Abstract

Obimba Kelechukwu Clarence

The objective of this study is to investigate the importance of dietary lipids-related diseases with a view to exploring feasible preventive and curative dietary and/or drug therapies. Foods low in cholesterol and saturated fatty acids content but moderate in poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), including chicken, lean fish meal, and plant seeds rich in phytosterols (e.g β-sitosterol), such as soya bean , corn and groundnut, seeds, should form the chief of the dietary protein sources for people predisposed or vulnerable to atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases and obesity. Large dietary intake of linoleic fatty acids should be avoided by those susceptible to high blood pressure caused by the over-expression of prostaglandin endoperoxidase synthase. Drugs that inhibit prostaglandin endoperoxidase synthase (a cyclooxygenase, COX) would reduce prostaglandin synthesis in normal individuals (individuals not associated with overexpression of COX) causing hypo-prostaglandinosis which increases the risk of cardiovascular incidences such as heart attack and strokes. Over-expression of COX-2 can be controlled by such drugs as inhibit COX (e.g ibuprofen vasoprin, and aspirin), by which means heart attacks, cardiac arrests, and strokes are prevented in patients suffering from hyper-prostaglandinosis.