The Impact of Socioeconomic Inequality on Mental Health among Adolescents in Qazvin, Iran: Blinder-Oaxaca Decomposition Method.

Background: Mental health is integral to public health in adolescents. Although previous studies have shown that low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with mental disorders (MD), it is unclear which mental health domains are most important. Thus, our study aimed to investigate the associations between 5 domains of mental disorder and SES inequality in adolescents. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among adolescents (N = 1724). Associations between SES inequality with mental disorders, such as emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer relationship problems, and prosocial behavior, were examined. We used the concentration index (CI) to determine inequality. The gap between the low and high socioeconomic groups was decomposed into its determinants using the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method. Results: Mental health's overall CI was -0.085 (P ˂ 0.001). The emotional problem was primarily caused by SES inequality (-0.094 [P = 0.004]). Decomposition of the gap between the 2 economic groups showed that physical activity, school performance, exercise, parents' smoking status, and gender were the most important determinants of inequality. Conclusion: SES inequality plays a vital role in adolescents' mental health. It seems that the emotional problem domain of mental health might be more amenable to interventions than other domains.

The optimal vitamin D cut-off value associated with hyperglycemia in an Iranian population.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency may accelerate the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The association of vitamin D with hyperglycemia may be influenced by lifestyle. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between vitamin D status and hyperglycemia among the workers' population. METHODS: This was a medical records review of 7054 Iranian factory workers participating in an annual health check-up for employees. Of those, potential participants were included in this analysis if data for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] levels were also available. RESULTS: Data of 429 male participants were used for this analysis. Of those, 61.07% had serum 25(OH)D concentrations lower than the sufficient level [≥20 ng/ml]. Hyperglycemic participants had significantly lower 25(OH)D than those with normal fasting blood glucose (FBG). Regression analyses highlighted serum 25(OH)D as a significant determinant of hyperglycemia [OR: 0.943(0.901, 988); p = 0.01]. The association between 25(OH)D and FBG remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders (p = 0.008). Using the ROC analysis, the serum 25(OH)D value of 14.7 ng/ml was the optimal cut-off point to predict hyperglycemia in this population (sensitivity: 63.6%, specificity: 62.3%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our results revealed a considerable proportion of participants with serum 25(OH)D below the optimal level as well as a significant inverse association between vitamin D status and hyperglycemia among the factory workers. These findings highlight the importance of including the evaluation of vitamin D status as a part of annual health examinations for employees, and may help health policy- makers prevent or delay type 2 diabetes mellitus among the workers' population.

Ethnic Variations in Adiponectin Levels and Its Association with Age, Gender, Body Composition and Diet: Differences Between Iranians, Indians and Europeans Living in Australia.

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived protein with anti-diabetic, anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory action, but there are few studies on its association with cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in different ethnic groups in Australia. This cross-sectional study evaluated ethnic differences in adiponectin levels and its association with age, gender, body composition and diet in 89 adult Australians of European (n = 28), Indian (n = 28) and Iranian (n = 33) ancestries. Different measures of adiposity were assessed using the method of whole body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Total adiponectin levels determined in Indians and Iranians were significantly lower than those in Europeans (p values < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the adiponectin levels in Indians and Iranians (p value > 0.05). There was no substantial change in the results after adjustment for potential confounders. Circulating levels of adiponectin was associated with age, truncal fat percentage, dietary glycemic index, glycemic load and carbohydrate intake, by correlation analysis (p values < 0.05). Using multiple linear regression analysis, a model including truncal fat percentage (p < 0.001), ethnicity (p = 0.001), age (p = 0.001) and dietary glycemic index (p = 0.04) could predict 50% of the variance in adiponectin levels (R2 = 0.504). Among different variables assessed, truncal fat percentage (in Indian and Iranian groups) and glycemic index (in European group) were the strongest predictors of serum adiponectin when data were analysed for three ethnic groups, separately. In conclusion, individuals with Iranian or Indian ancestries may have lower adiponectin levels compared to Europeans. Ethnicity was found as an independent factor affecting adiponectin levels. Our results also highlighted age, truncal adiposity and dietary glycemic index as other determinants of serum adiponectin, however the extent to which these factors influence adiponectin concentrations may vary across ethnicities.

Ethnic Variation in Lipid Profile and Its Associations with Body Composition and Diet: Differences Between Iranians, Indians and Caucasians Living in Australia.

Dyslipidaemia is a known risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. The impact of ethnicity on variations in lipid patterns has been studied in certain racial and ethnic groups with limited data on other ethnicities, particularly Asian subgroups. This cross-sectional study evaluated the ethnic variation in lipid profile and its association with body composition and diet in ninety-one overweight and obese Australians of European (n = 32), Indian (n = 28) and Iranian (n = 31) ancestries. Different measures of total and truncal adiposity were assessed using the method of whole body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The results showed that serum total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-chol) levels in Iranians were significantly lower than in Europeans and Indians. Both Iranian and Indian groups exhibited lower mean high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-chol) relative to Europeans. Triglycerides (TG) and HDL-chol, but not TC and LDL-chol, were significantly associated with different truncal adiposity measurements; however the degree of associations varied in ethnic groups. Regression analysis showed ethnicity as a significant predictor of TC (p = 0.01), TG (p = 0.03) and HDL-chol (p = 0.04), after controlling for potential confounders. However, LDL-chol was significantly associated with the intake of total (p = 0.005), and saturated fats (p = 0.004), which were also other significant determinants of serum TC (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). In conclusion, ethnicity was a strong predictor of serum lipids, except LDL-chol which was significantly determined by dietary fat intake. Prevention and management of obesity, particularly abdominal adiposity may effectively reduce the risk of low HDL-chol reported in Iranians and Indians.