Browsing by Author "Guja, Habtamu"

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    Assesement of the Effects of Ethiopian orthodox Christians Fasting on Biochemical Risk Factors and Anthropometric Measurements
    (Addis Abeba University, 2016-04) Guja, Habtamu; Haidar, Jemal (PhD)
    Background: As in many developing countries, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Ethiopia has been increasing dramatically. Unhealthy changes in the dietary patter are among the responsible factors for the rise. Religious beliefs play a significant part in shaping those behaviors; however, there is no study conducted on the role Ethiopian Orthodox Christians’ fasting practice in relation to biochemical indicators for CVD risk factors and anthropometric indices. Objective: To assess the effects of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians’ Easter fasting on the anthropometric indices and biochemical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Methodology: Before and after study design having controls was used among 88 voluntarily selected participants from eligible population and followed over Easter fasting period in two groups; those who fast (fasting group) and do not fast (control group). Participants were measured for serum lipid profiles and anthropometric indices before the beginning and at the end of Easter fasting. Paired t-test was used for comparison of baseline and endline measurements in each group. Besides, independent sample t-test was used for comparison of differences between groups. Results: In comparison to controls, fasters showed significant mean reduction at the end of fasting; 11% in total cholesterol, 20% in LDL-C, 11% in TG, 21% in LDL/HDL ratio, 12% in TC/HDL ratio, and 7% in blood glucose concentrations. Similarly, significant reductions in the anthropometric measurements were observed (p < 0.001); 2% in body weight, BMI and waist to hip ratio whereas, waist circumference was reduced by 3%. However, there was no statistically significant change observed in lipid profiles among control group. Conclusion: Periodic abstinence from animal source foods during the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians’ Easter fasting period and shifts to calorie restricted vegetarians’ diet style by fasters in this study attributed to the observed biochemical and body measurement changes highlighting that religious fasting has a substantial impact on health-related dietary behaviors.
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    Evaluating the Influence of Extrinsic Iron From Soil Contaminated Teff on Hemoglobin Regeneration of Anemic Rats: Indicator of Bioavailability of Extrinsic Iron.
    (Addis Ababa University, 2015-06) Guja, Habtamu; Baye, Kaleab (PhD)
    Iron deficiency is prevalent in Ethiopia despite high dietary intake. The contribution of iron from extrinsic sources from soil contamination during threshing is likely to be high. However, the actual bioavailability of contaminant iron remains unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the level of iron in field and laboratories threshed flours of teff from the same variety and investigate the iron bioavailability of the intrinsic and extrinsic iron associated with teff using rat hemoglobin repletion assay. Two samples of red teff grown in a similar condition were collected; one harvested and threshed in the laboratory and the other threshed traditionally. Flours from the two samples were analyzed for their dry matter, proximate composition, total iron contents and in vivo bioavailability was evaluated using rat hemoglobin repletion bioassay and was compared to the standard ferrous sulfate. Protein, fat and total carbohydrate contents of laboratory threshed and field threshed teff flours were shown to have no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Field threshed teff (3.3+0.31 g/100g) has significantly higher ash content than the lab threshed (1.8+0.16 g/100g) (p<0.05). Total iron content of field threshed teff flour (29.44 + 2.38 mg/100g) was more than fourfold greater than that of the lab threshed teff flour (6.65 + 0.05). The hemoglobin regeneration efficiency relative to ferrous sulfate group (control 100%), of lab and field threshed teff flours were 67.64+6.7% and 88.4+8.9%, respectively. eff is a good source of bioavailable iron. Furthermore, additional soil iron contamination resulting from the traditional threshing of the grain contributes to the pool of bioavailable iron. The present in vivo study clearly illustrates that extrinsic iron can lead to hemoglobin repletion in iron deficient rats and is thus an important source of bioavailable iron. Key Words: Teff, Threshing; Bioavailability; Contaminant Iro; Extrinsic iron; Hemoglobin Regeneration Efficiency; Relative Biological Value.