ASSOCIATION OF HYPERGLYCEMIA WITH DIETARY CYANOGEN AND SOCIOECONOMIC LEVEL - THE STUDY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH-EAST NIGERIA

An association of asymptomatic hyperglycemia with dietary cyanogens and socio-economic level was ascertained in 2,000 volunteers in rural communities in South-East Nigeria. The staples of the poor consisted of one or two bulky carbohydrate meals (derivatives of different species of cocoyam, cassava, yam and maize) eaten with vegetable soup in palm oil, melon seeds, snail, occasional meat and fish. The diet of the high income class included also beans, rice and more animal proteins. Alcohol (mainly palm wine) was consumed only occasionally. The subjects were divided into male and female and were age-matched into various age groups. Anthropometric data of each subject was obtained alongside the family history and socio-economic status. The subjects were further divided into low income vis-a-vis high income groups. All the subjects were normal volunteers, ambulatory, asymptomatic and free from chronic or acute illness. The fasting capillary whole blood glucose (FBG) and 2-h blood glucose following a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) of each subject were measured. The body mass index (BMI) and dental caries scoring of each subject were also determined. The FBG levels and 2-h blood glucose following OGTT were significantly elevated in all subjects particularly in the low income groups except in the under 18-year group. The increases were observed in males and females although glucose levels were lower in the female age groups. However, diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance according to WHO criteria was present in both income groups. The BMI increased as the age increased particularly in the low income groups. There was a strong relationship between age, FBG, IGT and dental caries, respectively in the population. It is concluded that there was strong relationship between poverty, asymptomatic hyperglycemia, and impaired glucose tolerance in the area where cyanogen in diet was higher while there was marginal animal protein in the diet of the poor.