Liver Function Tests and Fasting Blood Glucose level among Apparently Healthy Adult Male Khat Chewers in Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia: A Comparative Study
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Date
2024-08-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Khat is a natural psychostimulant herbal drug. Khat chewing is associated with adverse health problems such as diabetic mellitus and hepatotoxicity. The practice of khat chewing has risen among adults in Ethiopia over time, despite its potential health issues.
Objective: To determine liver function tests and fasting blood glucose level among apparently healthy adult male khat chewers in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia, 2024
Methods: A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was carried out from June to September 2023 in Dilla town, Southern Ethiopia. Two hundred apparently healthy adult male participants (100 khat chewers and 100 non-khat chewers) were selected with a convenient sampling technique. Structured, pretested and translated questionnaires were used to collect study participants’ data. Five millilitres of blood specimen was collected with a serum separator tube through an aseptic technique and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes to obtain the serum sample. Levels of liver function tests and fasting blood glucose were analysed using Siemen dimension EXL200 automated clinical chemistry analyser. The data were coded and entered into Epi-data version 4.6 and then exported to SPSS version 27 for analysis. Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal Wallis test and Spearman’s correlation were used for statistical analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Khat chewers showed a statistically significant increase in the levels of transaminase enzymes (ALT and AST) and FBG than non-khat chewers (P < 0.001, P = 0.007, and P = 0.002), respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the levels of ALP (P = 0.098), TP (P = 0.113), DBI (P = 0.139) and TBI (p = 0.095) among khat chewers compared to non-khat chewers. Duration and frequency of khat chewing showed a significant and positive association with ALT, AST, and FBG. Additionally, there was a significant and positive correlation of systolic blood pressure with AST and FBG. Age, diastolic blood pressure and bundle of khat had a significant and positive association with ALT.
Conclusion: The present finding concluded that higher LFTs and FBG are associated with khat chewing depending on the duration, frequency and amount of bundle used. Keywords: Liver Function Tests, Khat Chewers, Fasting Blood Glucose
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Keywords
Liver Function Tests Khat ChewersFasting Blood Glucose