Comparative analysis of dietary pattern, anthropometry and serum ascorbate status of persons living with or without non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Abstract

Recent upsurge of cancer cases across the globe is of concern to all and many studies shows the relationship between nutrient and the immune system and consequently cancer. This work aims to compare the dietary pattern, anthropometry and serum ascorbate status of the persons living with and those living without non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). A case-control study was conducted using blood samples of eight patients diagnosed for NHL at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, while eight (8) volunteers were the control group. Socio-economic characteristics, medical history, food preferences, anthropometric indices were retrieved from questionnaires. Ascorbic Serum assay done with ultraviolet absorption spectrophotometry method using Klett-summerson photoelectric. Students’ t-test and Chi-square were used to test the educational levels fruit consumption. 25% of the respondents suffering from NHL skipped lunch and dinner, but none skipped breakfast. 66.67% of the cases and 100% of the control have their weight normally distributed. Cases had 11.11% slightly underweight and 11.11% obese. 25% of the population of the respondents had normal range of 0.4 mg/100 of serum ascorbate, while six had low serum ascorbate levels.