Background:Food intake is regulated by the complex interaction of psychological and physiological events associated with ingestion. Food that increases short-term satiety decreases the amount of energy ingested subsequently and thus could potentially help in weight management in the long run. Potato, a common starchy tuber in our environment is believed to contain substances that can help maintain and increases short-term satiety.Aim:This study was conducted to determine the effect of the aqueous extract of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [IB]) on food intake in male Wistar rats.Materials and Methods:The sweet potato tubers were chopped into small pieces and homogenized in distilled water for 30 s. Homogenate was filtered through muslin cloth and then centrifuged at 120 rpm for 20 min. For use, the residue was evaporated to dryness. The dried extract was reconstituted in freshly prepared normal saline for administration to test animals. The 20 acclimatized male Wistar rats weighing 170-180 g were used for this study. The animals were randomly assigned into four groups of five rats each. Group 1 served as the control and was fed with 0.3 ml of normal saline while Groups 2-4 were fed with IB extract.Results:The results showed that in the extract-treated groups, the food intake was significantly reduced at P < 0.01 in a dose dependent manner when compared with the control group.Conclusion:Consumption of IB caused a reduction in food intake probably by reducing appetite and increasing satiety.

A general knowledge among youths is that alcohol enhances sexual desire and sexual performance. In contrast to this, studies have reported various adverse effects of alcohol on reproductive and sexual functions in both male and female. Male alcoholics frequently suffer from erectile dysfunction, intermittent delay in or absence of orgasm, and premature or delayed ejaculation. Alcohol is a toxin that can damage sperm-producing cells in the testicles, decrease testicular size, increase number of abnormally-shaped sperm and lower sperm count. Studies found that heavy alcohol consumption results in reduced testosterone and elevated estrogen levels in the blood and it can decrease the production, release and/or activity of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. Female alcoholics have problems in producing enough natural lubrication for pain-free sex. Alcohol has a disruptive effect on menstrual cycle which can result in amenorrhea and anovulation. It affects estrogen and progesterone levels and also leads to hyperprolactinemia. It has been observed that when a man stops drinking alcohol, the

The relationship between Nigerian Bonny Light crude oil (NBLCO) induced hypoglycaemia and endogenous serum insulin concentration; the role of antioxidant vitamin C or E supplementation was the focus of this study. Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into group I, which served as the control, group II, which was oral gavaged 6 ml/kg of NBLCO, groups III and IV, which were in addition to 6 ml/kg of NBLCO supplemented with 9 ml/kg and 1 mg/kg of vitamin E or C, respectively for 28 days. Results showed that NBLCO significantly (p < 0.05) lower body weight and food intake compared with control. These effects exerted by NBLCO were however significantly (p < 0.05) reversed by vitamin E or C supplementation. The NBLCO significantly (p < 0.05) reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG) when compared with control, the antioxidant vitamins supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the crude oil effect. The mean serum insulin level in NBLCO, vitamin E or C supplemented groups is not significantly different from the control. There was no significant correlation between FBG and fasting serum insulin concentrations in all the groups on day 28. It has been demonstrated in this study that direct oral ingestion of crude oil (NBLCO) could reduce food intake, body weight and cause hypoglycemia; the hypoglycemia may not be a function of serum insulin concentration. Interestingly, the hazardous effects of NBLCO could be ameliorated with antioxidant vitamin C or E supplementation.