Dietary products consumption in relation to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and selenium level in Saudi children and adults.

Vitamin D deficiency is a global health threat that has been associated with several chronic diseases. Selenium is an essential trace element because of role in major metabolic processes, immune function, thyroid hormone metabolism, male infertility, neoplasms and cardiovascular disease. We aimed to investigate for the first time in the Saudi population the association between vitamin D and selenium status with various dietary products consumption. A total of 259 children and 95 adults were included in this cross-sectional study. We estimated the consumption frequencies of various dietary food products using a qualitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and also measured serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and selenium. Associations between variables of interest were assessed. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were observed in 80% of the boys, 90% of the girls, 64% of men and 50% of women. Modest associations were found between mean serum 25 (OH) D concentration and consumption frequencies of fresh milk in children (r=0.11; P<0.05), more specifically in girls (r=0.12; P<0.05), and to the overall consumption of dairy products in women (r=0.12; P<0.05). Vitamin D status was also inversely associated with selenium in adults (r=-0.43; P<0.05). There was a significant correlation between delta changes of serum selenium, triglycerides and HDL levels (P-values <0.05). Vitamin D and selenium levels are modestly associated with dietary products consumption. Changes in selenium levels were associated with increased serum triglyceride levels, indicating a potential biomarker for cardiovascular risk and dyslipidemia. The widespread vitamin D deficiency observed in the present study highlight the need for adequate fortification of dairy products.

Inflammatory and bone turnover markers in relation to PTH and vitamin D status among saudi postmenopausal women with and without osteoporosis.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is characterized by rapid bone loss occurring in the post-menopausal period. The bone loss predominantly involves the trabecular bone and is brought about by an imbalance between the bone remodeling process which can be influenced by factors that could cause or contribute to osteoporosis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (Il-1ß, Il-6, IL-8 and TNF-α) have been implicated in the regulation of bone cells and play a critical role in bone remodeling. They act both directly and indirectly to increase bone resorption, and/or inhibit bone formation. The aim of the study is to determine whether pro-inflammatory cytokines correlate with bone turnover markers (BTM) in a cohort of Saudi post-menopausal women with or without osteoporosis and which BTMs will correlate with PTH and Vitamin D for use in osteoporosis diagnosis. The study is composed of 100 post-menopausal patients and 100 controls aged around 50 years. Serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory and BTMs as well as PTH and vitamin D were determined by ELISA, Luminex and electrochemiluminescence. Serum calcium, phosphorus, glucose, and lipid profile were measured by using a chemical analyzer. There was a significant increase in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, PTH, CTx, and glucose. A significantly lower vitamin D and osteocalcin levels were observed in subjects with osteoporosis than those without. No significant differences were recorded in the circulating lipid profile between groups. The present study proved that the pro-inflammatory cytokines accelerate the bone loss in postmenopausal women.

Inflammatory and bone turnover markers in relation to PTH and vitamin D status among Saudi postmenopausal women with and without osteoporosis.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is characterized by rapid bone loss occurring in the post-menopausal period. The bone loss predominantly involves the trabecular bone and is brought about by an imbalance between the bone remodeling process which can be influenced by factors that could cause or contribute to osteoporosis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (Il-1ß, Il-6, IL-8 and TNF-α) have been implicated in the regulation of bone cells and play a critical role in bone remodeling. They act both directly and indirectly to increase bone resorption, and/or inhibit bone formation. The aim of the study is to determine whether pro-inflammatory cytokines correlate with bone turnover markers (BTM) in a cohort of Saudi post-menopausal women with or without osteoporosis and which BTMs will correlate with PTH and Vitamin D for use in osteoporosis diagnosis. The study is composed of 100 post-menopausal patients and 100 controls aged 50 years and above. Serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory and BTMs as well as PTH and vitamin D were determined by ELISA, Luminex and electrochemiluminescence. Serum calcium, phosphorus, glucose, and lipid profile were measured by using a chemical analyzer. There was a significant increase in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, PTH, CTx, and glucose. A significantly lower vitamin D and osteocalcin levels were observed in subjects with osteoporosis than those without. No significant differences were recorded in the circulating lipid profile between groups. The present study proved that the pro-inflammatory cytokines accelerate the bone loss in postmenopausal women.

Lower vitamin D status is more common among Saudi adults with diabetes mellitus type 1 than in non-diabetics.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is an increasingly recognized comorbidity in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DMT1), suggesting that vitamin D deficiency might play a role in DMT1. We aimed to determine and compare the vitamin D status of Saudi adults with and without DMT1. METHODS: A total of 60 Saudi adults with DMT1 from the Diabetes Clinics and 60 non-DM, healthy controls were included in the study. The mean age for those with DMT1 was 25.9 ± 16.1 years versus 36.7 ± 3.6 years among the controls. We measured serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD), calcium, cholesterol, blood glucose, HDL, and triglycerides and compared the results between the DMT1 group and control subjects. RESULTS: Both the DMT1 and healthy groups had vitamin D deficiency. The mean levels of 25OHD were significantly lower in the DMT1 adults than in the controls (28.1 ± 1.4 nmol/L versus 33.4 ± 1.6 nmol/L). In the DMT1 adults, 66.7% were mildly, 31.7% moderately, and 3.3% severely vitamin D deficient as compared with 41.7% (mildly), 31.7% (moderately), and 5% (severely) in the control group. Overall, 100% of the DMT1 adults and 78% of the healthy children were vitamin D deficient. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among DMT1 adults was relatively high. Therefore, screening for vitamin D deficiency and supplementation for this population should be warranted.