Effect of obesity and dietary factors on bone mineral density levels among female students in umm Al-Qura university

Nutrition is one of the most important factors influencing human health. Also, nutrition plays a role in the etiology of osteoporosis disease. This disease is a serious metabolic bone disorder that often results in hip fracture and is usually asymptomatic in its initial stages. Assess the prevalence of osteoporosis among female university students. A cross sectional study was carried out during the period from 1/1/2010 to 30/6/2010 among a random sample of [257] university female students were chosen from Umm Al Qura of Makkah. The age of sample from 19-24 years old. Data were collected through an interview with case by using a special questionnaire; bone mineral density [BMD] and body composition have also been measured. Osteoporosis was present in 7% of cases while, osteopenia was current in 32.3% of cases. Moreover there was a highly positive significant relationship at level [1%] between osteoporosis induced and each of body fat%, fat weight, and BMI. The prevalence of osteoporosis among university students was positively and significantly associated [p<0.001] with increased body fat. The study results suggested that inevitable decrease in body fatness and weight with less consumption of carbonated beverages, taking into consideration variety and balanced diets and increasing nutrition education programs will improve bone health and nutritional status

Effect of yoghurt pillared with propolis on hyperglycemic rats

Dietary supplementation of yoghurt with plants rich in antioxidants such as propolis which is an adhesive resinous material collected by honey bees is recently recommended. This study aimed at investigating the protective effect against the hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. The study showed that yoghurt with propolis had a hypoglycemic effect together with reduction of the serum levels of cholesterol, low density and very low density lipoproteins with elevation of high density lipoproteins. The atherosclerosis indices were affected with reduction of low density lipoproteins-cholesterol/high density lipoproteins-cholesterol and elevation of the high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/total cholesterol. This was attributed to the reduction of glucose absorption and inhibition of alpha-glucosidase together with the antioxidant activity with regain of the pancreatic beta-cell function. The hypolipidemic effect and consequently protective effect against atherosclerosis was attributed to the binding, breakdown and reduction of absorption of cholesterol together with the antioxidant activity of both yoghurt and propolis. Down regulation of the expression of the angiogenic gene factors which have a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis may play a role. Thus, this dietary supplementation may be manufactured and used for its value in reducing hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in cases of diabetes mellitus