Role of vitamin D-calcium supplementation on metabolic profile and oxidative stress in gestational diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To assess role of vitamin D-calcium supplementation on the metabolic profile and oxidative stress in women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) controlled on diet. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Seventy women diagnosed as GDM at 24-28 weeks of gestation, controlled on a diabetic diet, were randomized to receive either vitamin D 1000 IU and calcium 1000 mg (group A, n = 34) or vitamin D 250 IU and calcium 500 mg (group B, n = 36) daily for 6 weeks. Levels of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum insulin, fasting lipid profile and total glutathione (GSH) were analyzed both prior to and after supplementation. Means, standard deviations and mean change were computed. Paired and independent t-tests were used to determine statistical significance between the two groups. RESULTS: Women in group A showed a significant reduction in FPG level (P-value = 0.007), fasting serum insulin level (P-value = 0.000), LDL (P-value = 0.000), total cholesterol levels (P-value = 0.000) and increase in HDL levels (P-value = 0.000). Group B had a significant fall only in FPG after 6 weeks supplementation. A significant change in total glutathione level (P-value = 0.000) was observed in both groups. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D and calcium supplementation at a dose of 1000 IU and 1000 mg, respectively, has a beneficial role in glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in GDM.

Feasibility and outcome of community-based screening for cardiovascular disease risk factors in a remote rural area of South India: The Chunampet rural-Cardiovascular health assessment and management program.

BACKGROUND: As committed by India in Global Action Plan, Sustainable Development Goals and National Health Policy 2017, India has the responsibility to provide accessible, affordable noncommunicable disease care to the people. Our study aimed to find out the burden of cardiovascular risk factors among hypertension and diabetic patients, through a community-based screening, in a remote rural area of South India. METHODS: A special program named "Chunampet Rural-Cardiovascular Health Assessment and Management Program" (CR-CHAMP) was launched in August and September 2017 in a Rural Health Training Center (RHTC), functioning under a private medical college in South India. In this program, participants with hypertension (HT) and diabetes (DM) were line listed from 10 remote villages, and then history, initial biochemical, hormonal, and hematological screenings were done to assess the cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk factors among these patients, following which special consultation was offered in RHTC. RESULTS: Out of 415 eligible patients with HT and DM, 389 were approached; among them, 328 were willing to participate and were screened initially; among them, 235 were attended special consultation. Higher CVD risk was found in 21%. Prevalence of chronic kidney disease was 14%, deranged lipid profile was more than 50%, metabolic syndrome was 49%, anemia was 68%, abnormal waist-hip ratio was 56%, abdominal obesity was 59%, and overweight and obesity using body mass index (BMI) was 59%. Females' participation was more in our community-based screening procedure (66%) than male participation (34%). CONCLUSION: CR-CHAMP demonstrated feasibility and value of implementing a screening program for high-risk individuals with HT and DM for CVD risk through existing primary care in a remote rural area of South India. This will help the National Program and policymakers to plan for interventions in the remote rural area in future.

Effect of preoperative statin therapy on early postoperative memory impairment after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

CONTEXT: Frequent incidence of early postoperative memory impairment (POMI) after cardiac surgery remains a concern because of associated morbidity, impaired quality of life, and increased health care cost. AIM: To assess the effect of preoperative statin therapy on POMI in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery. SETTING AND DESIGN: Prospective observational study in a tertiary level hospital. METHODS: Sixty patients aged 45-65 years undergoing OPCAB surgery were allocated into two groups of 30 each. Group A patients were receiving statin and Group B patients were not receiving statins. All patients underwent memory function assessment preoperatively after admission to hospital and on the 6 th postoperative day using postgraduate institute memory scale. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Appropriate tests were applied with SPSS 20 to compare both groups. The value P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Multiple regression analysis was performed with confounding factors to determine the effect on memory impairment. RESULTS: Patients in Group A showed significant postoperative deterioration in 6 of the 10 functions and in Group B showed deterioration in 9 of 10 functions tested compared to preoperative scores. Intergroup comparison detected less POMI in Group A compared to Group B and was statistically significant in 8 memory functions. Multiple regression analysis detected statin as an independent factor in preventing memory impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative statin therapy attenuates the early POMI in patients undergoing OPCAB. Future long-term studies will define the efficacy of statin on POMI.