Covenant Journal of Physical and Life Sciences

Effect of different high-fat diets on lipid profile in albino rats

2025-01-11T23:09:41+00:00

Abstract:

High-fat diets and sedentary lifestyles are the main causes of obesity, which is a major risk factor for chronic illnesses like heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and several types of cancer. This comparative study examines how male albino rats' lipid profiles are affected by high-fat diets made from widely eaten vegetable oils. A total of 48 male albino rats weighing between 100 and 150 grams were randomly assigned to five groups of eight. As the control group, Group 1 was given a diet that contained 11% energy from 5% soybean oil. Rats in Group 2 were given a diet that contained 30% crude palm oil and 2.5% soybean oil (CPO group). Rats in Group 3 were given a diet that contained 30% refined palm oil and 2.5% soybean oil (RPO group). Rats in groups 2–5 were fed a diet consisting of 2.5% soybean oil and 30% groundnut oil (GO group) and Group 5 rats were fed a diet consisting of 2.5% soybean oil and 30% shea butter (SHB group). Blood samples were taken at the end of the 8-week feeding protocol in order to evaluate lipid profiles, and the atherogenic index and coronary risk index were also computed. The results indicated that there were no significant differences (p < 0.05) in the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol between the rats fed high-fat diets and the control group. In conclusion, the high-fat meals assessed in this study did not negatively impact the rats' lipid profiles and fared similarly to soybean oil.

The Influence of Food Taboo on the Nutritional Status of Pregnant Women, Women Breast Feeding Their Babies and Children in Ugboha Village in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria

2025-01-10T15:34:26+00:00

The knowledge of nutrition and food taboos do have an apparent impact which is likely to bring about positive and negative health outcomes. This research aimed at exploring practices of food taboos meld by expectant women, women breast feeding their babies and children and the effects on their nutritional status. A descriptive one-time cross-sectional survey with the use of in-depth interviews on 80 participants that were selected through purposive sampling from the communities under investigation was adopted. The findings revealed that beliefs that are wrapped in the culture and religion of the participants of the research were found to be the main factor influencing the practice of food restrictions among expectant women and women breast feeding their babies and children, as the above mentioned categories were observed to be more prone to malnutrition owing to their being subjected to different degrees of malnutrition practices thereby increasing their chances of developing negative health outcomes which put their health in a compromising state. Proper sensitization of the right nutritional practice by health workers is carried out to educate the indigenes of Ugboha

Coefficient bounds for subclass of Sigmoid functions involving subordination principle defined by Salagean Differential Operator

2025-01-29T14:53:55+00:00

The authors of this research investigated a subclass analytic univalent function from the perspective of sigmoid functions defined by using the Salagean differential operator and subordination principles. Coefficient constraints were found for this subclass and the well-known Fekete Szego inequalities were also mentioned. Therefore, in addition to the standard Fekete-Szegʝo problem, the relationship between unified subclasses of analytic univalent functions and a simple logistic activation function to find the initial Taylor series coefficients.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Local Cassava Chips Associated with Vehicular Traffic in Makurdi Metropolis, an Agrarian City

2025-02-06T10:53:56+00:00

In the present study, we investigated the levels of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) using cassava chips dried by select road junctions as an indicator for heavy metals associated with automobile emissions in Makurdi Metropolis. Fresh cassava tubers were obtained and processed like the locals' producing cassava chips, which were sun-dried at the selected junctions. Metal analysis was carried out using Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (Agilent 4210 MP-AES). The analysis revealed varying concentrations of heavy metals at road junctions. Lead concentrations ranged from 1.26 mgkg^-1 to 5.18 mgkg^-1, exceeding safe limits set by WHO and NAFDAC. The levels of Cadmium in cassava chips exposed at some Junctions were also found to be above the maximum permissible levels set by local regulatory agencies. Copper concentrations ranged from 2.50 mgkg^-1 to 2.78 mgkg^-1, falling within permissible limits but varied across sampling points. Chromium concentrations 0.001 mgkg^-1 to 0.245 mgkg^-1. No permissible limit was found for chromium concentration from the local regulatory authorities. The findings highlight the significant contribution of vehicular emissions to environmental metal pollution in the studied area. Therefore, consuming cassava chips dried at these Junctions poses risks of toxic metals poisoning. Public awareness campaigns on the dangers of heavy metal exposure and the promotion of alternative drying methods for agricultural produce are recommended to safeguard public health.