Low-density Lipoprotein Estimation Research Articles

Ascorbic Acid-Rich Moringa oleifera Lam. Extract Inhibits Hepatorenal Toxicity and Enhances the Endogenous Antioxidant Levels in Streptozotocin-Induced Type II Diabetes

Background. The cases of diabetes increase day by day due to unhealthy lifestyle, food habit, and less food intake. Novel drugs for the treatment of diabetes are urgently needed. Most researchers are looking for alternative drugs (plant-based drugs) for the treatment of diabetes. Objective. The current experiment was designed to examine the hepatic and renal beneficial effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. (MO) extract in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Methods. Antidiabetic potential of the MO extract was estimated in terms of blood glucose levels, plasma insulin, hexokinase, and glucose-6-phosphate. Antihyperlipidemic effects of MO extract were evaluated through the estimation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), very LDL (VLDL) cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level whereas the antioxidant effects were evaluated through estimation of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels in diabetic rats. Results. Dose-dependent treatment using MO extract significantly increased the body weight, hexokinase, plasma insulin, HDL, SOD, CAT, and GPx levels (P < 0.001) and significantly decreased the levels of fasting blood glucose, TC, TGs, LDL, VLDL, MDA, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, glucose-6-phosphate, and glycated hemoglobin in STZ-induced diabetic rats (P < 0.001). Conclusion. MO can be used as a therapeutic agent in the management of elevated blood glucose levels through the alterations in the blood glucose level, plasma level of insulin, and various biochemical parameters.

A Comparative Study of Methods of Estimation of LDL-Cholesterol: Direct vs Friedewald's Formula and Their Impact on the Risk Assessment for Coronary Artery Diseases

Coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Correct estimation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is not only fundamental but also imperative towards the right diagnosis, risk assessment and management of the patients of cardiac diseases. Many laboratories rely on the calculated method of LDL-C estimation. Direct assays are now replacing the calculated methods owing to some of the limitations of the latter. We carried out a comparative study to evaluate the reliability of both the methods and their impact on assessing cardiac risk. Fasting lipid profile (including TG, Total Cholesterol, LDL-C and HDL-C) was measured by direct enzymatic assays in serum samples of 200 patients who visited the Biochemistry Laboratory for this test. LDL-C was also estimated by Friedewald's formula. Results of LDL-C obtained by two methods were compared and statistically analysed. We found a significant positive correlation between the values of LDL-C obtained by two methods i.e. Friedewald's formula and Direct Assay. Friedewald's formula underestimated the actual LDL-C levels especially when the serum TG levels were high and this difference was significant when the TG levels were >400 mg/dL. Thus, some of our patients who were having high cardiac risk (LDL-C >130 mg/dL) were misdiagnosed to be normal. Friedewald's formula can be used for LDL-C estimation when TG levels are in the normal range but results become doubtful especially when the serum TG levels are high. Direct assay has an advantage that it is not influenced by the concordant serum TG concentrations and can be relied upon confidently in determining cardiac risks in the individuals.