Vitamin D deficiency: a concern in premenopausal Bangladeshi women of two socio-economic groups in rural and urban region.

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to evaluate the vitamin D status in women of different physiological status of two socio-economic groups in Bangladesh. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study, using serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase activity. SETTING: Two regions of Bangladesh. The Dhaka city area and west region of Nandail (Betagair Union), Mymensingh. SUBJECTS: Representative subjects of two groups (low socio-economic group=group L, n=99; and high socio-economic group=group H, n=90) of Bangladeshi women aged 16-40 y. About 87% of the subjects were housewives and the rest, 13%, were distributed among other different professions. Each group comprised of three sub-groups (non-pregnant non-lactating=1, pregnant=2, and lactating=3). RESULTS: The influence of socio-economic status and physiological status on serum 25-OHD concentration (P=0.038, P=0.015, respectively), serum calcium concentration (P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively) and alkaline phosphatase activity (P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively) were observed. The distribution of serum 25-OHD concentration in both groups was shifted overall toward the lower limit of the normal range. Seventeen percent of women in group L and 12% of women in group H had serum 25-OHD concentration <25 nmol/l. Hypovitaminosis D (serum 25-OHD concentration < or = 37.5 nmol/l) was observed in 50% of subjects in group L and 38% of subjects in group H, respectively. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis was higher in lactating subjects of the groups L and H (63 and 46%, respectively) than in the other sub-groups in the same group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggested that women in Bangladesh were at risk of hypovitaminosis D and lactation was an additional risk factor in low income groups. The situation may increase the risk of bone loss.

Iron status of premenopausal women in two regions of Bangladesh: prevalence of deficiency in high and low socio-economic groups.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess iron status in women of different physiological status of two socio-economic groups in Bangladesh. DESIGN: Cross sectional study, using 3-day food record and blood haemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin concentrations. SETTING: Two regions of Bangladesh. The Dhaka city area and west region of Nandail, Mymensingh. SUBJECTS: Women aged 16-40 y. The low socio-economic group (group L, n=101) consisted of rural women with precarious income levels. The high socio-economic group (group H, n=90) consisted of women with high income and educational levels. The groups were composed of three sub-groups (non-pregnant non-lactating=1, pregnant = 2 and lactating = 3). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the corresponding sub-groups of the two socio-economic groups in dietary intake of iron. In all sub-groups, the intake of iron was much higher than the RDA level and mainly based on non-haem iron. Blood haemoglobin (B-Hb) concentration (P=0.000), serum iron concentration (P=0.005) and serum ferritin (SF) concentration (P=0.000) were affected by socio-economic status. Physiological status (PS) influenced the B-Hb concentration (P=0.000). Prevalence of anaemia ranged from 63 to 70% in group L and 27 to 66% in group H, respectively. The prevalence of empty iron store (SF concentration<12 microg/l) ranged from 35 to 59% in group L and 15 to 32% in group H, respectively. The prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency (70 and 35% for sub-group L2; 66 and 32% for sub-group H2, respectively) were similar in the pregnant subjects of the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical iron deficiency was common in women of low socio-economic status. The pregnant subjects in the two groups was similar as regards iron status. SPONSORSHIP: The study was supported by the Academy of Finland, University of Helsinki and NorFa, Norway.

The causal role of hypoalbuminemia in human nephrotic hyperlipidemia.

Serum lipids and their lipoprotein fractions were measured in 16 nephrotic syndrome patients. All component of lipids and beta-lipoprotein fractions (LDL) showed an increase in all uncomplicated patients. The increase in serum lipids were inversely proportional to the albumen level in these patients. In 3 patients, lipids and beta-lipoprotein fractions returned to near normal after treatment, the proteinuria diminished and serum albumen became normal. Most of these patients did not need any treatment for hyperlipidemia.