Page 34 - JCTR-9-6

Journal of Clinical and Translational Research 2023; 9(6): 398-413

Journal of Clinical and Translational Research

Journal homepage: http://www.jctres.com/en/home

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Frequency of consumption of green leafy vegetables and prevalence of

hyperglycemia in Ankole and Teso sub-regions of Uganda

Caroline Asekenye , Paul Erasmus Alele , Patrick Engeu Ogwang , Eunice Apio Olet *
1
3
1
2
2
1 Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara City, Uganda, Department of
Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara City, Uganda, Department of
3
Biology, Faculty of Science, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara City, Uganda
ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT
Article history: Background: Type 2 diabetes-related hyperglycemia is a global health problem, with developing
Received: 07 August, 2023 countries like Uganda currently experiencing substantial rises in the metabolic disorder. Current
Revised: August 29, 2023 hyperglycemia therapies can bring a patient to glycemic target; however, they are costly and have other
Accepted: September 14, 2023 limitations. Vegetable extracts have health-protecting effects and contain thousands of components
Published online: November 12, 2023 with putative hypoglycemic effects, rendering them a cheaper alternative toward prevention and
management of hyperglycemia.
Keywords Aim: The goal of this study was to determine the frequency and patterns of consumption of green
Blood glucose level leafy vegetables, and their relationship with the prevalence of hyperglycemia in two sub-regions of
Leafy vegetables Uganda.
Preventive Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in Ankole and Teso sub-regions of
Management Uganda. Using a questionnaire for both face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions, the
Uganda frequently eaten vegetables and their consumption were documented, and fasting blood glucose levels
measured to determine the prevalence of hyperglycemia.
*Corresponding author: Results: The most frequently eaten vegetables in both sub-regions were Amaranthus species. Brassica
Eunice Apio Olet species, Cucurbita maxima L., Solanum nigrum sensu lato, and Phaseolus vulgaris L. were eaten
Mbarara University of Science and Technology, mostly in Ankole sub-region while Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. were
Department of Biology, P. O. Box 1410, eaten mostly in Teso sub-region. In Ankole sub-region, the vegetables were steamed, while boiling
Mbarara, Uganda. and adding peanut/simsim butter was preferred in Teso sub-region. Consumption of leafy vegetables
Email: eolet@must.ac.ug was higher in Teso sub-region than in Ankole sub-region. The overall prevalence of hyperglycemia
was 29.15%; it was higher in Ankole at 35.5% and lower in Teso at 19.5% (95% CI: 0.27 – 0.69).
© 2023 Author(s). This is an Open-Access Conclusion: The difference in prevalence of hyperglycemia is relatively high in these sub-regions.
article distributed under the terms of the Consumption of different leafy vegetable species and their various preparation methods likely
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial contributes to this prevalence; however, factors such as phytochemical constituents, genetics, and
License, permitting all non-commercial use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, social-economic status could help explain this difference further.
provided the original work is properly cited. Relevance for Patients: This study reveals that when hyperglycemic patients incorporate the
consumption of appropriate vegetables (in the recommended amount) and prepared using methods
that preserve and/or augment the nutrients and phytonutrients therein, in their diet, they could control
and prevent high blood glucose levels.

1. Introduction

Hyperglycemia is a technical term for blood glucose level higher than optimum [1].
It can be due to either a defect in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both [2,3]. This
high blood glucose level, if not managed, increases the risk of developing diabetes, and

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18053/jctres.09.202306.23-00096