Metabolic syndrome and its association with physical activity in Sudanese early adolescents - Khartoum state, Sudan: An observational study.

The growing prevalence of overweight/obesity in adolescents highlights the significance of studying metabolic syndrome (MetS) in increasingly sedentary adolescents. To date, no study in Sudan has examined the association between MetS and physical activity (PA) among adolescents. This study aimed to assess the association between MetS and its components and PA among Sudanese early adolescents. A cross-sectional assessment was conducted from to 2018 to 2019 on a sample of 921 primary school students from Khartoum State, Republic of Sudan. MetS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria and a standardized questionnaire was used to assess PA. Metabolic equivalents of task were calculated, and levels of different intensities of PA (tertiles) were identified accordingly. The association between PA and MetS and its components was assessed using a logistic regression model. The participants comprised 388 boys and 533 girls with a mean age of 12.59 ±â€…1.21 years. The prevalence of MetS was significantly higher in subjects in the 1st PA tertile (least active) than in the 2nd and 3rd (most active) tertiles of PA, and this difference was observed in both boys and girls. After adjusting for other study factors, the odds of MetS among adolescents in the 1st PA tertile were 7 times higher than those in the highest PA tertile (adjusted odds ratio = 7.01, 95% confidence interval: 1.48, 32.99). A physically inactive lifestyle was associated with higher odds of MetS and its components, especially waist circumference and triglyceride levels, in Sudanese early adolescents. This study highlights the importance of promoting PA in this age group.

Assessing Nutritional Anemia Among University Students in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A Public Health Perspective.

Background: Nutritional anemia is a significant public health concern worldwide, particularly affecting young adults and children in Saudi Arabia, where inadequate nutrition is considered a primary contributing factor. This study aims to (i) examine the levels of serum iron, folate, and vitamin B12 in young adult students, with a focus on identifying any deficiencies and their association with anemia; (ii) explore the prevalence of mixed-deficiency anemia resulting from deficiencies in serum iron, folate, and vitamin B12 (iii) explore how sociodemographic characteristics and dietary habits influence serum iron, folate, and vitamin B12 levels. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study encompassed 158 young adult students at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. Blood samples were collected following a comprehensive questionnaire addressing sociodemographic and health characteristics. These samples were analyzed for complete blood count, serum iron, folate, and vitamin B12 levels. Results: The findings of this study revealed a significant decrease in serum iron levels, with 70.6% of males and 88% in females exhibiting reduced level. Additionally, low levels of folate were observed in 4% of the study population, while deficiency in vitamin B12 was found in 2.2% of the study population. However, the simultaneous presence of low serum iron levels along with deficiencies in folate or vitamin B12 was not observed in the study participants. Conclusion: The study indicates that there is a high incidence of low serum iron and ferritin levels among university students in Saudi Arabia, which poses a considerable public health concern. Conversely, the prevalence of folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies among the students was comparatively low, and notably, there were no cases where these deficiencies were observed alongside iron deficiency.

The Prevalence of Lewis, Lutheran, and P1 Antigens and Phenotypes in Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Inherited hemoglobinopathies are common in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia, and some patients may frequently require a blood transfusion. Therefore, the provision of compatible units using extended phenotypes is necessary to preclude the risk of alloimmunization. This study aimed to investigate the frequencies of the Lewis (LE), Lutheran (LU), and P1 antigens, as well as determine the prevalence of LE and LU phenotypes. METHODS: This study collected 150 blood samples from Saudi Arabian anonymous volunteering blood donors at Prince Muhammed bin Nasser Hospital in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. Serotyping was performed using antigen profile-II based on gel card technology to determine LE, LU, and P1 antigens. RESULTS: The prevalence of antigens was as follows: Lea (n = 37, 24.6%), Leb (n = 87, 58%), Lua (n = 6, 4%), Lub (n = 150, 100%), and P1 (n = 120, 80%). Regarding the LE phenotypes, Le (a+b-) was 24.7%, Le (a-b+) was 58%, and Le (a-b-) was 17.3%. The frequencies of only observed LU phenotypes Lu (a-b+) and Lu (a+b+) were 96% and 4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this study reports LE, LU, and P1 antigen prevalence. Moreover, LE and LU phenotype frequencies were investigated. This study may help establish a national database of blood group antigens in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, it may provide better transfusion practice to avoid the alloimmunization risk.

Dietary patterns and their associations with glycemic control among type 2 diabetic patients in Jazan, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

Diabetes is an important global health concern. According to the World Health Organization, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has 2.8 to 4.3 million diabetic patients between the ages of 27 to 60 in the year 2022. Medical nutrition therapy an essential component of diabetes management, helps improve diabetes outcomes by assisting patients in achieving a target glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of <7. This study aimed to describe the pattern of food consumption in the study population and determine its association with glycemic control. This was a cross-sectional study among health facility attendees at the Endocrinology and Diabetes Center (EDC) in Jazan, KSA. A total of 315 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were enrolled using a systematic random sampling technique. Sociodemographic and dietary habit information gathered through face-to-face interviews, anthropometric measurements, and HbA1c were collected from medical records. Participants were mostly females (55.6%), and more than half of them were above 50 years of age. More than 90% of the patients had poor HbA1c levels, and 2-thirds of the patients were overweight and obese (43.8% and 37.1%, respectively). The most consumed foods were bread (8 times/week) and coffee/tea and vegetables (7 times per week), and the least consumed was soda beverages (once/week). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the consumption of fruits (consumed 5 times/week) significantly decreased HbA1c, while the consumption of pastries/pizza (consumed twice/week) significantly increased it. The pattern of consumption of fruits and vegetables in the study population conformed to the recommended levels, and that of fruits showed a statistically significant association with the control of HbA1c. Another food item that has a significant negative effect on HbA1c is pastries/pizza. Further studies that include more potentially confounding variables, such as treatment type, are needed.

Sleep Duration and Metabolic Syndrome among Early Adolescents-A Cross-Sectional Study in Khartoum State, Sudan.

Numerous studies have reported that sleep disorders are linked to poor health outcomes. However, studies on these associations in children and adolescents in an African context are limited. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between sleep duration and the presence of metabolic syndrome among early adolescents in Sudan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on participants aged 10-15 years in Khartoum State, Sudan. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was diagnosed by increased waist circumference and the presence of two or more metabolic abnormalities (triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoproteins [HDL-C], blood pressure [BP], and fasting plasma glucose [FBG]). Short sleep duration was defined based on National Sleep Foundation (NSF) classification. Data were collected by physical examinations, biochemical analyses, and self-developed standardized questionnaires. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics Version 24. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used for the smoothing function between sleep duration and MetS. p < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The prevalence of MetS and short sleep among early adolescents aged 10-15 years in Sudan was 2.3% and 55.0%, respectively. A higher prevalence of short sleep was found among overweight and obese participants (p < 0.05). The prevalence of MetS among short sleepers was 2.8%. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that male short sleepers had higher odds of having MetS compared to female short sleepers. The relationship between short sleep and low HDL-C in boys and between short sleep and high TG in girls was statistically significant. The highest risk of MetS was observed at less than 6.5 h of sleep per night. Conclusions: Short sleep duration was significantly associated with overweight/obesity in the total population and with low HDL-C in boys and high triglycerides in girls. A nonlinear curve pattern was observed between sleep duration and prevalence of MetS. Longitudinal studies are needed to further determine the causal relationship between sleep habits and MetS and its components.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among Early Adolescents in Khartoum State, Sudan.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is rapidly increasing in prevalence with rising childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles worldwide. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of MetS and its components among Sudanese early adolescents in Khartoum State. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at primary schools in Khartoum State. A questionnaire was administered to assess the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. Anthropometric, blood pressure, and biochemical measurements were taken. RESULTS: In total, 921 students, boys and girls aged 10-15 years old, participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 12.59 ± 1.21 years. The overall prevalence rate of MetS was 2.3% using International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. MetS was significantly more prevalent among boys than girls (3.4% vs. 1.5%). Obese adolescents had higher MetS prevalence than those who were overweight (14.9 vs. 2.8, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Boys had a significantly higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome than girls. Early adolescents from Sudan who are obese had more risk factors for MetS than those who are normal weight or overweight. It is important to address the causes of increased risk for MetS early in life to prevent the development of the disease in adult life.

Factor analysis - Eating patterns among khat chewers.

Objectives: Khat is a green leafy plant that grows in many countries, including in the southwest of Saudi Arabia. It is estimated that one third of the people in Jazan chew khat, and the majority are males. The objective of this study was to identify the dietary patterns among khat-chewing students of Jazan University. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive analytical study was conducted at Jazan University. A total of 620 khat-chewing students participated in the study. Food intakes were collected through a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Dietary patterns were assessed by exploratory factor analysis based on the intake of the 17 food groups. A principal component analysis for factor extraction followed by varimax rotation was used. Results: Based on the Kaiser criterion and the scree plot, factor analysis identified three patterns that accounted for 70.2% of the variability within the sample. The first factor (starch) was characterized by rice, bread, pizza, potato, traditional food, burger, snacks, and hot drinks. The second factor (meat products/fruit) included meat products, poultry, fish, cool drinks, and fruit. The third factor (dairy products/vegetables) included dairy, low-fat and fat-free dairy, fat, and vegetables. Conclusion: The present study identified dietary patterns among khat-chewing students via factor analysis. It is now important to identify a correlation between specific patterns and health status to implement dietary interventions.