Effects of dietary flavqnoids intake in Saudi patients with coronary heart disease

The aim of the study was to assess the dietary intake of flavonoids and their effect on serum lipid levels in Saudi patients with coronary heart disease [CHD]. A cross-sectional study with a sample of 50 CHD patients and 50 controls. A 24-hour recall method was used to collect data on the dietary intake of macronutrients, flavonoids, and antioxidant vitamins. A food frequency questionnaire [FFQ] was used to collect data on habitual consumption during the year preceding the interview. Baseline data collection included medical history, anthropometric measurements, physical activity, and smoking status. CHD patients showed significantly less intake of fruits and vegetables compared to the controls. Serum lipids including total cholesterol [TC] triglycerides [TG] and low density lipoproteins [LDL] were found to be significantly higher in CHD patients than in the controls. The main sources offiavonoids in a typical Saudi diet are tea, fruits [apples], vegetables [onions], and chocolate. The intake offiavonoids and antioxidant vitamins was significantly lower in CHD patients compared to the controls. A negative correlation between the dietary intake of different flavonoids and serum LDL was observed in CHD patients. Significant correlation was found between the intake offlavonol and waist to hip ratio. The findings of the study support a potential protective effect of dietary flavonoids in relation to CHD, The study showed that consuming more Flavonoids may have positive effect on lowering blood lipids

Breast-feeding practices in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia

Breast feeding is healthful for both the infant and mother alike. The life style in the Kingdom has changed drastically during the last two decades. Child obesity is emerging as a health risk and early weaning practices might play pivotal role in this aspect. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors that affect infant feeding practices. Mothers of 650 children aged five years or less at the time of the study who visited 10 Primary Health Care Centers [PHCC] in Riyadh City which were selected randomly from each of 5 regional zones participated in this study.65 subjects fom each PHCC were chosen by systemic random sampling from attending mothers during the three month study period. Socioeconomic data of parents was collected and mothers were interviewed using a questionnaire about breastfeeding, mixed feeding and weaning practices by trained nutrition students. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire was tested before final data collection. Data analysis was done using SPSS. X2 was used to test if there is any significance or correlation between socioeconomic variables and infant feeding practices. The results were considered statistically significant if p<0.05.83% of the subjects were Saudis and the 66.2% of the children were below one year of age. The mothers' age is between 26-35 years and only 8.4% of them were illiterates.92% of the fathers were of university education and the monthly family income was in the range of 4-7 thousand Saudi Riyals [1 US$ = 3.75 Saudi Riyals].43% of the mothers mentioned that nobody advised them about breast-feeding while 34% and 11% were advised by their mothers and nurses respectively. As the family income or education levels increased or the mother is employed, the duration of breastfeeding decreased. As the mothers' education increased, the cited reason for weaning was that there is no enough milk. However, a second pregnancy discovery was the cited reason for weaning by mothers of low educational level. Soiling the breast method of weaning is significantly correlated with high income of the family, working mother and education of the parents while separating the child method of weaning is opposite that seen in the soiling of breast practice in relation to income or education of parents. Breast-feeding practice is declining among Saudi mothers especially among high income and high education level of the parents. Breast-feeding promotion programs are needed and the benefit of breastfeeding for both the baby and mother should be emphasized

ratio between arachidonic acid 20:4 [w-6] and docosahexaenoic acid 22:6 [w-3] influences the growth and plasma fatty acid profile in rabbits after weaning

We studied the effect of dietary fatty acids on plasma fatty acid profile as well as growth performance [total food consumption TFC, weight gain WG, and feed efficiency FE] in rabbits fed three different diets varying in their omega-3 [w-3] and omega-6 [w-6] long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid [LCPUFA] concentrations for four weeks after weaning. The first diet was the control negative diet [CND] with no LCPUFA; the second was fortified with egg yolk [EY] as a source of Arachidonic Acid A A 20:4 [w-6] and Docosahexaenoic Acid DHA 22:6 [w-3] with the ratio of [1:0.5] respectively; and the third was fortified with egg yolk and fish oil [EY + FO] as sources of AA and DHA with the ratio of [1:1] respectively, breast feeding infant rabbits were used as a control positive diet [CPD] group [breast milk contains LCPUFA 20:4 and 22:6]. There was a significant increase [p<0.05] in WG thereby FE in the [EY + FO] group in comparison with [EY] and [CND] groups, while no significant differences [p<0.05] were obtained in [TFC] among the fed groups. However, there was a significant increase in PUFA particularly Oleic Acid OA 18:l [w-9] in [EY + FO] group compared to [EY] and [CND] groups, and significant increase in OA, Linoleic Acid LA 18:2 [w-6] and Alpha Linolenic Acid ALA 18:3 [w-3] in plasma of the [CPD] group compared to the fed groups. Four weeks after weaning, there was slightly increase in LCPUFA particularly AA in plasma of the [EY + FO] group in comparison with [EY] and [CND] groups, and DHA in plasma of the [EY] group in comparison with [EY + FO] and [CND] groups. Despite this insignificant increase in the level of AA and DHA which was observed in the fed groups in this study due to fortification with the suggested ratios; therefore, our study recommends more research in this area taking into account the ratio between AA and DHA