Therapeutic effects of tender coconut water on oxidative stress in fructose fed insulin resistant hypertensive rats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether tender coconut water (TCW) mitigates oxidative stress in fructose fed hypertensive rats.

METHODS

Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed with fructose rich diet and treated with TCW (4 mL/100 g of body weight) for 3 subsequent weeks. Systolic blood pressure was measured every three days using the indirect tail cuff method. At the end of the experimental period, plasma glucose and insulin, serum triglycerides and free fatty acids, lipid peroxidation markers (MDA, hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were analyzed in all the groups.

RESULTS

Treatment with TCW significantly lowered the systolic blood pressure and reduced serum triglycerides and free fatty acids. Plasma glucose and insulin levels and lipid peroxidation markers such as MDA, hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes were significantly reduced in fructose fed rats treated with TCW. Activities of antioxidant enzymes are up regulated significantly in TCW treated rats. Histopathological analysis of liver showed that TCW treatment reduced the lipid accumulation and inflammatory infiltration without any significant hepatocellular damage.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall results suggest that, TCW treatment could prevent and reverse high blood pressure induced by high fructose diet probably by inhibition of lipid peroxidation, upregulation of antioxidant status and improved insulin sensitivity.

Effect of Covid 19 lockdown on the lifestyle and dietary diversity of women handloom workers

Background

Covid-19 lockdown has influenced the lifestyle of handloom women as weaving is the only mean of earnings for them. The nutrition profile of working women is a vital part of their general health as they have more chances of dietary deficiencies; in addition they face various safety related problems at workplace. Working conditions and household responsibilities complicate role conflict leading to stress that in turn affect nutrition and health status.

Material and methods

Purposive sampling method was used to collect data from 100 samples of women handloom workers between the ages of 30–60 years from Kanhirode Weaver's Co-operative Society, Kannur, Kerala, India. Personal interview method was used for data collection. The interview schedule included occupational health profile, anthropometric, physical activity and food frequency assessment. Dietary diversity questionnaire was used to assess the levels and adequacy of dietary diversity. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) was used to assess psychological well-being among the samples.

Results

COVID-19 lockdown downgraded the life style of majority (90.7%) of women workers. Majority of samples were with mean age 46.74 ± 5.73 years and height of 1.52 ± 0.10 m respectively. Out of 100, 63 samples noticed a weight change from which majority (71.4%) noticed an increase in their body weight. The mean weight before lockdown was 54.100 ± 7.603 Kg and after lockdown 55.020 ± 8.013 Kg. The mean BMI before lockdown was 23.232 ± 2.866 and after lockdown BMI slightly increased to 23.572 ± 2.928. Lockdown introduced a significant reduction in percentage of consumption of pulses (3.7 ± 1.2g), fish (4.1 ± 0.5g), chicken (2.0 ± 0.6g), meat (1.4 ± 0.6g) and milk products (4.6 ± 1.05 ml). Most of the subsamples were not meeting the calories (2063.3 ± 166.9 Kcal), fat (20.6 ± 4.3g) and micronutrients such as vitamin A (761.3 ± 180.3 mg), vitamin C (61.2 ± 15.9 mg) and calcium (963.3 ± 183.9 mg) requirements which indicate the incomplete dietary diversity.

Conclusion

The nutrition profile of women handloom workers was negatively influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.