title: Plasma level of atherogenic and anti-atherogenic factors among palm wine drinkers of rural southwest Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scientific evidence indicates that light to moderate drinking on a daily basis may significantly reduce the risks of coronary heart disease (CHD). In contrast, excessive alcohol intake and binge drinking are toxic to both the heart and overall health. There is dearth of knowledge whether palm wine exhibit any these properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of level of palm wine consumption on the plasma atherogenic and anti-atherogenic factors among the rural dwellers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight male volunteers between the ages of 28-69 yrs were recruited. They were divided into two groups; 28 moderate drinkers with intake of 20-70 grams/day and 30 heavy drinker with intake of >70 grams/day of palm wine at a sitting for 3 to 4days per week with a minimum duration of 5 years. Thirty controls of the same age groups with the same socioeconomic status were recruited. Plasma activities of liver enzymes, plasma concentration of Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL) and apolipoprotiens (ApoA1 & Apo B) were determined. TC/HDL, LDL/HDL and ApoB/A1 ratios calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was significant increase in plasma concentration of TG, LDL, ApoB and decrease in HDL and ApoA 1 among heavy drinkers. However, there was an increase in plasma level of ApoA1 and decrease in ApoB among moderate drinkers but not significant when compared to the controls. A positive correlation were observed between level of palm wine consumption (>70gram/day) and plasma levels of TG LDL, ApoB, TC/HDL ratio, ApoB/ApoA1 ratio; but negative correlation with HDL and ApoA1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our finding revealed that heavy consumption of palm wine may promote atherogenic factors, but the benefits of moderate consumption recorded need further investigations. There is also the need to determine the level of polyphenolic substances if any in palm wine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology', College of Health Science, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Nigeria. ogunrops@yahoo.com
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Ogunro
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Ologunagba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood*; D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014920:Wine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D000431:Ethanol; D002784:Cholesterol; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; C554782:gamma-glutamyltransferase, human; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase