Frequently and persistently raised glucose level causes numerous complications. So it is important to find out a component of diet that can improve glucose homeostasis after ingestion of food without causing any side effect or complication. The aim of this randomized controlled clinical trial study was to verify the effect of dietary fiber on postprandial blood sugar (PPBS).The study was carried out in a sample of fifty healthy adult subjects at the Department Physiology of Rajshahi Medical College during the period from January 2014 to December 2014. Fasting blood sugar of the subjects was estimated before ingestion of identical glucose drink with or without dietary fiber (ispaghula husk) and PPBS was measured at 30, 60 and 120 min after the drink. The mean plasma glucose concentrations after a 50 gm oral glucose load significantly (p < 0.05, p < 0.001) decreased at 30, 60 and 120 min in both condition with dietary fiber and without dietary fiber. The mean plasma postprandial glucose concentration in condition with dietary fiber was significantly (p < 0.001) lower than the corresponding value without dietary fiber. The study suggests that ingestion of water soluble dietary fiber along with glucose drink reduces sharp rise as well as sustained rise of postprandial glucose.

Female lives longer than male and incidence of cardiovascular disease is lower in young female. However the role of oxidative stress has been repeatedly described in various diseases but rarely healthy people. The objective of the study was to observe the gender related differences in oxidative stress status and to show significance in alteration. This cross sectional and comparative study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Rajshahi Medical College during the period from January 2013 to June 2014. Total 45 healthy adult subjects (25 males and 20 females) were enrolled in the study. Systematic sampling technique was used to select each study subject from students, doctors and staffs of Rajshahi Medical College. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxide and alpha-tocopherol, an antioxidant in plasma was measured. MDA:alpha-tocopherol ratio was used as a reliable marker of oxidative stress status. The mean plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.05) and plasma MDA: alpha-tocopherol ratio was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in female group than male group. The mean plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in female group aged 18-21 years than the corresponding male group. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that oxidative stress is less in female than in male indicating presence of potent compensatory response against oxidative stress in female which may be attributed to influence of female sex hormones.