Browsing by Author "Audain, Keiron Arthur."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

A comparative analysis of the nutrition status, nutrition knowledge and food frequency of adolescents attending an urban versus a peri-urban school in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal.
(2014) Audain, Keiron Arthur.; Veldman, Frederick Johannes.
Adolescence is an important stage in human development. Optimum nutrition is crucial during this period, as additional nutrient requirements are needed to promote growth and maturation. With the nutrition transition in low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs), adolescents are increasingly exposed to energy-dense, nutrient poor foods; however it is not entirely clear the impact of socioeconomic status, in particular household food insecurity, on the consumption frequency of these foods. The impact nutrition knowledge may have on the dietary choices adolescents make is also unclear. Poor food choices among adolescents can contribute towards overweight/obesity and stunting, leading to the susceptibility to both communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight/obesity and stunting among South African adolescents from different socioeconomic backgrounds, in relation to their nutrition knowledge, household food insecurity status, and frequency of food consumption. The study consisted of a cross-sectional descriptive survey conducted among learners from a high-income, private urban school and a low-income, government peri-urban school in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal. A total of 98 grade nine to eleven learners from the urban school and 111 grade nine to eleven learners from the peri-urban school volunteered to participate (N= 209). Nutritional status was determined by anthropometric measurements that included weight, height and MUAC. Subsequently BMI was calculated. Nutrition knowledge and food frequency were determined via non-quantified nutrition knowledge and food frequency questionnaires. A socio-demographic questionnaire (SDQ) was used to collect information on parental level of education and employment status. Household food security was determined using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). A higher prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed among urban learners compared to their peri-urban counterparts, however only for the boys as peri-urban girls had a notable prevalence of overweight and obesity compared to urban girls. Stunting was present among peri-urban learners but virtually absent in their urban counterparts, which was indicative of a double-burden of overweight/obesity and stunting within the peri-urban group. Peri-urban learners had parents with lower education and employment levels compared to urban learners. Adolescents with mothers that were educated up to tertiary level were associated with a higher nutrition knowledge scores (NKS). Urban learners had a higher mean NKS than peri-urban learners; however it did not necessarily reflect healthier food choices, as urban learners had a high consumption frequency of fatty red and processed meat, white bread and fizzy drinks. Peri-urban learners reported a higher preference for deep-fried, high-fat snacks such as vetkoeks and samosas; which may be related to the high levels of household food insecurity that was noted. Among grade ten peri-urban learners, 50% reported having no food to eat of any kind in the household, with 5% reporting that it occurred often. Poor dietary habits among adolescents in general were observed in this study; although food sources varied between urban and peri-urban learners possibly due to differences in cost and availability of food items. A lower SES was an underlying factor for the consumption of energy-dense foods among peri-urban learners; while a higher SES was associated with the consumption of more expensive fatty foods among urban learners. Thus, the risk of malnutrition (overweight/obesity and stunting) and subsequent disease susceptibility is present in both groups as a result.
The effects of Sutherlandia frutescens and Fumonisin B1 on Jurkat cells.
(2011) Audain, Keiron Arthur.; Chuturgoon, Anil Amichund.
The medicinal plant Sutherlandia frutescens (SF) is commonly consumed in South Africa, and is traditionally applied to a range of ailments. Yet its popularity stems from the use of SF as a cancer treatment. This plant contains a range of active compounds including L-canavanine (L-CAV), D-pinitol and gamma (γ)-aminobutyric acid, all of which contribute to the therapeutic properties of SF. It is also endorsed by the South African Ministry of Health as a supplementary treatment for HIV/AIDS. Maize is the staple crop of South Africa, and can be frequently contaminated by the mycotoxin fumonisin B1 (FB1). The mycotoxin is linked to an extensive list of livestock diseases. Although little is known about its role in human disease, FB1 has been epidemiologically linked to oesophageal cancer in South Africa. Both SF and FB1 have been shown to promote apoptosis, and the effect(s) of consuming both in combination is currently unknown. The principle aim of this study was to determine whether SF and FB1 had either synergistic or antagonising effects in combination, by investigating immune cell toxicity Jurkat cells. Apoptotic parameters such as caspase activation, mitochondrial depolarisation, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalisation and ATP quantification were analysed. Levels of caspase activation were highest in cells treated with SF only (caspase-3: 86.79 RLU, no significance compared to other treatments; caspase-8: 40.1 RLU, significance compared to other treatments [p<0.05]; caspase-9: 11.07 RLU, significance compared to FB1 and control treatments [p<0.05]). ATP levels were significantly highest in SF-treated cells compared to other treatments (8.17 RLU, [p<0.05]). Mitochondrial depolarisation was also highest in SF-treated Jurkat cells at 18.5% depolarisation with no significance compared to other treatments, however PS externalisation were significantly lower in SF-treated cells compared with other treatments (3.69% [p<0.05]). Oxidative stress parameters were also investigated, including thiobutyric acid reactive species (TBARS), Glutathione (GSH) and Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS) assays. TBARS levels were significantly higher in FB1 treated cells (OD 1.95, [p<0.05]) compared to SF and control. Glutathione and RNS levels were also lowest in FB1-treated cells. The data suggests that SF induces apoptosis, characteristic of its nature as an anti-cancer treatment, and FB1 induces oxidative stress, which is characteristic of its carcinogenic properties. Based on this preliminary study, it appears that FB1 and SF both synergises and antagonises the other in combination, yet further investigation is needed into its effects in vivo.