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PurposeThe purpose of this study was to elucidate the association between helminth infections, dietary parameters and cognitive performance, as well as the predictors of undernutrition among school-age children (SAC) living in helminth-endemic fishing and farming communities in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThis was a cross sectional study involving 164 (9 to 12 years old) SAC from fishing (n = 84) and farming (n = 80) communities of the Kwahu Afram Plains South District of the Eastern Region of Ghana, using structured questionnaires and anthropometric and biochemical assessments.FindingsOverall, 51.2% of the children were males, with no significant gender difference between the communities (p = 0.88). Average age of the children was 10.5 ± 1.25 years, with no significant difference between the farming and fishing communities (p = 0.90). About 53.1% of all children were anemic, with no significant differences between farming versus fishing communities (p = 0.87). Helminth-infected children were significantly anemic (p = 0.03). Mean serum zinc level of all children was 13.1 ± 4.57 µmol/L, with zinc deficiency being significantly higher in children in the farming community (p p = 0.001) and girls (p = 0.117). There was no significant difference in the Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices cognitive test scores between the two communities (p = 0.79). Predictors of anemia were helminthiasis and pica behavior.Originality/valueThese findings are relevant and have the prospect of guiding the development of intervention programs in addressing the persistent problem of nutritional and cognitive deficits among SAC.

Background Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical disease with several infection phenotypes. In addition to mass drug administration, host immune response contributes to microfilariae clearance. An important influence of immunity, nutritional status, remains to be evaluated among filarial lymphedema patients. This study sought to assess the nutritional status of LF patients and its association with the pathology. Methods As cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the nutrition status of lymphedema patients in Ahanta West, Ghana. To obtain sociodemographic and nutrition data, a structured questionnaire was administered to the study participants. Anthropometry and 24-hour food recall were used to assess the nutritional status of participants. Results While all and 71 (82.6%) had adequate carbohydrate and protein intakes respectively, 83 (96.5%) had inadequate intake of fat. There were widespread inadequate nutrients intakes that were associated with stage of lymphedema: fat, r = -0.267, p = .024; carbohydrate, r = 0.305, p = .010; sodium, r = -0.259, p = .029; copper, r = -0.249, p = .036; selenium, r = -0.265, p = .025; pantothenic acid, r = -0.265, p = .025; vitamin B6, r = -0.270, p = .023; vitamin B12, r = -0.288, p = .015; and vitamin A, r = -0.276, p = .020. Conclusion The study shows widespread malnutrition among the participants. A nutritional intervention is recommended to complement current management strategies of filarial lymphedema.

Anemia among adolescent females is a major worldwide public health problem which should be given appropriate attention. Half of all anemic cases are caused by iron deficiency. In addition to anemia, poor nutrition is also a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. This study determined the prevalence of anemia and undernutrition among adolescent females in school. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 151 adolescent females in four basic schools in the Ahafo region of Ghana. The hemoglobin level and anthropometry measures of participants were taken to determine their anemic and nutritional status. The prevalence of anemia among adolescent females in school was 50.3%. Out of the 151 participants, 6.6%, 19.9%, and 23.8% were severely anemic, moderately anemic, or mildly anemic, respectively. Only 2% of the participants were underweight, but the rate of stunting was 26.5%. The notable high prevalence of anemia that was found among adolescent females was correlated with other health and wellness concerns. Anemia and under nutrition negatively affect academic performance, productivity, and general wellbeing of adolescents; therefore, effective measures should be put in place to correct and eradicate these nutritional problems.

Background: Antimicrobials of plant origin have a huge therapeutic prospective and can efficiently be used to treat infectious diseases with reduced or no side effects as related to using synthetic antimicrobials. A potential plant-based antimicrobial is that obtained from Borassus aethiopum. The anti-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic, antipyretic and anti-venom properties of extracts of B. aethiopum plant have been reported in literature these past few years.Objective: The antimicrobial property and phytoconstituents of aqueous ripe fruit extract of B. aethiopum were investigated. Methods: The ripe fruit extract of B. aethiopum was prepared by macerating the mesocarps of the fruits and then screened for the presence of phytochemicals using standard methods. The extract’s antimicrobial activity was studied by agar well diffusion method against Salmonella typhi ATCC 19430, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 33495, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Staphylococcus saprophyticus ATCC 15305 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. Chloramphenicol mixed with tetracycline was used as a standard antibacterial agent (Positive control). Sterile distilled water was used as diluent for reconstituting the aqueous extract. Results: The aqueous extract revealed the presence of tannins, terpenoids, saponins and cardiac glycosides. The antibacterial activity revealed that at 30%, 40% and 50% w/v (0.3g/ml, 0.4g/ml and 0.5g/ml) of the extract, all the test bacterial strains were susceptible to the aqueous ripe fruit extracts of B. aethiopum. Conclusion: Ripe fruit extracts of B. aethiopum was rich in phytochemicals and exhibited potential antibacterial activity against all seven bacterial strains used%%%%This article is published in Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medical Research and also available at DOI: 10.9734/JOCAMR/2018/44495%%%%KNUST

Background. Dyslipidemia and hypertension are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Objective. The study sought to evaluate the effects of Borassus aethiopum-fortified bread on metabolic risk factors among CVD outpatients. Method. From August 2016 to April 2017, a pilot study using a single-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted by administering Borassus-fortified bread (150 g) and indistinguishable placebo (150 g white flour bread) daily to 122 CVD outpatients at 37 Military Hospital, Accra, Ghana, for 90 days. Body composition, blood pressure, and biochemical parameters were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results. Following the intervention, the mean waist circumference (before: 98.3±14.6 cm, after: 95.9±15.8 cm, P=0.030), BMI (before: 31.4±6.9 kg/m2, after: 28.0±5.8 kg/m2, P=0.027), and visceral fat (before: 10.4±3.2, after: 9.9±3.0, P=0.013), as well as systolic (from 161.2±25.5 to 137.6±22.9and diastolic (from 99.2±13.6 to 85.1±10.8) blood pressure, were significantly reduced among the experimental group. Likewise, serum total cholesterol (TC), LDL, and HDL were significantly reduced within the experimental group before (TC: 5.9±1.1, LDL: 3.4±1.1, and HDL: 2.2±0.5) and after the intervention (TC: 4.9±1.1, LDL: 2.8±0.9, and HDL: 1.5±0.4) (TC: P=0.001, LDL: P=0.016, and HDL: P < 0.001, in mmol/L). These reductions were not observed in the controls. Conclusion. The Borassus-fortified bread significantly reduced blood pressure and improved lipid profile and other metabolic risk factors among the CVD outpatients studied. Therefore, its potential in the management of CVDs and other metabolic-related diseases should be looked at.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between early infant feeding and childhood adiposity. Method: This was a cross-sectional study of 29 pre-school age (4 to 6 years) children and their mothers. Mothers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to assess early infant feeding practices, while the children’s body composition was measured using the BOD POD Pediatric Option Body Composition System. Results: The mean age of the children was 4.9 ± 0.8 years, 82.8% Caucasian and 17.2% Black/African American, while 65.5% were female. None of the mothers reported alcohol consumption or smoking during the pregnancy with the child. Of the 29 children in the study, 41.4% were exclusively breastfed for at least 3 months, 48.3% mix-fed and 10.3% exclusively formula-fed. Although we found significant differences in BMI-for-age z-score (p = 0.033) and BMI-percentile-for-age (p = 0.023), there was no significant differences in fat mass and percent fat mass between the groups. Formula-fed children tended to have slightly higher fat-free mass and percent fat-free mass than both mix-fed and exclusively breastfed children although these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the direction of the association between early infant feeding and childhood obesity may be dependent on the indicators used to assess obesity.

Many dumpsites in the urban communities in Ghana are used for cultivation of crops, especially vegetables. However, these dumpsites may serve as potential sources of soil heavy metals that could enter the food chain mainly through cultivated food crops with serious consequences on human health. This study investigated the levels of two heavy metals, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), in the soil and tissues of vegetables grown on such dumpsites. Soil and tissue (lettuce, cabbage, spring onion, tomato and the leaves of Xanthosoma sagitifolium) samples were collected from ten locations with two of these locations used as control. The samples were acid-digested and the metal concentrations determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Pb and Cd contents of soils from all the eight dumpsites and one of the control locations were above the guidelines recommended by FAO and WHO. The highest Cd level in the soil (13.6 mgkg-1 of Cd) was found at Aketego dumpsite and the highest soil Pb (36.1 mgkg-1 Pb) was recorded at Meduma dumpsite. The leafy vegetables, cabbage, lettuce and X. sagitifolium (locally called ‘kontomire’) recorded relatively higher amounts of Pb and Cd in the edible parts. Further studies are required to determine how much of the daily diet these vegetables contribute to the total diets of the population and special attention to calculating the overall daily doses of Cd and Pb to pregnant mothers and children

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of further morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes patients. This study aimed to find the serum lipid profile, serum uric acid levels, other CVD risk factors, and how these factors are affected by diabetes duration in adults with type 2 diabetes. The cross- sectional study, involving 100 subjects, was carried out at the Diabetes Centre, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana. Adult type 2 diabetes patients, 20 years or older, were recruited for the study. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Panel III and American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines were used to find the metabolic status of the patients. Of the 100 patients, 74% and 62% had high systolic blood pressure and abdominal obesity, respectively. Also, high LDL-cholesterol and hypercholesterolaemia were found in 47% and 46% of the patients, respectively. Forty-six percent (46%) of the patients were hyperuricaemic. Cardiovascular disease risk increased with age from 20 to 79 years. The female diabetics had more adverse CVD risk profile than the male diabetics (high LDL, 55% vs. 23.1%; high total cholesterol, 54.1% vs. 23.1%; high triglycerides, 32.4% vs. 30.8%; low HDL, 25.7% vs. 3.8%). Fifty percent (50%) of females compared to 34.6% of males were hyperuricaemic. However, hypertension was more prevalent among males (systolic blood pressure, 76.9%; diastolic blood pressure, 38.5%) than among females (systolic blood pressure, 73%; diastolic blood pressure, 37.8%). In conclusion, the prevalence of hyperuricaemia and other cardiometabolic risks was high among type 2 diabetes patients.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to synthesis all primary evidence relevant to the anti-diabetic effect of dandelion. Dandelion leaf and root have been used extensively for its medicinal and health benefits since hundreds of years ago. This systematic review was conducted to gather scientific evidence that are available with regards to the anti-diabetic effect of dandelion leaf and root. Design/methodology/approach – A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, BioMed, PLUSONE and Cochrane databases between June 6, 2013 and June 30, 2013. Manual search was also done on books and journals in the KNUST library and its electronic database for possible documented effects of dandelion leaf or root on diabetic patients. Key words “dandelion”, “Taraxacum”, “dandelion and diabetes”, “Taraxacum officinale”, “Taraxacum and diabetes”, “dandelion and hypoglycemia” and “dandelion and hyperglycemia” were used in the search. Findings – The search yielded 713 papers, and after the removal of duplicates and papers not relevant to this review, 20 papers were accepted for the review. These included studies conducted in humans and animals (rats and mice). Among the 20 studies reviewed, only 1 study examined and reported a positive hypoglycemic effect of dandelion on diabetic rats. Research limitations/implications – The review only considered published papers and might have left out some unpublished research works. Practical implications – The results of this review suggest paucity of data available on the use of dandelion in the treatment/management of diabetes. There is the need for well-designed clinical trials to ascertain the anti-diabetic effect of dandelion. Social implications – The consumption of dandelion by type 2 diabetic patients to treat or manage their blood glucose has not been clinically proven to be effective, as shown by the review. Originality/value – The paper provides a clear picture of the evidence available in the use of dandelion as an anti-diabetic herb, and this provides some preliminary data for the conduct of a clinical research on it.

Background/aim: Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle-related condition. Lifestyle modification in the management of type 2 diabetes incorporates exercise. The aim of this study was to find out how unsupported and unsupervised exercise relates to anthropometric indices and biochemical indices in type 2 diabetes patients. Materials and methods: In the cross-sectional study, a structured questionnaire was used to access data on the exercise history of patients. Subjects were classified according to exercise intensity. The dietary intake of patients was obtained by 24-h recall. Standard measurements were taken of waist circumference and blood pressure. Blood samples were also collected to measure biochemical parameters. Results: Waist circumference, body mass index, and triglycerides were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in type 2 diabetics who engaged in high-intensity exercise than in those who engaged in low-intensity exercise. Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the moderate-intensity exercise group than in the low-intensity exercise group. Conclusion: Unsupported exercise was found to be related to favorable anthropometric indices (waist circumference and body mass index), blood pressure, and triglycerides.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The chronic hyperglycemia is associated with long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of various organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels and is among the top ten causes of death in the world. Borassus aethiopum Mart. (family Arecaceae) is a plant species of Borassus palm found widely across Africa. It serves an important source of food, providing edible fruits, and nuts, and also has a number of pharmacological uses that have been reported in some parts of the world. Objective: The current study was aimed at assessing the phytochemical constituents as well as the antidiabetic and hypolipidaemic effect of fruit extract of B. aethiopum in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.Materials and Methods: The fruits extract was prepared (FEB) and phytochemical constituents evaluated using standard methods. The antidiabetic and hypolipidaemic properties in alloxanized rats assessed for 7 and 28 days. Normoglycaemic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats were treated with FEB at doses of 100 mg, 250 mg and 500 mg/kg body weight. Observations on body weight, relative organ weight, haematological and biochemical parameters were measured in both acute and sub-chronic circumstances. Results: The presence of tannins, saponins, glycosides, triterpenoids and alkaloids were detected. Fasting blood glucose was reduced significantly (pConclusion: The aqueous fruit extract of B. aethiopum is antidiabetic. It was also found to be nephron- and hepato-protective as well as boosting the immunity of the animals.