Palm oil (PO), although subject of controversies, is the most consumed oil and the first source of oil widely produced. In this review, we discussed its biochemical composition in fatty acids, ...carotenoids, vitamin E, its phenolic compounds, and its nutritional benefits. We addressed its biochemical properties in relation with the stereospecific distribution of its unsaturated fatty acids at the sn-2 position in triacylglycerols. PO is one of the most stable oils, which help it prolong food storability mostly due not only to its content of saturated fatty acids, but also to its antioxidant compounds. PO plays an important role in the prevention of many pathologies (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and cancers). It is widely use in nutrition especially in the food industry and in biodiesel industry. Faced with attacks from environmentalists who blame PO for destorying biodiversity, there is an urgent need to develop a sustainable PO production plan. Compliance with sustainable PO goals would help ease those controversies. The use and consumption of PO in normal or moderate amounts in a varied, balanced and adequate diet does not present any known health risk. Education campaigns on the nutritional benefits of PO should be promoted.
•Palm oil has a biochemical particularity due to its richness in palmitic acid.•Unsaturation at sn-2 of palm oil make her behave like monounsaturated oils.•Palm oil does not increase blood cholesterol levels compared to olive and peanut.•Like all vegetable oil, it doesn’t contain cholesterol and is rich in antioxidants.•Palm oil antioxidant plays important role in the prevention of many diseases.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the interest of regular consumption of an antioxidant-containing herb tea in the care of HIV-patients. We conducted a 24 month prospective study in 30 ...patients clinically asymptomatic, infected by the VIH1, with a rate of CD4 above 200/mm3, and naive of any antiretroviral treatment. Every patient received a supplementation in antioxidants by drinking every two days during twelve monthsherb tea issued from Alternanthera pungens. Venous sampling of blood was used to measure biomarkers of oxidative (malondialdehyde - MDA - and advanced oxidation protein end products - AOPP), T lymphocytes, amimotransferases and creatinine.
We observed: (1) a significant decree (p < 0,001) in plama levels of studied biomarkers of oxidative stress (AOPP and MDA); (2) a significant increase (p < 0,001) of T CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes and (3) the lack of biological hepatic and renal toxicity by the regular consumption of the herb tea. In conclusion, we showed that consumption taking of natural antioxidants through Alternanthera pungens herb tea may lead to significant increase T lymphocytes and decrease in biomarkers of oxidative stress, and might help in the prevention of the opportunist diseases by maintaining blood lymphocytes CD4/CD8 rate.
Résumé: A fin de déterminer la prévalence de l’hypoglycémie cétosique chez des enfants d’âge scolaire, nous avons conduit une étude descriptive transversale dans des écoles maternelles et des écoles ...de zones rurales, impliquant 102 enfants âgés de quatre à sept ans, dont 51 filles et 51 garçons. L’état nutritionnel des enfants a été évalué au moyen de l’indice WHZ. Les analyses ont été pratiquées sur une goutte de sang capillaire, prélevée à la pulpe du doigt. La glycémie a été mesurée par la méthode de la glucose-oxydase, avec un glucomètre rapide et ultrasensible (One Touch Ultra®), et la cétonurie a été détectée à la bandelette réactive « Ketodiastix ». Les résultats cliniques ont révélé que la plupart des enfants avaient un poids normal à la naissance, avec une moyenne de 2 885 g, un bon score d’Apgar (> 7), et l’indice nutritionnelWHZ a révélé 3% de cas de malnutrition sévère et 34 % de malnutrition modérée. Dix enfants (9,8 %) avaient une hypoglycémie, avec une médiane de 0,51 g/l et des valeurs extrêmes allant de 0,42 à 0,59 g/l. Sept enfants avaient une hypoglycémie associée à une cétonurie. La prévalence de l’hypoglycémie cétosique était de 7 % dans notre étude, et plus fréquente chez les enfants de quatre et cinq ans, avec un taux de 57 % de cas dans cette tranche d’âge. Ainsi, cette affection, bien connue des pays occidentaux, est une réalité en Côte-d’Ivoire, favorisée par un terrain de malnutrition (37 % de la population de l’étude). Il est donc utile de prévenir la malnutrition protéinoénergétique par une alimentation équilibrée, en évitant d’aller à jeun à l’école, par une prise en charge nutritionnelle.
Abstract: To determine the prevalence of ketotic hypoglycemia among schoolchildren, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in preschools and schools in rural areas that involved 102 schoolchildren, from 4 to 7 years old, comprised 51 girls and 51 boys. Index WHZ was used to evaluate the children’s nutritional status. The sampling was obtained by a drop of capillary blood in the pulp of the finger. The determination of glucose was realized by glucose oxidase method using an ultra sensitive and fast (One Touch Ultra®) glucometer, and ketonuria was detected by dipstick “Ketodiastix.” The clinical results revealed that most of children had a normal birth weight with an average of 2.885 g, a good Apgar’s score superior to 7, and then the nutritional index WHZ revealed 3% of severe malnutrition and 34% of moderate malnutrition. Ten children (9.8%) had a hypoglycemia with a median of 0.51 g/l and extreme values going from 0.42 to 0.59 g/l. Seven children had a hypoglycemia associated with ketonuria. The prevalence of ketotic hypoglycemia was 7% in this study, and more frequent in the children between 4 and 5 years with 57% of cases in this age group. Thus, this condition, found in Western countries is a reality in Côte d’Ivoire, where the diathesis of malnutrition (37% of the population of the study) is a favorable factor. Therefore, it is useful to prevent protein-energy malnutrition by a balanced food by avoiding fasting before school by diet management.
Previous studies have described an important selenium deficiency in a mountain region (Glanle) in the west of Ivory Coast.
To assess the antioxidant capacity of subjects from a selenium deficient ...area in Ivory Coast (Glanle region).
This study involved 57 subjects, 18 to 69 years old, living in the Glanle region and 56 healthy controls living in the southern coastal region (Bodou). In the Glanle region families consume basically a vegetarian and crude palm oil diet, whereas in the Bodou region, families eat a fish-based diet with principally refined palm oil. Fasting blood samples were collected to assess the following parameters: lipid status (plasma total lipids; total-, HDL and LDL-cholesterol; triglycerides; phospholipids; fatty acid composition), plasma protein status (total protein, albumin, transthyretin, orosomucoid, CRP, transferrin), antioxidant capacity (plasma selenium, uric acid, retinol, alpha-tocopherol and tocotrienols levels, plasma seleno-glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity) and oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde (MDA) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP)).
The mountain region samples (Glanle) were characterized by significantly lower plasma albumin, total-, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, retinol and selenium levels, plasma PUFA content and GSHPx activity, but significantly higher alpha-tocopherol index and total tocotrienol level, than controls from the coastal area (Bodou). These results suggest a higher exposure risk to oxidative stress for the mountain region subjects. However, the absence of oxidative damage in this group provides evidence of a selenium independent protection mechanism against oxidative stress. This protection is related to lower plasma LDL cholesterol and PUFA content, and to higher alpha-tocopherol index, delta and total tocotrienols.
The long-term consumption of crude palm oil could be considered as an effective protective factor against oxidative stress.
Deux variétés de gombo ont été cultivées à Yamoussoukro sur trente-huit parcelles différentes reparties en sept zones de culture. Les fruits de ces variétés sont récoltés à maturité de façon ...aléatoire et les teneurs en fer, en calcium, en cuivre et en zinc sont déterminées par spectrophotométrie d’absorption atomique. Les résultats obtenus montrent que ces variétés sont très riches en fer, en calcium, en cuivre et en zinc. De plus, aucune différence significative (P>5%) n’a été observée au niveau des teneurs moyennes d’une part entre ces variétés de gombo et d’autre part entre les différentes zones de culture.
Two varieties of okra were grown in Yamoussoukro on thirty-eight different plots divided into seven zones of culture. The fruits of these varieties are harvested at maturity in a random manner and the levels of iron, calcium, copper, and zinc are determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results show that these varieties are very rich in iron, calcium, copper, and zinc. In addition, no significant differences (P > 5%) was observed in average levels between these varieties of okra and between different areas of culture.
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