Nutritional anaemia among pregnant women: part I dietary intake

The aim of the study was to assess dietary role in relation to anaemia. Subjects of the study were 78 pregnant women selected randomly from pregnant women attending Maternal and Child Health Centres in Alexandria. They were divided into two groups namely anaemic and non- anaemic according to their haemoglobin concentration [11 gm/dl blood was taken as index]. The designed questionnaire included information about socioeconomic, biological and reproductive data, anthropometric measurements and dietary intake study. Results revealed that the diet of both groups was inadequate in total caloric intake and most nutrients. The majority of pregnant women were of low socioeconomic status and low educational level

case-control study of diet and gastrointestinal cancer in Alexandria

The present case control study is a trial to assess the nutrient intake of gastrointestinal cancer patients. It was carried on "40" gastrointestinal cancer patients and "40" age-sex-economic status matched controls, in Alexandria Main University Hospital. Controls were free from any gastrointestinal disorders. Dietary data collected revealed that total fat; total saturated fatty acids, the unsaturated oleic and energy intake recorded the highest significant differences in consumption between cases and controls in both males and females. In stomach cancer, vegetable fat and total fat were the two nutrients which recorded a significant higher difference in consumption between cases and controls. In colorectal cancer, total and animal fat and total energy were the nutrients which reported the highest association among other nutrients tested

Nutritional parameters of elderly consuming self selected diets

A random sample of 107 apparently healthy elderly subjects [45 males + 62 females] over 55 years old was chosen from a cluster sample of home to home epidemiological survey of Alexandria Geriatrics Health Study. The study was planned to evaluate the nutritional status of elderly subjects through, socio-economic study, anthoropometric and skinfold thickness measurements, diet any intake study, haematologtcal and biochemical investigations. The study revealed that the majority of elderly subjects were of low socto-economic status as well as low educational level. Findings indicated that elderly males had higher intakes than females for all nutrients but differences were not significant except for vegetable protein, vegetable fat and niacin. Mean daily caloric and nutrient intakes of the elderly subjects met or exceeded the 1980 recommended dietary allowances except for calcium, vitamin A, riboflavin and niacin of both sexes. Indices of adiposity illustrated sex differences and a higher tendency of elderly females to be obese. Both groups reported low haemoglobin concentrations but of non-nutritional origin. Male subjects demonstrated slightly elevated mean blood glucose and urea levels than females, but the differences were not statistically significant. While the mean total serum cholesterol level of the female subjects was 238.0 mg/100 ml significantly higher than that of males 220.3 mg/100 ml. Results of correlation coefficients in males showed significant correlation coefficients between caloric intake and body weight as well as relative body weight. Also a significant correlation coefficients between animal protein consumption and haemoglobin. While females no significant correlation coefficients were illustrated between correlated parameters

case-control study of diet and gastrointestinal cancer in Alexandria Part I: Dietary pattern and food intake

The present case-control study was an effort to construct the dietary profile of gastrointestinal cancer patients. It was carried out on 40 gastrointestinal cancer patients and 40 age-sex-economic status matched controls, in Alexandria Main University Hospital. Controls were free from any gastrointestinal hospital. Controls were free from any gastrointestinal disorders. Dietary data collected revealed that cancer patients, both males and females ate more foods than their controls especially so in foods of animal origin. Colon and rectum cancer patients consumed significantly higher amounts form animal fats, vegetables, dairy products, meat, fruits and margarine. In gastric cancer, vegetable fats and oils followed by vegetables, fruits, eggs and margarine were the foods which recorded the significant difference in consumption between cases and controls. Fish was the only animal food which did not yield any difference in its intake between cases and controls. Controls ate higher amounts from starchy tubers and pulses than gastric or colorectal cancer patients. Stomach cancer patients preferred ingestion of salted foods and pickles

Maternal beliefs and practices in feeding infants and young children during sickness Part II: Beliefs and practices during diarrhea and vomiting

Proper feeding is an important element in the manipulation of the diarrheal child. This study was done to assess the maternal practices and beliefs in feeding infants and young children during diarrhea and vomiting, in both rural and urban communities. The study revealed that maternal practices and beliefs causing them differed significantly in the rural and urban sectors. However, the feeding pattern was generally good both in rural and different socioeconomic level urban sectors. This relatively unexpected good level of maternal practice noticed in rural and low socioeconomic level urban mothers could be attributed to the distinguished role played by health personnel in MCH Centers

Dietary habits and nutrition intake of breast cancer patients

As the second leading cause of death in the United States, cancer is a major public health problem today. Cancer incidence varies world-wide and tends to change with environmental factors, with the possibility that diet and nutrition may play a role in this regard. This retrospective study is an effort to reconstruct the breast cancer patients past diet. It was conducted on "50" breast cancer patients and "40" age-matched controls, free from any breast lumps. They were taken from the surgical departments of Alexandria Main University Hospital and Medical Research Institute. Through a questionnaire data were collected on socioeconomic condition, biological features, food habits and dietary history. Data revealed a lack of association between educational level, working status, biologic features and breast cancer. Results demonstrated firmly that breast cancer patients were consuming diets significantly higher in all macro-nutrients especially vegetable and total fat and total energy. Only animal protein consumption failed to record a significant association. Regarding the fatty acid nature of the consumed fats, the saturated and unsaturated fatty acid content of the patients diet was significantly higher than that of controls. Data also showed that cancer patients were generally eating more than controls. The difference in consumption was significantly higher in energy producing foods [carbohydrate and fat-rich foods]

Maternal beliefs and practices in feeding infants and young children during sickness: part I, beliefs and practices during fevers

Proper feeding is recognized as an important element in the management of the sick child. This study was done to assess the maternal practices and beliefs in feeding infants and young children during infections, in both rural and urban communities. It was conducted on "2000" mothers representing the rural and the three different socioeconomical levels of the urban sector. The study revealed that maternal practices and beliefs in feeding children during infections [fevers and measles] differed significantly in the rural and urban sectors. The majority of urban mothers, especially those with high socioeconomic levels, followed the sound practices and were holding the correct beliefs. However, malpractices were prevalent among rural and low SEL urban mothers, where a minority of them kept their children on watery gruels low in protein for prolonged periods, especially so in measles

Dietary intake of college students in Bahrain

To complete the study, sixty-six students were chosen from those in their first year at the College of Health Sciences. All the students involved had completed one Credit Course in nutrition. A quantitative analysis of three consecutive days was carried out

Body indices and abo blood groups distribution among college students in Bahrain

In this study, a survey of the occurrence of the ABO blood groups and Rh factor in Bahrain has revealed differences between frequencies of these blood groups among Bahrainis and other population. The highest frequency was found to be in group 0, this was followed by groups B, A and AB respectively. 94.17% of the persons studied were positive for Rh factor, while 5.83% were Rh negative. It can be suggested that the students of blood group AB were of ectomorphic body type, while those of blood group AB were of endomorphic body type, and the common somatotype between the total students was the mesomorphic body type

relationship between the nutritional state of lactating mothers and that of their infants

The relationship between the nutritional state of 150 apparently healthy lactating mothers and their breast-fed infants was studied. Maternal nutritional state was assessed in terms of height and weight measurement and dietary intake adequacy. Infant nutritional state was assessed in terms of anthropometric measurements. Data showed that the nutritional state of both mothers and their infants was satisfactory. All infant nutritional indices were significantly correlated with maternal dietary adequacy. Infant. body weight, height and head circumference showed stronger correlations than the rest of the measurements. Infant body height was associated more with maternal dietary protein while body weight was more strongly associated with maternal dietary energy, indicating that body height is more a function of proteins and body weight is more a function of energy. From the data presented in this study it can be concluded, that the general nutrition and health of breast-fed infants is strongly influenced by the state of nutrition of their mothers. Accordingly, improvement of the nutritional state of lactating mothers will be accompanied by improvement in health and growth of infants. Extra food for lactating mothers to increase breast milk volume is cheaper than breast milk substitutes for infants