Arinola O.G., Nwozo S.O., Ajiboye J.A., Oniye A.H.
Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria
Arinola, O.G., Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria; Nwozo, S.O., Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria; Ajiboye, J.A., Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria; Oniye, A.H., Department of Chemical Pathology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria
The consumption and export cassava or cassava product is on the increase, thus more Nigerians are involved in the planting and processing of cassava stems and tubers respectively. Tropical ataxic neuropathy (TAN) and diabetes Mellitus (DM) are among the cassava-cyanide induced conditions in rural Nigerians that engaged in processing and consumption of cassava products. TAN and DM are associated with certain trace elements, therefore this study determines the levels of trace elements (Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb) and total antioxidant (TAS) in 36 Nigerian cassava processors and 24 controls using spectrophotometric methods. The mean levels of Mg, Pb, Cd, Cr and Cu were not significantly raised in cassava processors compared with the controls. Also, the mean levels of essential trace elements such as Se, Zn, Fe, Mn and TAS were not significantly reduced in cassava processors compared with the controls. Fairly raised levels of toxic metals (Pb and Cd) and reduced levels of nutritionally essential trace elements (Se, Fe and Zn) call for future concern about the health status of long-time cassava processors. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2008.
antioxidant; cadmium; chromium; copper; iron; lead; magnesium; manganese; selenium; thiobarbituric acid reactive substance; trace element; trace metal; zinc; article; atomic absorption spectrometry; cassava; controlled study; food analysis; food processing; health status; human; Nigeria; trace metal blood level; Manihot esculenta
