Effect of varying concentrations of orally ingested glucose on platelet count and haemoglobin concentration during menstruation

Abstract

The physiologic basis of bleeding is a function of normal platelets and coagulation factors. This study is aimed at ascertaining the effect of varying concentrations of orally ingested glucose on platelet count and hemoglobin concentration during menstruation. Forty menstruating students between the ages of 18 and 25 from the School of Midwifery of the St Philomenas Catholic Hospital, Benin city volunteered for the study. They were divided into two groups with twenty subjects in each group. Using standard laboratory methods, platelet count and hemoglobin concentration of subjects in both groups were measured as baseline, followed by 1hr and 2hrs post oral ingestion of 39mg glucose/200mls of water and 78mg glucose/200mls of water respectively. Results were analyzed using the student’s t-test and values p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. 1hr after the ingestion of 39mg glucose/200mls of water and 78mg glucose/200mls, there was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in platelet count. The effect of glucose on platelet count is acute because platelet count returned to the control values 2 hours post prandial. However, the acute fall in platelet count may explain the reason for the increased menstrual flow experienced by ingestion of glucose containing drinks during menses.

Keywords: Platelet Count, Hemoglobin Concentration, Menstruation, Blood Sugar.