[Anthropometric profile of children and adolescents from diabetic pregnancies]

Background: Exposure in utero to maternal diabetes is a risk factor for obesity and type 2 diabetes. It may contribute to the current epidemic outbreak of these diseases

Aim: To evaluate the impact of the exposure to maternal diabetes on the anthropometric profile of the offspring. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the department "A" of the National Institute of Nutrition. It involved 120 children and adolescents who were from 5 to 19 years old and recruited between October 2008 and November 2009. They were divided into two groups: o A first group of 80 children from diabetic mothers ; o A second control group of 40 children from non-diabetic pregnancies. They have had a clinical examination. Data about diabetic pregnancies were collected from the mothers'medical records

Results: body mass index and waist circumference of children from both groups were comparable. In both groups, two thirds of children had a normal weight [62.5% in the first group versus 65% in the control group]. Obesity is more common in children exposed to maternal hyperglycemia [31.3% versus 25% in the control group], but the difference is not statistically significant. The majority of obese children [88%] are those from diabetic mothers with type 2 or gestational diabetes

Conclusion: our results underline the need for early screening for gestational diabetes and an optimal management of diabetic pregnancy to reduce the metabolic risk in the offspring

Efficacy and safety statins in the treatment of diabetic dyslipidemia

The Adult Treatment Panel III recommends 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors or statins as first-line-lipid-altering therapy for all adult patients with diabetes mellitus. This is based on the well-characterized efficacy and safety profiles of this class of agents as well as several clinical trials demonstrating that statin treatment reduces the risk of cardiovascular events. The objective of our study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of statin therapy in patients with diabetes type 2. We analyzed data from 120 individuals with diabetes type 2. For all patients, the mean baseline LDL-cholesterol level was 4, 26 +/- 0, 82 mmol per liter, the total cholesterol level was 6, 52 +/- 0, 75 mmol/l, HDL-cholesterol level was 1, 15 +/- 0, 31 mmol/l and triglyceride level was 1, 77 +/- 0, 67 mmol/l. There was a significant reduction in total cholesterol [P=2.10-3] and LDL-cholesterol [P=5.10-4] with statins; the mean LDL-cholesterol level was reduced from 4, 26 +/- 0, 82 mmol/l at baseline to 2, 8 +/- 0, 59 mmol/l at 12 months. The percentage variation of LDL-cholesterol was between 24 and 35%; in addition, the percentage reduction of total cholesterol was between 22 and 28%, the mean reduction in TG levels was between 11 and l6%.There was a no significant increasing in HDL cholesterol. Among these 120 patients, 5, 1%had a moderate CK elevation. Moreover 2%had a significant elevation of transaminase levels. Statins have also been associated with muscle-related adverse events; so milder complaints [myalgia] are reported by approximately 3, 6%of patients who take statins. Statins as highly efficacious agents for the lowering of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C] revolutionized treatment of hypercholesterolemia, a long established risk factor for premature coronary heart disease and they are not only exhibit a remarkely high benefit to risk ration, but are equally characterized by a safety profile with excellent tolerance

[Breast feeding: can protect against childhood obesity?]

Obesity is a multifactorial disease resulting from complex interaction between genes and environment. Early infant nutrition constitutes one of the environmental determinants of infantile obesity. The effect of breast-feeding on the development of obesity in the child was the subject of many studies the results of which are still controversial. We realized this case-control study to search for an association between breastfeeding and obesity in childhood. Our study included 92 children [46 obese and 46 with normal weight]. Age, sex, socio-economic level and birth weight were comparable in the two groups. Our results show a significant relationship between obesity and breastfeeding [Odds Ratio=0.23, p=0,01]. This protective effect of breastfeeding persists after adjustment for the family history of obesity [OR=0.18, P<0,01]. Although this association is not an evidence for a link of causality, the promotion of breastfeeding is recommended for the prevention of childhood obesity