Antioxidants Ascorbic Acid and Alpha Tocopherol in Relation to Obesity Indices and Age Specific BMI and Waist HIP Ratio in Gujarati and Nongujarati Young Girls Before and after Maize Diet

Aim: The present scenario suggests that reduced antioxidant status is the key factor of obesity and hence a management strategy aiming at recommending a healthy eating plan of reduced fat, and increased fiber intake in obesity is envisaged. Material and method: The present study emphasizes on an anthropometric and clinical study with maize diet in 1001 Gujarati and Non Gujarati girls, aged between 18-30 years. Every subject was asked to replace the wheat chapatti by maize chapatti for 30 days. Out of the 1001 girls, 526 girls were Gujaratis and 475 girls were Non Gujaratis. They were further distributed according to age, inhabitance, socio economic status, dietary habits, weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist hip ratio, obesity indices, body fat percent, total body fat, lean body mass, skinfold thickness, family history and blood pressure. In the second part of the study the girls were examined for ascorbic acid and vitamin E, before and after maize diet along with the statistical evaluation of all the parameters. Results: Values of vitamin-C and vitamin E were 1.14 ± 0.19mg/dl and 8.32 ± 2.72mg/l respectively before the diet, which improved to 1.17± 0.19mg/dl and 10.18 ± 2.45mg/l respectively after the maize diet for thirty days. Vitamin C and E showed significant changes (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The effect of maize diet was positive on the levels of vitamin C and vitamin E in all the categories.