Vol. 3, Issue 1, Part F (2020)

Body mass index (BMI) and total plasma homocysteine concentration in the obese subjects: The possible diabetes mellitus and essential hypertention link

Author(s):

Dr. Allison Frederick Igila, Ojule Aaron and Bamigbowu Emmanual Olugbenga

Abstract:
Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with type-2 diabetic mellitus, obesity and essential hypertension among others. Obesity, which is a known risk factor for type-2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension/cardiovascular heart diseases is classified based on BMI. Plasma concentration of homocysteine is determined by food intake, rate of body metabolism and renal excretion rate of homocysteine.
Aim: Since obesity is linked with hyperhomocysteinemia, this study was therefore designed to evaluate the plasma total homocysteine means in the different BMI groups in this region and evaluate the correlations of homocysteine with C- reactive protein and vitamin B12.
Methods: 120 subjects were grouped according to their BMI that is below 25, from 25-29.9, from 30-34.9, from 35-39.9 and then those with BMI of 40 and above. A questionnaire was used to extract information from these volunteers who signed the consent form. Blood was taken from each subjects into plain bottles and the serum separated into another plain container. This was analyzed for plasma homocysteine, C reactive protein and vitamin B12 and the results grouped based on BMI. The mean values of these parameters for each BMI group was calculated and compared.
Results: There was a steady increase of plasma homocysteine mean and C reactive proteins mean as the BMI increases while the B12 mean decreases as the BMI increases. The correlation between plasma homocysteine level and B12 was negative.
Conclusion: Plasma total homocysteine mean values were found to increase as the BMI increases. Therefore, a maintenance of plasma homocysteine level close to the value of the mean concentration of 6.6nmol/l seen in the normal weight BMI group in this environment may slow down the development of type-2 diabetic mellitus and essential hypertension in the obese.

Pages: 366-370  |  1828 Views  400 Downloads

How to cite this article:
Dr. Allison Frederick Igila, Ojule Aaron and Bamigbowu Emmanual Olugbenga. Body mass index (BMI) and total plasma homocysteine concentration in the obese subjects: The possible diabetes mellitus and essential hypertention link. Int. J. Clin. Diagn. Pathol. 2020;3(1):366-370. DOI: 10.33545/pathol.2020.v3.i1f.198