Materials and Methods

Twenty hypertensive patients were randomly selected from the cardiovascular clinic of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH). The subjects that had been on diabetic drugs for over one year were educated on the purpose of the research work and they all consented. The average nutrients intake by the subjects using estimated food records were calculated.

Two weeks after the first table contact with the subjects, blood specimen were taken and other parameters were measured for analysis to serve as baseline. Edible portion of fairly ripe fruits (banana, pawpaw, grape fruits, tangerine and pineapple) were diced mixed together in equal weight fruits salad with exception of banana which two fingers were given per serving. Two servings of fruits salad (each measuring 100 g) were given per day. Edible green leafy vegetable including fluted pumpkin leaf, spinach and waterleaf were diced and given in 100 g portion per day after moderate cooking. The supplementation of the normal diet of the hypertensive subjects with fruits and vegetables was carried out for eight weeks after which it was stopped for two weeks.

Out of twenty subjects, only fifteen faithfully complied with the feeding regime and this form the basis for the computation of results.

Analytical method

After the baseline measurements, the blood specimens were taken and parameters measured at two weeks interval for a period of eight weeks. Blood Pressure values were extracted from the patients' case notes. Triglycerides, total serum cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) concentration were determined by enzymatic method using analytical kits. (Randox Laboratories U.S.A). While low density lipoprotein (LDL cholesterol), was obtained by deduction. Atherogenic index (A.I) was calculated using the formula of Abot et al [15] and coronary risk index (C.R.L.) was obtained by the method of Alladi et al [16]. Body mass index was calculated using the method of Garrow and Webster. [17].

Statistical analysis

The experimental design was completely randomized. The data were analyzed at 95% level of significance using the two-tale Student's test.