Breastfeeding practice in Kuwait: determinants of success and reasons for failure

To explore the possible determinants of duration of breastfeeding in Kuwait, 234 mothers completed a questionnaire concerning the feeding of their youngest infant. The questionnaire addressed the factors that contributed to their willingness to continue breastfeeding and enquired about the factors leading to their decision to end it. Only 26.5% of the mothers had continued breastfeeding for 6 months or more. Separate family housing, higher maternal age, late initiation of breastfeeding, being employed without the feasibility to breastfeed at work, breastfeeding information given after rather than before birth, and maternal and infant sickness were all significant contributors influencing early cessation. Father's support was a significant factor that encouraged the practice. In conclusion, preventive strategies are recommended for boosting breastfeeding, with special emphasis on the factors linked to early cessation, aiming at full implementation of the WHO global public health recommendations for successful breastfeeding in Kuwait

Pattern of beverage intake and milk and dairy products sufficiency among high-school students in Kuwait

High consumption of soft drinks has been associated with lower intakes of milk and calcium-rich foods and higher body mass index [BMI]. This study aimed to explore the pattern of beverage intake among Kuwaiti high-school students. A questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning beverages and milk and dairy products intake was completed by 190 Kuwaiti students aged 16-18 years and BMI was calculated for 181 of them. Intake of sweetened carbonated beverages and to a lesser extent packaged fruit juices affected the sufficiency of milk and dairy products intake among the sample of high-school students in Kuwait. Although BMI was not related to milk and dairy insufficiency, more of the overweight and obese students displayed incorrect practices. Nutritional education of high-school students on the importance of milk and dairy products as well as the hazards of excess sweetened carbonated beverages and packaged juice is recommended to prevent the obesity epidemic prevaiting in Kwait

Biological studies on the protective role of artichoke and green pepper against potential toxic effect of thermally oxidized oil in mice

The present investigation was designed to evaluate oocyte competence including quality, meiotic progression and expression of ERK2 gene and activities of liver enzymes [ALT, AST and gamma-GT] in female mice fed diets containing sunflower oil repeatedly used in frying processes [FO]. The protective role of artichoke and green pepper against such potential dangers were also studied. Results revealed that mice fed FO diet had a significant decrease in number of good collected oocytes compared with those fed normal oil [NO] diet. Mice fed FO diet and artichoke extract at two levels, 0.5% [FO-A1] and 1% [FO-A2] as drinking water or FO diet plus dried ground green pepper at two levels, 5% [FO-G1] and 10% [FO-G2] had a significant increase in number of good collected oocytes compared with those fed FO diet. Animals fed FO-A1 or FO-G1 diets had the highest percentage of good oocytes. A statistically significant increase in the percentages of mature oocytes occurred in mice fed FO-A1, FO-A2, and FO-G1 diets as compared to those fed FO diet. The animals fed FO-G2 diet had a non-significant increase of percentages of mature oocytes than the animals fed FO diet. The expression of ERK2 gene was high in ovary tissues collected from female mice fed NO, FO, FO-A1, or FO-G1 diets. However, the ERK2 gene expression was low in mice fed FO-A2 or FO-G2 diets. Biochemical assay showed that mice fed FO diet had significant decrease in AST and ALT activities. A significant increase in enzyme activity of gamma- GT compared with those fed NO diet was also observed. A statistically significant increase in activities of AST and ALT enzymes was observed in mice fed FO-A2, FO-G1 and FO-G2 diets. However, mice fed FO-A1, FO-A2, FO-G1 and FO-G2 diets had significant decrease in the activity of gamma-GT enzyme compared with those fed FO diet. The present study demonstrated evidence that prolonged intake of diets containing sunflower oil repeatedly used in frying processes could be considered a cause of induced abnormalities in reproductive materials and liver enzymes activities of female mice. However, artichoke and green pepper proved to be suitable protectors against hazards of such toxic materials

new flavonol glycoside from polygonum bellardu all: growing in Egypt

A new flavonol glycoside named myricetin-3-O-[5"-acetyl alpha-arabinofuranoside] has been isolated from Polygonum bellardii All F. Polygonaceae growing in Egypt, together with quercetin-3-O-[5"-acetyl alpha -arabinofuranoside], quercetin-3-O-rutinoside [rutin], alpha-amyrin, beta sitosterol and beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta glucoside. Their structures were elucidated using different spectral techniques

Macro- and micromorphology of leaf stem and root of poylgenum bellardii all growing in Egypt

The macro- and microrphological characters of the leaf stem, and root of Polygonulm bellardii All. growing in Egypt are presented with the aim of finding out the charactrers by which the plant could be identified in both the entire and powdered forms