ABSTRACT
To evaluate vitamin D levels in Saudi newborns utilizing umbilical cord samples, and to benchmark the results with international figures. This cross-sectional study was carried out at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between November 2013 and March 2013. Vitamin D levels were assessed in the umbilical cord of healthy term neonates born above 2.5 kg from healthy pregnant mothers. Gestational age [GA], birth weight, gender, levels of sun exposure, and consumption of vitamin D rich food data were collected. Our primary outcome was the percentage of newborns with vitamin D deficiency [vitamin D level below 25 nmol/l]. Association of vitamin D deficiency with sun exposure and consumption of vitamin D rich food was tested using a Chi-squared test. Umbilical samples of 200 newborns were obtained. The average birth weight was 3.2 kg. Deficient vitamin D levels were detected in 59% of the sample. Almost 90% of included newborns had vitamin D levels below 50 nmol/l. We found no association of vitamin D deficiency status to level of sun exposure or to consumption of vitamin D rich food. Vitamin D deficiency is very common in Saudi newborns at hospital, and is consistent with regional data. Efforts to assess and treat vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and provide adequate supplementation to newborns are necessary to rectify such a public health concern
ABSTRACT
To assess the serum levels of copper, zinc, iron, and lead in patients on maintenance dialysis. This cross-sectional study performed at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between September 2011 and October 2012 included 42 patients with end stage renal disease on hemodialysis [HD], 18 patients on peritoneal dialysis [PD], and 18 normal controls. Serum copper, zinc, and lead levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and serum iron was determined by spectrophotometric determination. The median serum copper level in HD patients [20.5 nmol/L; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 17.52-22.39; interquartile range [IQR]: 16.40-24.20] was higher [p=0.001] than the controls [14.30 nmol/L; 95% CI: 9.72-16.91; IQR: 9.70-17], and the PD patients [15.60 nmol/L; 95% CI: 14.17-16.66; IQR: 14.10-16.70]. Although no different from PD patients` serum levels of zinc in HD patients [9.50 nmol/L; 95% CI: 7.83-12.09; IQR: 7.00-14.40] were lower than controls [13.20 nmol/L; 95% CI: 10.65-15.22; IQR: 10.58-15.35; p=0.03]. Copper/zinc ratio in HD patients was 2.4, 2.5 in PD patients, and 0.88 in controls. The serum iron levels in HD patients [10 mmol/L; 95% CI: 8.03-11.96; IQR: 7-14.50; p=0.003], and PD patients [10 mmol/L; 95% CI 6.56-14.43; IQR 5.50-15; p=0.03] were lower than controls. Serum lead levels in PD patients [0.11 umol/L; 95% CI: 0.02-0.14; IQR: 0.02-0.14] were lower than HD patients [0.18 micro mol/; 95% CI: 0.15-0.21; IQR: 0.13-0.25; p=0.005], and controls [0.15 micro mol/L; 95% CI: 0.07-0.24; IQR: 0.06-0.25; p=0.04]. Alterations in serum trace elements emphasize the need for monitoring trace elements in patients receiving maintenance dialysis