Can dietary intervention reduce heavy metals load and improve neurobehavioral problems in children?

Heavy metal exposure is a threatening health hazard especially among children. It is reported to affect physical and neurobehavioral health status. Cairo is reported to have high levels of heavy metal pollution specially lead and cadmium. Foods, mainly proteins, milk, vegetables and fruits with its high content of calcium, iron, zinc, vitamins C, A and B complex are reported to have a protective role against heavy metal absorption and intoxication. Children with inadequate intake of these food items are at higher risk for heavy metals load with its associated health hazards. Egyptian children specially those from lower social and economical levels were reported to receive unbalanced inadequate diet resulting in several nutritional deficiencies including iron, zinc, vitamin A, C, B complex and calcium deficiencies. Is to test the hypothesis that dietary intervention supplying diet rich in protein, milk, vegetables and fruits to children with unhealthy nutritional habits can reduce the heavy metal load in their body and hence improve the associated neurobehavioral problems. 30 children [18 boys and 12 girls] were selected from the obesity clinic, NRC, age range was 11-14 years. They all reported to receive unbalanced diet that consists mainly of fats, sugars and carbohydrates. Full clinical examination, 24-hour dietary recall, BMI, neurobehavioral assessment and urine analysis for determination of lead, cadmium and aluminum levels using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer, were performed for all children, at the beginning and 2 months after following a healthy diet rich in protein, milk, fresh vegetables and fruits. Mean urine levels for lead, cadmium and aluminum levels were, 47.2 +/- 6.5, 12.8 +/- 1.4, 9.8 +/- 1.5 microgram/liter respectively at the beginning of the study. After 2 months of changing the diet the levels were 38 +/- 6.9, 9.4 +/- 1.2 and 9.6 +/- 1.6 microgram/Liter. p value was significant at [0.001] level for lead and cadmium, but non significant for aluminum. Our recorded levels are considered higher than recorded reference values. As for the neurobehavioral variables mean scores for aggression, mood, lethargy and concentration were 12.8 +/- 2.1, 8,3 +/- 1.2, 13.5 +/- 1.6 and 7.7 +/- 1.2 before the diet change. While after 2 months of diet change the scores were 10.1 +/- 1.19, 11.6 +/- 1.3, 9.4 +/- 1.7 and 12.6 +/- 1.4. Significant changes were recorded [p<0.001] for all neurobehavioral variables. Significant correlation was found between lead level, and aggression, mood and concentration scores, between cadmium level, and lethargy and concentration, and between aluminum levels, and concentration scores. Changing the dietary pattern to be rich in milk, protein, fresh vegetables and fruits helps to reduce heavy metals burden and improve neurobehavioral symptoms

Nutritional habits in relation to over weight, health status and scholastic achievement among a group of Egyptian private schools children

Changes in dietary habits with the rapid social and economic changes taking place allover the world resulted in increased incidence of obesity, health, behavioral and cognitive problems, which were reflected on the scholastic achievement. This study has been performed on a group of Egyptian school children to detect the nowadays nutritional habits and its correlation with overweight, health status and scholastic achievement. The study has been performed on students form three middle-high class private language schools. Three stages has been included 5th primary, 2 nd preparatory and 1 st secondary. Each student filled a questionnaire that included items to assess nutritional habits, scholastic achievement and health status. A clinical examination and anthropometric measures have been performed. In general breakfast, whole wheat bread, milk and vegetables intake are inadequate. The habit of eating while watching TV is prevalent among 85% of all students. Non healthy snacks are consumed by more than 70% of the students reaching its maximum among secondary stage boys [99%]. Over weight incidence is high among all groups reaching its maximum among boys of secondary stage 40%. Girls compared to boys showed better scholastic achievement, and better nutritional habits. Lack of concentration, feeling lonely, forgetting and day dreams affecting scholastic achievement is a threatening and alarming observation that reaches its peak among the preparatory stage students both boys and girls. Incidence of chest pain or difficulty in taking full breath, dizziness, pallor and facial white spots were recorded among all groups but gets less frequent with age. Sleeping hours and quality of sleep is inadequate among the secondary stage students. Healthy nutritional habits are inversely correlated to over weight [p<0.05] and health problems p<0.05. It is directly correlated to positive scholastic achievement [p<0.01]. Scholastic achievement was inversely correlated to health problems [p<0.05], no significant correlation with over weight was detected. The importance of healthy nutritional habits and its effect on body weight, health status and scholastic achievement is confirmed. A national nutritional education program is highly recommended for students and their parents as a correcting and protective strategy for health and scholastic problems resulting from the prevailing unhealthy nutritional habits

Tetra chloroethane toxicity on the rat liver and lung with the evaluation of the protective role of the nutritional elements [zinc and silibinin]

Tetrachloroethane [TTCE] is one of the chlorinated hydrocarbons used as an industrial solvent. It is also claimed to be an environmental pollutant that may have multisystem detrimental effects. This study demonstrates some of the biochemical and histological toxic effects of TTCE on the rat liver, kidney and lung. It also estimates the effect of this substance on the DNA content of the cells. The study also evaluates and compares the protective role of the nutritional supplements zinc and silibinin on the observed toxic effects. 60 adult Sprague Dawly rats were used for the experiment divided equally into six groups: a negative control group, a group receiving TTCE, a group receiving zinc and a group receiving silibinin. In addition there were groups of combined treatment of TTCE plus zinc and TTCE plus silibinin. TTCE was given at a dose of 0.01ml/kg, zinc was given at a dose of 30mg/kg and silibinin was given at a dose of 200mg/kg. The duration of the experinent was 4 weeks then biochemical analysis of liver and kidney functions as well as zinc level estimation were performed. Histopathological examination of the liver and lung was done including the estimation of the content of the nuclear DNA. The study revealed the occurrence of elevation in the serum levels of liver enzymes AST and ALT as well as urea and creatinine levels in the group received TTCE. This was associated with a significant drop in zinc level. The liver showed marked dilatation of central vein and blood sinusoids, some liver cells revealed deeply acidophilic homogenous cytoplasm with pyknotic nuclei while other cells showed vacuolated cytoplasm. The lung showed histological changes in both conducting and respiratory protions. There was also a significant increase of the DNA content of the hepatocytes and pneumocytes in this group. Administration of zinc combined with TTCE showed a statistically significant limitation in the degree of toxicity of TTCE. This protective effect was found to be significantly less obvious for silibinin. Zinc plays its protective role via its antioxidant effect that antagonizes the oxidative stress induced by TTCE. The study recommends the use of extra doses of zinc especially in those who are exposed to TTCE in industrial fields