Prevalence and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency among mothers in labor and their newborns

Vitamin D deficiency is recognized as a global public health problem. Studies of vitamin D levels in mothers in labor and their newborns in Bahrain are lacking. The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence of vitamin D [25[OH]D] deficiency among mothers in labor and their newborns in Bahrain. A cross-sectional multicenter study. Four Public and Four Private Maternity Hospitals in Bahrain. The study was conducted in April 2012. It included mothers in labor and their newborns. Differences between the subgroups were analyzed using Chi-Square or Student's t-test as appropriate. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate independent predictors of 25[OH]D level. The study included 403 mothers and 403 newborns. Overall prevalence of 25[OH]D deficiency [<50 nmol] was 358 [88.8%] of the mothers and 364 [90.3%] of the newborns. The mean maternal alkaline phosphatase level was significantly higher than the neonatal level and the maternal mean calcium was significantly lower than the neonatal level. Significant association with vitamin D deficiency was found among Bahraini and non-Bahraini Arab mothers, delivering in public rather than private hospital, living in flats, low education, the use of veil, gravida >/= 4, not using multivitamins, vitamin D or calcium supplements. Vitamin D deficiency among mothers and their newborns is high. This mandates increasing awareness, vitamin D supplementation among mothers in labor and their infants; in addition to the introduction of vitamin D fortification of dairy products and flour at the national level

Hypercholesterolemia among apparently healthy university students

Hypercholesterolemia [HC] is a major risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease [CHD]. Serum cholesterol is directly related to complications and mortalities associated with heart diseases. There are a few studies that describe HC among youths in the Arab Gulf countries. We sought to evaluate HC among young healthy university students to assess their risk of developing CHD. Lipid profile of 166 students between the ages of 16- 30 years [Mean: 20.49 +/- 2.96] were examined and blood glucose, total protein, albumin, thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH] and the inflammation marker high sensitivity CRP [hsCRP] were determined. Each volunteer filled a questionnaire about her/his lifestyle and personal and family medical histories and height and weight were measured to determine body mass index [BMI]. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Chi-Square was used to determine the relation between categorical variables. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. According to the American Heart Association criteria, 44 [26.5%] students were identified with primary hypercholesterolemia [PHC] in the first testing round. After proper health counseling, the same tests were repeated after 2-3 weeks in all 44 hypercholesterolemic students. We found only 26 [15.6%] of them to be hypercholesterolemic. There was a significant relation between high total cholesterol [TC] and high TC/HDLC, as well as high or very high hsCRP and high TC/HDLC [both, p<0.001]. Males tend to have higher TC/HDLC and hsCRP than females [both p0.002 and 0.005, respectively]. Family history of CHD was found in 8 students and obesity was recorded in 5 volunteers. The results necessitate further studies in determining the cause of PHC. We predict a genetic element contributing to the high percentage of PHC in the current study

population-based screening for gestational diabetes mellitus in non-diabetic women in Bahrain

Maternal hyperglycemia is considered a risk factor for fetal morbidity. Since there is a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus among the population of Bahrain, we conducted a prospective population-based study of gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM] in non-diabetic pregnant women. All non-diabetic pregnant women attending antenatal clinics during January 2001 to December 2002 [n=10 495] were screened for GDM during the 24th to 28th weeks of gestation. All positive subjects based on a 50-g glucose challenge test [GCT] were further evaluated by a diagnostic 75-g oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT]. The birth weight of the child and post-delivery insulin resistance were monitored. The homeostasis model of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR] was used to assess insulin resistance. Of 10 495 non-diabetic pregnant women screened, 32.8% [n=3443] had plasma glucose >/= 7.8 mmol/L [140 mg/dL] in the GCT. The 75-g OGTT found a prevalence of GDM of 13.5%. There were twice as many Bahrainis as expatriates. Of children born to women with GDM, 6.5% had a birth weight >4000 g. Post-delivery evaluation of insulin resistance indicated that 33% of women with GDM had a HOMA-IR value >2. The population of Bahrain is a high-risk ethnic group for GDM. The association of insulin resistance in the post-gravid state with GDM among 33% of the study population suggests that insulin resistance, the possible cause of the pathophysiological mechanism underlying the development of gestational diabetes, continues in the post gravid state

Interactions between leptin, neuropeptide-Y and insulin with chronic diurnal fasting during Ramadan

Background: Fasting during the month of Ramadan for Muslims is a unique metabolic model that includes abstinence from food and fluid intake during the period from dawn to sunset as well as a reduction in meal frequency and alterations in the sleep-wakefulness cycle. Leptin, neuropeptide-Y and insulin are thought to play an important role in long-term regulation of caloric intake and energy expenditure. However, the long-term changes and interactions between these factors during this pattern of fasting are not known

Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted on 46 healthy female volunteers [age, 22 +/- 2 years; BMI, 25.3 +/- 0.7 kg/m2]. Anthropometrical measurements, estimation of body fat and fasting serum levels of neuropeptide Y, leptin, insulin and glucose were estimated at baseline [day 1], days 14 and 28 of the month of Ramadan and 2 weeks after Ramadan

Results: Baseline serum levels of leptin correlated positively with body fat [r=0.87, P=0.0002]. Serum leptin levels exhibited a significant increase by approximately 41% and neuropeptide-Y levels were decreased by 30.4% throughout the month of Ramadan. In addition, a significant correlation [r=0.63, P=0.0001] was found between changes in serum leptin and serum insulin. However, changes in serum neuropeptide-Y levels did not correlate with those of leptin or insulin

Conclusion: Long-term fasting with interrupted nocturnal eating is associated with significant elevations in serum leptin and insulin and reduction in serum neuropeptide-Y. The changes in serum leptin are likely mediated through insulin. However, changes in neuropeptide-Y appears to be mediated independently of leptin or insulin during this type of fasting