Dietary Habits and Abdominal Pain-related Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A School-based, Cross-sectional Analysis in Greek Children and Adolescents

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The abdominal pain-related functional gastrointestinal disorders (AP-FGIDs) affect a significant proportion of the pediatric population and consist 1 of the most frequent causes for seeking medical advice. In this study, we aimed to assess the relation of dietary habits with the likelihood of AP-FGIDs. METHODS: This was a school-based, cross-sectional study approved by the Greek Government authorities, after obtaining informed consent by the legal representatives of the children. Diagnoses of AP-FGIDs were based on the Greek official translation of the Rome III questionnaire. Demographic, socioeconomic and dietary data were collected through self-reporting or parent-reporting questionnaires. Associations between the probability of AP-FGIDs and dietary practices were assessed after adjusting for known confounders through a multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1365 children (147 AP-FGIDs and 1218 controls, 52.4% females, mean age: 12.8 ± 2.8 years) were included. Multiple regression analysis identified the following statistically significant confounders: victimization, the presence of a person with a severe health problem at home, female sex, engaging in limited physical exercise, and living in a single adult family. Subsequently, logistic regression, adjusted for the abovementioned confounders, showed that reduced fish and increased junk food consumption were related to a higher likelihood of AP-FGIDs. CONCLUSIONS: Children with AP-FGIDs report excessive junk-food and reduced fish intake compared to controls. Further studies are needed in order to clarify the nature of this observation.

Severe hypovitaminosis D is widespread and more common in non-diabetics than diabetics in Saudi adults

To compare the incidence of hypovitaminosis D in subjects, with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM], and determine its association to various risk factors. Three hundred and forty-one [177 non-diabetic, and 164 T2DM] Saudi adults were included in this cross-sectional study conducted at the Biomarkers Research Program [BRP] of King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from March to August 2009. Anthropometrics and fasting blood samples were obtained. Fasting glucose [FG] and lipid profiles were determined. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25[OH]D] and parathyroid hormone [PTH] were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Severe hypovitaminosis D was defined as serum 25[OH]D with levels <12.5 nmol/l. Age was the most significant predictor of 25[OH]D in both groups, explaining 25% [p=0.0005] and 16% of variances [p=0.0005]. Waist-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure and body mass index were significant predictors of 25[OH]D among non-diabetics after age adjustment, explaining 21% of variance perceived [p=0.039]. Serum PTH levels were higher in non-diabetic men and women. Severe hypovitaminosis D is prevalent in both non-diabetic and diabetic Saudis, but was more common in the young and middle-aged non-diabetics. The study further underscores the need for vitamin D fortification of the Saudi diet, and the promotion of vitamin D supplementation in both groups