Assessment of selected biochemical parameters among food hawkers along the streets of Yenagoa Bayelsa State, Nigeria

This study was aimed on assessment of selected biochemical parameters among food hawkers along the streets of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Five milliliter of blood specimen was collected from fifteen food hawkers with ≤ 5 years working experience (experimental group one), ≥ 5 years working experience (experimental group two) and nonfood hawkers (control group) respectively into lithium heparin anti-coagulated bottles. Thereafter alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine and C-reactive protein were measured quantitatively. The mean values of volunteers in experimental group one showed no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in alanine aminotransferase (7.46 ± 1.02), aspartate aminotransferase (7.02 ± 0.86), urea (7.70 ± 1.29) and creatinine (70.44 ± 3.54) as compared with the control group (7.42 ± 0.98), (6.98 ± 0.82), (7.65 ± 1.28) and (70.40 ± 3.52) respectively, but there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in C-reactive protein (17.40 ± 1.98) when compared with the control group (2.70 ± 0.70). However, the mean values of food hawkers in experimental group two showed statistically significant difference (p< 0.05) in all the measured biochemical parameters 27.70±2.98, 21.40±2.06, 15.50±2.02, 110.70±3.74, 29.42±3.20 as compared with that of the control group 7.42±0.98, 6.98±0.82, 7.65±1.28, 70.40±3.52, 2.74±0.70. The volunteers in experimental groups one and two showed 13% -27% and 53% -80% abnormal values of the measured biochemical parameters respectively as compared with that of the control group. In conclusion, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine and C-reactive protein may be altered in food hawkers with ≥ 5 years working experience. It is therefore recommended that food hawkers in this category should go for hepato-renal and inflammatory biochemical parameters checkup occasionally in any registered and licensed Medical Laboratory Facility.