Body Mass Index in Relation to Sialic Acid and Lipid Profile of Some Nigerian Students

The Body Mass Indices (BMI) and serum concentrations of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Total Cholesterol (TC), Total Sialic Acid (TSA) and Free Sialic Acid (FSA) were determined in thirty (30) apparently healthy students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Statistical analysis showed that the serum concentrations of TSA and FSA were significantly different (p<0.05) in males and females. Also, the Atherosclerotic Indices (AI) and serum concentrations of TC in students that take alcohol were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those that do not. These concentration values were however within normal range. A positive correlation was obtained between HDL and TC in all the students except those that consume alcohol. Between TC and TSA, a positive correlation was obtained in all the students, while between BMI and TSA, it was also positive except for those that do no t take alcohol. A negative relationship existed between B MI and HDL in all the students, while between BMI and TC, all the correlations were positive except in males and smokers. It was also discovered that females and students that consume alcohol in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, have an increased risk to cardiovascular diseases.