 Yoruba and 4 other ethnic groups) was determined using the Randox® assay. Maternal and infant serum total antioxidant activity were also measured using the same assay. The milk of the Fulani women contained significantly lower antioxidant capacity than the milk from the other ethnic groups (1.1 mmol/L vs. 3.1 mmol/L, p =

We previously reported that, relative to milk of women elsewhere in the world, the lipid fraction of milk of Fulani women in northern Nigeria contained relatively low proportions of alpha-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This led us to question the essential fatty acid status of Fulani infants and the relation between the proportion of critical n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in the serum phospholipids of the mothers, their milk, and the serum phospholipids of their exclusively breast-fed infants. We were also interested in the effect de novo intermediate chain length-fatty acids (C10-C14) had on the proportions of critical and non-essential fatty acids in milk. Capillary gas-liquid chromatography was used to analyze the fatty acid content of the total milk lipids of 34 Fulani women, as well as the fatty acid content of serum phospholipids of the women and their breast-fed infants during the first 6 months of life. The proportions of critical n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in the milk of the Fulani women were adequate, but the proportions of these same fatty acids were low in their exclusively breast-fed infants. The serum phospholipids of the infants contained 18.8% linoleic acid, 0.13% alpha-linolenic acid, 12.8% arachidonic acid, and 3.40% DHA, whereas, the mean percentages of linoleic, alpha-linolenic, arachidonic and DHA in the serum phospholipids of the Fulani mothers' were 21.4, 0.20, 9.79, and 1.97, respectively. There was a strong positive correlation between fatty acid content of serum phospholipids of Fulani women and the fatty acid content of their milk lipids. As the proportion of C10-C14 fatty acids in the milk lipids increased, the proportions of critical n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in milk remained relatively constant; however, proportions of three non-essential fatty acids decreased dramatically. C10-C14 fatty acids do not appear to displace critical n-3 and n-6 fatty acids in milk.

Intermediate chain-length fatty acids (C10-C14) in human milk triglycerides provide an easily absorbable fuel that provide a significant amount of the energy needed for growth during the first few months of life. The C10-C14 fatty acid and trace mineral content of human milk is variable. In this report we examined the relationship between the content of calcium, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc, and the weight percentage of C10-C14 fatty acids in milk from 33 Fulani women in northern Nigeria between 2 and 24 weeks post-gestation. The milk from these women contained proportions of C10-C14 fatty acids that were comparable to those reported for other populations around the world, as were the concentrations of Ca, Cu, Mg, Mn, Zn and P. Significant correlations were observed between the milk content of Cu and the wt% of C10 (P=0. 005, r=0.475), C12 (P=0.001, r=0.539), C14 (P=0.44, r=0.352) and the total intermediate chain-length fatty acids (P=0.008, r=0.450). No correlations were observed between these fatty acids and any of the other five minerals. We speculate that the relationship between Cu and fatty acids could be related to a requirement for Cu by an enzyme required for C10-C14 fatty acid biosynthesis (e.g. decanoyl deacylase) in mammary tissue, or to some unique Cu binding properties of the intermediate chain length fatty acids.

We used bioelectrical impedance (BIA) to investigate the body composition of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) in northern Nigeria. A total of 48 children with SCD and 51 controls between 3 and 20 years of age were studied. A significant difference was found in the weights of male subjects over the age of 10 years compared to controls (p = 0.01), but not in height. Significant differences were also observed for SCD males in the 10-18-year-old age range in body mass index (p = 0.001), fat free mass (p = 0.001), per cent fat free mass, (p = 0.02), body fat (p = 0.02), and per cent body fat (p = 0.02). No significant differences in any of these parameters between SCD subjects and controls were obtained for males under the age of 10 years. There were no significant differences in the height, weight, body mass index, or fat free mass for female SCD subjects compared to controls over the age range we studied. However, there were significant differences in the per cent fat free mass (p = 0.006), body fat (p = 0.025), and per cent body fat (p = 0.01) for female SCD subjects over the age of 10 years compared to controls. In addition to documenting differences in the body composition of adolescent boys with sickle cell disease in Nigeria, this study also demonstrated the feasibility of using bioelectrical impedance to analyse the body composition of individuals under the hot, arid conditions which prevail in sub-Saharan Africa.

Human populations of the western Sahel depend upon a number of wild plant foods to satisfy a substantial part of their nutritional requirements, and this dependency increases during times of drought. However, the database of the nutrient and chemical compositions of these wild plant foods is incomplete and fragmentary. Herein we report the lipid, fatty acid, amino acid, total protein and mineral content of 13 wild plant foods collected in the Republic of Niger in 1996. Four plants contained 20–29% protein on a dry wt. basis: Bombax costatum fruit, Leptadenia hastata leaves, ataruhu (Hausa name) fruit, and the seeds of Parkia biglobosa. Ataruhu leaves compared most favorably with a World Health Organization protein standard. Plants which contained substantial amounts of one or both of the essential fatty acids (linoleic andα -linolenic acids) were Capsicum spp. fruit, Parkia biglobosa seeds and Leptadenia hastata leaves. Entada africana leaves and Leptadenia hastata leaves were rich sources of calcium. Zinc concentrations were highest in the mesocarp and seeds of Hibiscus esculentus fruit. Three plants contained relatively high levels of iron: Leptadenia hastata leaves, ataruhu fruit and Entada africana leaves. These data will be of use in determining which plants should be preferentially utilized and conserved to benefit the overall nutrition of populations who inhabit the Sahel

In the western Sahel and many other regions of sub-Saharan Africa, wild edible plants contribute significantly to human diets, not only during periods when cereal staples are scarce, but also when they are readily available. Although there have been published reports regarding the nutrient contents of these plant foods, little attention has been devoted to their content of antinutrients such as calcium chelators and inhibitors of the pancreas-derived proteases, trypsin and chymotrypsin, which are required for the efficient digestion and absorption of dietary proteins. In this study, aqueous extracts of 61 different leaves, seeds, fruits and flowers of edible plants gathered in the Republic of Niger were analyzed for their content of trypsin inhibitory substances using alpha-N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide as the substrate and bovine trypsin as the enzyme source. Twelve of these plant foods contained more antitrypsin activity than soybeans (1.34-8.18 vs. 1.32 microg trypsin inhibited/mg dry weight). Boiling for 3 min did not inactivate the antitrypsin activity in most of the plant extracts. These data confirm that more than half of the wild edible plant foods widely consumed by various populations who inhabit the western Sahel contain significant quantities of heat-stable trypsin inhibitor that could possibly compromise the bioavailability of proteins present in the diets of these populations.

Generalized aminoaciduria is associated with vitamin D-deficiency rickets in humans, but there is little information regarding aminoaciduria in rickets caused by primary calcium deficiency. In contrast to rickets in other parts of the world, this bone disease in Nigeria is caused primarily by inadequate intake of dietary calcium. We conducted a clinical trial in Jos, Nigeria in 10 children with radiographically and biochemically proven rickets; an equal number of non-rachitic healthy children from the same area served as controls. Serum and 24 h urine samples were obtained at baseline and at 24 h, 1 week, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after initiation of calcium supplementation (1000 mg/day) and were analysed for their content of amino acids. Serum calcium, phosphorus, intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D were also measured at each time point. In the rachitic subjects urinary amino acid concentrations were elevated from 2- to 16-fold at baseline, while serum amino acid levels increased 1.5- to 3.8-fold compared to controls. After 12 weeks of calcium supplementation, serum and urine amino acids decreased. There was no correlation between the degree of aminoaciduria and serum PTH or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations. We conclude that the aminoaciduria in these rachitic children was related to their calcium status and not to their vitamin D or PTH status.

We analyzed the fatty acid composition of the triacylglycerol and phospholipid fractions of human milk samples obtained 2–4 weeks postpartum from 48 women living in rural Nepal. The most noteworthy aspects of the fatty acid composition of the triacylglycerol fraction were the proportions of the two essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) and α-linolenic acid (C18:3n-3). The proportion of linoleic acid was very low (7.91%), while that of α-linolenic acid was relatively high (1.93%). Together, the n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids accounted for 12.4% of the total fatty acids in the triacylglycerol fraction, and de novo fatty acids (C10:0–C14:0) accounted for 25.0% of the total, arachidonic acid 0.35%, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 0.21% of the total. In the phospholipid fraction, the two essential fatty acids accounted for 6.38% of the fatty acid total. In the phospholipid fraction, 23.0% of the fatty acids were contributed by de novo fatty acids, 0.57% by arachidonic acid and 0.78% by DHA. The mean body mass index (BMI, kg/m 2 ) of the women in the Nepal study was in the middle range of other groups we have studied in Nigeria, yet the value of linoleic acid in the triacylglycerol fraction of their milk was lower than the value we found in the milk lipids of the Nigerian women. This leads us to speculate the low proportion of linoleic acid in the milk fat of the Nepalese women is due more to the diet of the population rather than the overall nutritional status of the mothers, as reflected in their BMI values.

In a previous study of rachitic children in Jos, Nigeria we concluded that inadequate dietary intake of calcium was the primary contributing factor to the development of their rickets. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of calcium supplementation in 10 children with radiographically and biochemically proven rickets from the same geographical area. Rachitic children were provided with calcium supplements of 1000 mg/day for a period of 3 months. Serum and urine samples were obtained at baseline and at 24 hours, 1 week, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after initiation of supplementation. Serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, intact parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D were measured at each time point. Dietary recalls obtained at two separate times were used to estimate usual daily intakes of calcium and phosphorus. Ten non-rachitic age-matched controls from the same geographical area were recruited for comparison. Nine of 10 rachitic subjects had radiographic evidence of healing after 3 months of calcium therapy. Although serum calcium concentrations returned to control levels, other biochemical data indicated that the rickets of these subjects may have been multifactorial in aetiology, pointing to a possible defect in the synthesis of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Larvae of the moth Gonimbrasia belina (Westwood) are used widely as food by the rural inhabitants of the semiarid subcontinent of southern Africa. However, little is known about their nutrient content. Dry roasted larvae were vacuum-dried at 25°C, ground to a fine powder, and analyzed for their content of total protein, individual amino acids, 14 trace minerals, and fatty acids. On a dry weight basis, they averaged 48.3% protein and the amino acid pattern compared favorably to that of soybean seeds and a World Health Organization “ideal” standard. Of the 206 mg of total lipid per gram dry weight, 153 mg were contributed by fatty acids. Larvae are a good source of essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (average, 17.5 mg/g dry weight)and α-linolenic acid (average, 58.1 mg/g dry weight. They also contained several essential minerals in high quantities including calcium (average, 2,730 μg/g dry weight), iron (avetage, 304 μg/g), magnesium (average, 1,850 μg/g), manganese (average, 40.4 μg/g), and zinc (average, 142 μg/g). Overall, these data confirm that the larvae of G. belina are, as has been assumed by those for whom it is regarded as both a staple and a delicacy, an excellent source of many nutrients essential for the growth and development of children and the maintenance of health in people of all ages.

Cytosolic beta-glucosidase (CBG) from mammalian liver is known for its broad substrate specificity and has been implicated in the transformation of xenobiotic glycosides. CBG also catalyzes a variety of transglycosylation reactions, which have been been shown with other glycosylhydrolases to function in synthetic and genetic regulatory pathways. We investigated the catalytic mechanism, substrate specificity, and transglycosylation acceptor specificity of guinea pig liver CBG by several methods. These studies indicate that CBG employs a two-step catalytic mechanism with the formation of a covalent enzyme-sugar intermediate and that CBG will transfer sugar residues to primary hydroxyls and equatorial but not axial C-4 hydroxyls of aldopyranosyl sugars. Kinetic studies revealed that correction for transglycosylation reactions is necessary to derive correct kinetic parameters for CBG. Further analyses revealed that for aldopyranosyl substrates, the activation energy barrier is affected most by the presence of a C-6 carbon and by the configuration of the C-2 hydroxyl, whereas the binding energy is affected modestly by the configuration and substituents at C-2, C-4, and C-5. These data indicate that the transglycosylation activity of CBG derives from the formation of a covalently linked enzyme-sugar intermediate and that the specificity of CBG for transglycosylation reactions is different from its specificity for hydrolysis reactions.

Populations of the western Sahel consume many different indigenous plant foods, and during times of food scarcity, this dependency increases. In early 1997, the Famine Early Warning System reported that, due to a drought, jiga ( Maerua crassifolia ) and aduwa ( Balanites aegyptiaca ) were contributing increasingly to the diets of people living in Chad, Mauritania, and Niger. At present, there are no comprehensive reports published on the nutrient content of these two plant foods. Herein we report the lipid, fatty acid, amino acid, total protein, and mineral contents of B. aegyptiaca mesocarp and M. crassifolia leaves. M. crassifolia leaves contain more protein (39.4%) than the mesocarp of B. aegyptiaca (7.10%), as well as proportions of the essential amino acids that compare favorably to a World Health Organization protein standard. M. crassifolia leaves can also provide significant amounts of calcium (17 mg/g dry wt), linoleic acid (1.26 mg/g dry wt), and α-linolenic acid (9.29 mg/g dry wt). In summary, M. crassifolia leaves can contribute significantly to the nutrition of populations inhabiting the Sahel.

Although wild edible plants of the western Sahel and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa are consumed to some extent at all times of the year, greater amounts are consumed when cereal harvests are insufficient to support the populations living in these areas. The purpose of this study was to use a recently reported Trolox-based assay to measure the total antioxidant capacity of aqueous extracts of 17 plants that we gathered from southern Niger. The antioxidant contents of the aqueous extracts were compared to those of spinach and potato. Of the 17 plants, 11 had a greater antioxidant content than spinach and 14 had a greater antioxidant content than potato. The leaves of Tapinanthus globiferus had the greatest antioxidant content, and the fruit of Parinari macrophylla had the lowest. In general, leaves contained more antioxidants than either fruits or seeds. The total antioxidant capacity of the aqueous extracts was relatively high, indicating that the wild plants of the western Sahel may contain substantial amounts of water-soluble flavonoid glycosides, which are potent antioxidants and have been shown to have anticancer properties.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the growth retardation often associated with sickle cell anaemia could be related in part to a deficiency of essential fatty acids. We reported recently that children with sickle cell disease in Jos, Nigeria have lower levels of serum amino acids and higher levels of urinary amino acids than their healthy counterparts. In the current study, we determined that the serum phospholipids of children with sickle cell anaemia did not deviate in the proportions of the essential fatty acids, linoleic and alpha-linolenic they contain compared to controls. However, their serum phospholipid profiles were significantly different in the proportions of four other fatty acids. Specifically, the phospholipids of children with sickle cell anaemia contained 19 per cent more palmitic acid (P = 0.006), 22 per cent more oleic acid (P = 0.014), 18 per cent less arachidonic acid (P = 0.008), 51 per cent less eicosapentaenoic acid (P = 0.0008), and 43 per cent less decosahexaenoic acid (P = 0.001). These data show that children with sickle cell anaemia are not deficient in essential fatty acids, but that the fatty acid elongation and desaturation pathway is somehow disturbed in this disease.

Wild plants play an important role in the diet of the inhabitants of Niger. These plants tend to be drought-resistant and are gathered both in times of plenty as well as times of need. Used in everyday cooking, famine foods may be an important source of nutrients. The goal of this study was to investigate the nutritional role of wild plants in the nigerien diet. To this end, leaves of seven plants species were analyzed for their mineral, amino acid and fatty acid contents: Ximenia americana, Amaranthus viridus, Corchorus tridens, Hibiscus sabdarifa, Maerua crassifolia, Moringa oleifera, and Leptadenia hastata. Ximenia americana} contained large amounts of calcium. Large quantities of iron were present in Amaranthus viridus. All seven plants contained significant amounts of selenium and phosphorus. Corchorus tridens contained the most protein (19–25% dry weight), and its composition compared favorably to the World Health Organization's standard for essential amino acids. Moringa oleifera contained 17% protein and compared favorably with the WHO standard. Corchorus tridens contained the largest amounts of the two essential fatty acids linoleic and α-linolenic acids. These results reinforce the growing awareness that wild edible plants of the Western Sahel can contribute useful amounts of essential nutrients, including amino acids, fatty acids and trace minerals, to human diets.

In the western Sahel, indigenous plants become important staples when cereal harvests are inadequate to support populations inhabiting that region of Africa. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutrient content of several of these edible wild plants. The leaves of the following seven plant foods were analyzed: Ziziphus mauritiana, Cerathotheca sesamoides, Moringa oleifera, Leptadenia hastata, Hibiscus sabdarifa, Amaranthus viridis, and Adansonia digitata. The fatty acid, vitamin E, carotenoid, selected mineral and amino acid contents of these plant foods were determined. These same analyses were performed on the fruit of the Adansonia digitata. In quantitative and qualitative terms, Amaranthus viridis was found to be an excellent source of protein. Its amino acid composition compared favorably to that of a World Health Organization (WHO) protein standard. It also contained considerable amounts of the two fatty acids that are essential in humans (linoleic and -linolenic) and a number of minerals including iron, magnesium, calcium and zinc. The leaves of Hibiscus sabdarifacontained an appreciable quantity of protein the compo- sition of which was comparable to the WHO standard. The mineral content of the leaves of this plant was also exceptionally high; noteworthy was its high zinc content. H. sabdarifa also contained significant quantities of the two essential fatty acids. Ziziphus mauritiana was an excellent source of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid and several of the metals including iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc. Its content of other essential nutrients, however, was rather low. In general, Adansonia digitata leaves were nutritionally superior to the fruit of the tree; however, the fruit did contain useful quantities of potassium, phosphorus, zinc and -linolenic acid. The Leptadenia hastataleaves were an especially good source of lutein and -carotene. These data should be useful to the people who inhabit the western Sahel in helping them devise healthy diets during times when cereal staples are in short supply.

The seeds ofBoscia senegalensisare used as a staple food during periods of famine in the Sahel zone of West Africa. Seeds collected in the Republic of Niger were extracted exhaustively with water to remove bitter components and possible toxic substances and then analyzed for their content of various nutrients. The processed seeds, calleddiloby the Hausa-speaking people of the western Sahel, contained 21% (dry wt) protein whose quality is inferior to that of an “ideal” WHO protein standard. Whilediloprotein contains a considerable quantity of tryptophan (4%) and extraordinarily large amounts of arginine (15.8%), it is deficient in lysine (3%) and threonine (3%). Lipid accounted for 3.68% of the dry weight ofdilo.Three-fourths of the fatty acids in the crude lipid extract were contributed by saturated fatty acids: palmitic acid (690 mg/100 g dry wt) and stearic acid (130 mg/100 g dry wt).Dilocontains 70 mg/100 g dry wt of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid, but undetectable levels of α-linolenic acid. In terms of mineral content,dilocontained relatively little calcium (29 mg/100 g dry wt) and magnesium (4.2 mg/100 g dry wt), and only traces of copper, selenium, and manganese. Zinc and iron, however, were present at relatively high levels, 6.0 and 5.3 mg/100 g dry wt, respectively. These data indicate that whiledilodoes not provide a complete food source in terms of essential nutrients, it does contain substantial quantities of arginine, tryptophan, and other essential amino acids, one of the essential fatty acids (linoleic acid), and zinc and iron. The chemical composition ofdiloharvested in Niger differs significantly from that ofB. senegalensisseeds grown in Sudan.

Malaria during pregnancy causes anaemia in pregnant women and low birthweight in infants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the OptiMAL rapid malaria test in comparison with standard microscopy for malaria diagnosis in 268 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at the Jos University Teaching Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre-Gombe in Nigeria. Positive results by either method were confirmed using a polymerase chain reaction assay for malaria. Although the OptiMAL assay did not detect malaria in the blood of pregnant women with low levels of parasitaemia, it may be useful for the detection of placental malaria which predisposes to low birthweight infants.