ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED OXIDATIVE STRESS, CARDIAC AND INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS AMONG CHARCOAL TRADERS IN YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Charcoal is a very light, black carbon residue that is produced via slow pyrolysis. This study was aimed on the assessment of some oxidative stress (malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase), cardiac (troponin-1 and creatineKinase-MB) and inflammatory (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6) biomarkers among charcoal traders in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Five milliliters of blood specimen was withdrawn via venipuncture technique from each of the thirty nine healthy participants, aged between 25-45 years and dispensed into lithium heparin anti-coagulated bottles respectively for the measurement of some oxidative stress: malondialdehyde (thiobabituric) and glutathione peroxidase (ultra-violet), cardiac: troponin-1 (immune turbidimetric) and creatineKinase-MB (immune inhibition) and inflammatory: C-reactive protein (latex turbidimetry) and interleukin-6 (ELISA) biomarkers. These participants were grouped into experimental group one made up of 13 charcoal traders with < 5 years trading experience and experimental group two made up of 13 charcoal traders with 5-10 years trading experience compared with another 13 non-charcoal traders referred to as the control group. The data obtained from the measurements were analysed using SPSS 23.0 version as statistical package with the differences between the groups assessed using student’s “t” test and considered significant at p < 0.05. The mean values of malondialdehyde (3.45 ± 0.28 ) µmol/L glutathione peroxidase (3.60 ± 0.24 ) µmol/L, troponin-1 (1.21 ± 0.34) ×10^-2 (IU/L) and creatineKinase-MB (6.77 ± 1.07) IU/L were not significantly altered in the experimental group one participants  as compared to that of the control group: malondialdehyde (3.42 ± 0.25 ) µmol/L, glutathione peroxidase (3.62 ± 0.27 ) µmol/L, troponin-1 (1.20 ± 0.32) ×10^-2 (IU/L) and CreatineKinase-MB (6.75 ± 1.04) IU/L, but that of C-reactive protein (5.73 ± 1.05) mg/L and interleukin-6 (5.21±1.10) pg/ml were significantly elevated as compared to that of the control group: C-reactive protein (3.10 ± 0.61) mg/L and interleukin-6 (3.27±0.11) pg/ml. However, in the experimental group two participants, the mean values of malondialdehyde (6.21 ± 1.02) µmol/L, troponin-1 (4.02 ± 0.75) ×10^-2 (IU/L), creatineKinase-MB (9.71 ± 1.15) IU/L, C-reactive protein (11.92 ± 1.22) mg/L and interleukin-6 (10.72±1.20) pg/ml were all significantly elevated as compared to the control group: malondialdehyde (3.42 ± 0.25) µmol/L, troponin-1 (1.20 ± 0.32) ×10^-2 (IU/L), creatineKinase-MB (6.75 ± 1.04) IU/L, C-reactive protein (3.10 ± 0.61) mg/L and interleukin-6 (3.27±0.11) pg/ml but that of glutathione peroxidase (2.98 ± 0.16) µmol/L revealed significant decrease in this category of charcoal traders (experimental group two)  as compared to that of the control group (3.62 ± 0.27) µmol/L. In conclusion, charcoal traders with 5-10 years trading experience are at the risk of oxidative stress, cardiac disorder and inflammatory disorder. It is therefore recommended that this category of charcoal traders should consider it expedite to go for regular health check-ups so as to quickly identify any biochemical abnormalities