Vitamin D status and anthropometric indices of an Omani study population

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25[OH]D] concentrations reflect vitamin D status, with deficiency implicated as causative of many diseases. This study assessed vitamin D status and anthropometric indices in a sample of healthy Omanis. Serum 25[OH]D concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography in 206 healthy Omanis, aged 18-55 years [mean age: men 31.1, women 26.8] in Muscat, Oman. Of this number, 95% indicated that they had never taken vitamin D supplements. Findings were compared with published values for populations domiciled in more northerly latitudes. Classical procedures were used to determine global obesity [body mass index [BMI]], and central obesity determined by waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio [WHR], and waist-to-height ratio. Women, as compared to men, had markedly lower concentrations of 25[OH]D. Applying the cut-off point of serum 25[OH]D levels at 50 nmol/L, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the study population was 87.5%; this was higher than the rates reported for the British, and European-, Hispanic-, and African-Americans. At a BMI cut-point of >/= 30 kg/m[2], the prevalence of obesity was 14.6%; this was lower than the rates reported for European-, Hispanic-, and African-Americans. Levels of 25[OH] D increased relative to age and obesity. WHR was the main predictor of 25[OH]D levels. The striking vitamin D deficiency seen in the study population, relative to more northerly populations, may be linked to sun avoidance, inadequate dietary vitamin D, and virtual non-intake of supplemental vitamin D. Age and male-gender determined the status of vitamin D and of obesity

Nitric oxide and antioxidant enzymes in venous and cord blood of late preterm and term Omani mothers

This study assessed the role of oxidative stress in parturition in Omani mothers following growing reports that late preterm neonates were at greater risk than term neonates of perinatal death. Venous blood samples were collected during labour, and cord [neonatal] blood samples were taken after childbirth in late preterm and term from women at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman. Plasma nitric oxide [NO] concentrations, erythrocyte catalase [CAT]. Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase [GPx] activities were measured using spectrophotometric Methods. When compared with term mothers, late preterm mothers had markedly higher NO concentrations [micro mol/L] 17.1 +/- 3.3 versus 11.0 +/- 5.5 [P <0.0001], and lower GPx values [U/g Hb] 94.1 +/- 12.9 versus 110.4 +/- 12.3 [P <0.0001]. Late preterm mothers were significantly younger [P = 0.027] than term mothers and had neonates that weighed significantly less [P <0.0001] than term neonates. GPx activity was significantly reduced [P = 0.001] in late preterm neonates as compared to term neonates. CAT showed no change in activity in any comparison. Distinctly higher values of NO and lower GPx activity were found in late preterm mothers relative to term mothers; also, lower GPx in late preterm neonates relative to term neonates suggested a pro-oxidant-antioxidant imbalance due to the greater oxidative burden in late preterm parturition

Serum micronutrient and micromineral concentrations and ratios in healthy Omani subjects

This study aimed to establish reference ranges of serum concentrations of copper, zinc, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, copper: caeruloplasmin and copper: zinc ratios in a group of healthy Omani men and women. Assay techniques employed were atomic absorption spectrophotometry [copper and zinc], reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography with isocratic elution [retinol and alpha-tocopherol], immunonephelometry [caeruloplasmin] and spectrophotometry [albumin and cholesterol]. The mean +/- SD [microM] obtained for copper, zinc, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol were 15.9 +/- 3.0, 14.2 +/- 2.0, 1.45 +/- 0.39 and 16.9 +/- 4.4, respectively. The mean +/- SD for copper: zinc and copper: caeruloplasmin ratios were 1.15 +/- 0.30 micromol/mmol and 6.99 +/- 0.84 micromol/g, respectively. Significantly higher [p < 0.0001] copper and caeruloplasmin concentrations, copper: zinc and copper: caeruloplasmin ratios and lower zinc, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, cholesterol concentrations and alpha-tocopherol: cholesterol ratio were present in women compared to men. Age appeared to be associated with copper and retinol concentrations, and copper: caeruloplasmin ratios in women; in men, the association was mostly moderate with caeruloplasmin, alpha-tocopherol, cholesterol concentrations and alpha-tocopherol: cholesterol ratios. Smokers had decreased albumin [p = 0.002], zinc [p = 0.023] concentrations, and copper: caeruloplasmin ratios [p = 0.002], increased alpha-tocopherol concentrations [p = 0.016] and alpha-tocopherol: cholesterol ratios [p = 0.021] compared with non-smokers. Deficiency incidence was