Association between renal stone, bone mineral density and biochemical parameters

To investigate the relationship between renal stone formation and osteoporosis. Eight hundred thirty healthy subjects aged between 20 and 76 years were randomly selected from 50 clusters to take part in the study. Of these, 68 [8.2%] had a previous history of renal stone disease. All participants underwent clinical examination and bone mineral densitometry of the lumbar spine and femur using the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry technique. Plasma levels of vitamin D3, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone were also measured. Data showed that patients with a history of renal stones had a higher prevalence of osteoporosis [16.7%] and os-teopenia [53.3%] than the subjects without a history of renal stone disease [11.2% and 35.7%, respectively]. For both men and women the mean age of patients with a history of renal stone disease was significantly lower than patients with no dis-ease history [men: with history 44.27 +/- 14.8, without history 50.28 +/- 12.3; P= 0.02] [women: with history 43.21 +/- 11.8, without history 49.06 +/- 9.6; P= 0.02]. Female patients with a history of renal stone disease also had a significantly lower [8.74%] mean spinal bone density [P= 0.02], but there were no other significant differences in either the biochemical parameters that were measured or in the hip bone density. These data suggest that osteoporosis may be more prevalent in those patients that have had a history of renal stone formation

Relationship between tea drinking and bone mineral density in Iranian population

Tea is the most commonly consumed beverage by Iranian adults after water, and while previous studies have examined the negative effects of coffee-based caffeine on Bone Mineral Density [BMD], the relationship between the consumption of tea and BMD has not been clearly explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between habitual tea drinking and BMD in the adult Iranian population. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine and hip, in 830 men and women living in Tehran, all aged between 20 and 76 yr old. The degree of tea consumption was assessed by questionnaire, and subjects were categorized as either tea drinkers [more than 5 cups of tea per day] or non-tea drinkers [equal or less than 5 cups of tea per day]. After adjusting for age and body mass index, it was found that female tea drinkers had a small [4.2%], but significantly higher BMD in the hip [P= 0.01]. This may suggest a potentially positive effect for habitual tea drinking on the BMD of those women with an inadequate consumption of calcium and vitamin D

Vitamin D status in pregnant and their newborns

Adequate vitamin D concentrations during pregnancy are necessary for neonatal calcium homeostasis, bone maturation and mineralization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum vitamin D in mothers and their newborns. This study comprised 552 pregnant women from Tehran University hospitals. Maternal and cord blood samples were obtained in delivery room just after child birth. The serum samples were assayed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in mothers and cord blood were 66.8% and 93.3% [<35nmol/l] respectively. There was a significant correlation between maternal and cord blood levels of vitamin D. In mothers with vitamin D deficiency, cord blood vitamin D levels were lower than those of normal mothers [p=0.001]. Furthermore, considering increased requirements of calcium and vitamin D during pregnancy; intake of higher amounts of these nutrients are recommended