Comparison of serum zinc concentrations and body antioxidant status between young women with premenstrual syndrome and normal controls: a case-control study

Background: Premenstrual syndrome [PMS] is one of the important health problems with high incidence; in young women. The exact cause of this syndrome is not clear and some theories have been declared from hormonal factors to nutritional disorders

Objective: We investigated the correlation between serum zinc and antioxidant status with PMS

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, forty eight young girls were selected from a total sample of 110 students residing at university dormitories including PMS [n=23] and healthy [n=25] groups based on PMS questionnaire

Dietary intake questionnaire and blood samples were collected from all participants

Serum total antioxidant capacity [TAG] and zinc concentrations were also measured

Results: Serum TAG and zinc concentrations were lower in PMS patients compared with healthy groups [p<0.0l and p<0.05? respectively]. Healthy control consumed lower servings of hydrogenated oils [p<0.05]

There were significant differences in terms of muscle mass between the PMS and healthy groups [p<0.05]. Both serum TAG and zinc levels were negatively correlated to PMS scores [r=-0.39, p<0.05 and r= -036; p<0.05, respectively]

Conclusion: This study shows that higher TAG and zinc serum levels are associated with lower risk of PMS. PMS cases have more hydrogenated oils than their normal counterparts

Occupational exposure to pesticides among farmers

Agricultural workers are at risk of exposure to occupational hazardous such as pesticides. Exposure to pesticides may result in some health problems. Aim of this study was evaluation of pesticides effect on hematological parameters among farm workers of Southwest Iran. In this case control study, 54 male farmers exposed to pesticides and 54 healthy male were enrolled. Blood parameters [Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and ESR], cell counts [Erythrocyte, Leukocyte, and Platelet] and coagulation factors [PT, PTT] were measured among case and control groups. Subjects were in the age between of 17 - 65 years of age [35 +/- 8] .Data showed that all the hematological parameters which assayed were in normal range. The values of Hb, Hct, RBC, Platelet and PT in case group were more than control. In this study, hematological indexes were changed in case group but these were not meaningful compared to normal range [p>0.005]. It was concluded that RBC, Hb, platelet and PT are useful indexes as warning signals for quick diagnosis of poisoning due to pesticides