SERUM BILIRUBIN, URINE BILIRUBIN AND UROBILINOGEN IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF EDO STATE UNIVERSITY IYAMHO

Bilirubin and urobilinogen are key biomarkers for assessing liver function and hemolysis. Understanding bilirubin and urobilinogen levels provides valuable insights into heme degradation and the functional integrity of the liver and biliary system. Studies on serum bilirubin in Nigerian adolescents are sparse, therefore, this study investigated the levels of serum bilirubin, urine bilirubin and urobilinogen in apparently healthy undergraduate students of Edo State University Iyamho, Edo State. One hundred and thirteen apparently healthy undergraduate students comprising 77 female and 36 male students, between the ages of 15 and 24 were randomly recruited into this study. Anthropometric indices; body weight, height, waist circumference and hip circumference as well as blood and pulse pressures were determined by standard procedures. Five (5) ml of blood and urine samples were obtained from each participant for determination of serum bilirubin as well as urine bilirubin and urobilinogen. Results showed that urine urobilinogen was normal in all participants (3.2-16µmol/L), furthermore, urine bilirubin was negative in all participants. Pulse pressure was significantly higher in male when compared with female participants (p≤0.05), however, there was no difference in serum bilirubin, anthropometric indices and blood pressures. Furthermore, there was a significant inverse relationship between total bilirubin and systolic blood pressure in male participants (p≤0.05). Conversely, total bilirubin levels had no significant correlation with age, height, weight, hip circumference, waist circumference, body mass index, diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure in both male and female participants. In conclusion, the significantly higher pulse pressure in males than females may be gender-specific. Additionally, the negative correlation of total bilirubin with SBP in both genders may not be gender-specific. Further studies with larger samples sizes are recommended. Keywords: serum bilirubin, urine bilirubin, urobilinogen, height, anthropometric indices and blood pressure.