Biomedical subjects

Bharathi Viswanathan

Publications and source records attributed to Bharathi Viswanathan.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Decrease in blood triglycerides associated with the consumption of eggs of hens fed with food supplemented with fish oil.

BACKGROUND: n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) convey several health benefits, including a reduction of serum concentration of triglycerides (TG). AIM: To examine the effect on blood lipids, particularly TG, of a diet with n-3 PUFA enriched eggs in healthy volunteers in the Seychelles (Indian Ocean). METHODS: Double-blind crossover trial with one group of volunteers fed with 5 normal eggs per week during 3 weeks followed by 5 enriched eggs per week during the next 3 weeks while the other group received eggs in the inverse sequence. Hen feed was supplemented at 5% with tuna oil. Enriched eggs contained nine times more n-3 PUFA than usual eggs (mainly docosahexaenoic acid). RESULTS: Twenty-five healthy volunteers participated in the study. Based on pooled results observed during the two 3-week periods, consumption of enriched eggs was associated with a significant 16-18% decrease in serum triglycerides (P<0.01) but with no significant difference in serum LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol. Serum LDL-cholesterol increased during the first 3-week period and decreased during the second 3-week period with both normal and enriched eggs. Participants did not report a systematic preference for either type of eggs. CONCLUSIONS: Reasonable consumption of n-3 PUFA enriched eggs was associated with a significant decrease in serum triglycerides. These eggs could be a palatably acceptable source of n-3 PUFA.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Clustering of smoking, alcohol drinking and cannabis use in adolescents in a rapidly developing country.

BACKGROUND: Smoking, alcohol drinking and cannabis use ("risk behaviors") are often initiated at a young age but few epidemiological studies have assessed their joined prevalence in children in developing countries. This study aims at examining the joint prevalence of these behaviors in adolescents in the Seychelles, a rapidly developing country in the Indian Ocean. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey in a representative sample of secondary school students using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire (Global Youth Tobacco Survey). The questionnaire was completed by 1,321 (92%) of 1,442 eligible students aged 11 to 17 years. Main variables of interest included smoking cigarettes on > or =1 day in the past 30 days; drinking any alcohol beverage on > or =1 day in the past 30 days and using cannabis at least once in the past 12 months. RESULTS: In boys and girls, respectively, prevalence (95% CI) was 30% (26-34)/21% (18-25) for smoking, 49% (45-54)/48% (43-52) for drinking, and 17% (15-20)/8% (6-10) for cannabis use. The prevalence of all these behaviors increased with age. Smokers were two times more likely than non-smokers to drink and nine times more likely to use cannabis. Drinkers were three times more likely than non-drinkers to smoke or to use cannabis. Comparison of observed versus expected frequencies of combination categories demonstrated clustering of these risk behaviors in students (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Smoking, drinking and cannabis use were common and clustered among adolescents of a rapidly developing country. These findings stress the need for early and integrated prevention programs.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Comparison of smoking, drinking, and marijuana use between students present or absent on the day of a school-based survey.

The aim of this population-based survey was to compare the prevalence of selected risk behaviors between students present or absent on the day of a school-based survey. The study population was a representative sample of all students of secondary schools in the Seychelles (Indian Ocean). Students absent on the day of the survey were traced and requested to complete the same self-administered questionnaire as did present students. Self-reported consumption of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana were measured. Of the sample of 1453 eligible students aged 11 to 17 years, 1321 "present students" completed the survey (90.9% participation), 11 refused to answer all questions, and 121 were not present at school. We could trace 105 of the 121 students not present at school on the survey day ("absent students"), and all of them completed the questionnaire over the next 4 weeks. The prevalence of risk behaviors was significantly higher in absent than present students for current smoking and drinking. Inclusion of data from the absent students resulted in a relative increase in the prevalence of the considered behaviors by 3% to 8% as compared to data based on present students only. In conclusion, the prevalence of risk behaviors was higher in absent than present students. Adjusting for data of absent students increased the prevalence estimates in the base population.

Absenteeism↗