effect of some non dietary factors on adolescent's bone health

Osteoporosis is a major health problem. Bone growth during childhood and adolescence is as important as bone loss that affects the development of osteoporosis. This work is a part of a national survey carried out by the National Nutrition Institute to determine the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in Egypt among adolescents and adults and the effect of some factors on bone health conducted in the period 2001-2004. In a representative sample of Egypt, 2039 male and 2021 female adolescents in the age group [10-19] years were included [2500 families]. Among collected information was detailed medical examination and socioeconomic data. Weight and height were measured and percentile body mass index [p-BMI] was calculated and categorized in accordance to WHO [1995]. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was done to all subjects. Random blood sample was collected for subgroup to assess serum levels of sex hormones; testosterone and estrogen. Results showed that the prevalence of relative osteoporosis among adolescents is [16.7% and 0.9%] while the percentage of those with relative osteopenia was about [45.6% and 28.7%] among males and females respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that increase in age, attained height and increase in body mass index have direct relations with increased bone mineral density [BMD]. Also the genetic predisposition [as reflected by parents BMD] was found to have an effect on bone health in adolescents. Results did not show any significant role for hormonal levels in both sexes. Protective strategies should be started at earlier ages as well as nutrition and health education programs to prevent and control osteoporosis

Determination of antioxidant vitamins and chlamydia pneumoniae IgG antibodies in patients with atherosclerosis

Atherosclerotic coronary heart disease is a wide spread disease in the entire world causing death in most cases. Disorders of lipoproteins metabolism are of the most important modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis. High intake of antioxidant vitamins e.g. vitamin E and A have been linked with a reduced risk of coronary vascular disease. Chlamydia pneumoniae infection has been associated with coronary vascular disease. The aim of the present work is to estimate serum levels of lipid profile; antioxidant vitamins A [retinol] and F [alpha-tocopherol] as well as Chlamydia pneumoniae lgG antibodies in Patients with Atherosclerosis. A case control study was conducted on fourty atherosclerotic patients aged 30-50 [40 +/- 10] years. The control group was another fourty healthy age and sex matched individuals. Fasting blood samples were collected from all subjects; serum was separated by centrifugation and was subjected to the determination of total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG]. high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] concentrations. Retinol and alpha-tocopherol levels were estimated by high performance liquid chromatography. Chlamydia pneumoniae specific IgG antibodies were also measured by micro-immunofluorescence technique. Serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C ratio and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio were significantly higher, while serum levels of HDL and alpha-tocopherol were significantly lower in patients than their corresponding control. Chlamydiapneumoniae specific IgG antibodies were detected in 50% of patients and in 7.5% of control. The present study revealed that the decreased levels of vitamin A and E together with the increased prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae lgG antibodies may represent non-traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis