- Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
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Western lifestyle has rapidly been adopted and this has caused changes in dietary habits, types of food, cooking methods, etc. especially among the young Saudi population. We aimed to assess the overall diet quality of young adults. A... more
Western lifestyle has rapidly been adopted and this has caused changes in dietary habits, types of food, cooking methods, etc. especially among the young Saudi population. We aimed to assess the overall diet quality of young adults. A total of 140 students were included from the medical and para-medical students of King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a cross sectional study. A structured questionnaire was self-administered including socio-demographic characteristics, semi-quantitative pre-validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) from which dietary quality index international (DQI-I) was estimated. It was evident that poor dietary quality, as assessed by DQI-I, was common among the study cohort. FFQ data analysis clearly shows that the study participants were not adherent to the dietary guidelines. Score values of DQI-I and its components were indicative of inadequacy, imbalance, lack of moderation and diversity of nutrients and food items. Positive correlation was observed between DQI-I and some of its components with living arrangement and residency type as indicators of socioeconomic status. Appropriate indices should be developed for Saudi people, based on the recommendations specific for certain age groups like children, adolescents and young adults. Abbreviation
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause premature death. Considerable efforts have been made to identify CVD risk factors, including dietary micronutrients. However there are no data on the relationship between micronutrients and... more
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause premature death. Considerable efforts have been made to identify CVD risk factors, including dietary micronutrients. However there are no data on the relationship between micronutrients and CVD in Saudi Arabia despite the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the Middle East. Dietary intake was assessed by questionnaire in Saudis with established CVD (n=130) and age-matched controls (n=130). Demographic factors, lipid profile, serum trace elements, inflammatory markers and markers of antioxidant status were measured in each subject. There was a high prevalence of coronary risk factors among cases and controls, however, type 2 diabetes mellitus (p<0. 0001), a positive smoking habit (p<0. 0001) and hypertension (p<0. 05) were more prevalent among CVD patients. They also had a higher intake of energy, total fat, cholesterol, selenium, zinc, copper and vitamin A (p<0. 05 for all). Serum selenium, urinary copper (p<0. 001) and urinary zinc (p<0. 05) concentrations were lower among CVD patients. Controls (n=303) were stratified by age, race, and socioeconomic (SE) class to investigate the association between nutritional factors and the risk and prevalence of coronary disease. Dietary energy and absolute carbohydrate intake fell with age and increased with SE class (p<0. 05). The youngest group had the highest dietary intake of energy, fat, cholesterol (p<0. 05), the highest % energy provided by SFA (p<0. 001), and the lowest % energy as PUFA (p<0. 05) compared to the other age groups. The intake of fiber also rose with age, and was significantly higher in the older group (p<0. 05). Higher % energy as fat, dietary PUFA and PUFA/SFA ratio among subjects of low SE class than those of middle SE class (p<0. 05). Mean cholesterol and SFA intake was higher among subjects of Arabian descent than those of Mediterranean background (p<0. 05). Subjects of Mediterranean background had higher PUFA/SFA ratio than Asians and those of Arabian descent (p<0. 05). Among the controls without CVD (n=140), stratified by age; serum caeruloplasmin was positively associated with age and Framingham Risk Score whilst soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) was negatively associated with HDL-C among diabetic subjects. New Zealand White rabbits were fed with copper, zinc, both, or neither, and allocated to a cholesterol or normal chow diet for 12 weeks (n=8 per group). The cholesterol-fed animals were matched for integrated serum cholesterol levels. Dietary supplementation with either zinc, copper, or both was associated with reduced atherosclerotic lesion formation (p<0. 05). Plasma concentrations of lipid peroxides were significantly higher in the cholesterol-fed rabbits compared with the chow fed animals (P<0. 001) and these were reduced significantly by dietary copper or zinc supplementation (p<0. 001)
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ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between plasma levels of the inflammatory markers tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), C reactive protein (CRP), and interlukin‐6 (IL‐6) with insulin resistance in Saudi women with polycystic ovaries... more
ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between plasma levels of the inflammatory markers tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), C reactive protein (CRP), and interlukin‐6 (IL‐6) with insulin resistance in Saudi women with polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS).MethodsOne hundred eighty Saudi women with and without PCOS, aged 22–38 years, were randomly recruited in this age and body mass index matched case–control study. Clinical assessment, anthropometric measurements, and biochemical parameters were determined for all study participants.ResultsLevels of TNF‐α, IL‐6, hs‐CRP, insulin, and insulin resistance indices were significantly higher among PCOS group than their age and BMI matched controls (p < 0.05). Results showed that only QUICK‐I (β = −0.247, p < 0.0001, 95% CI: −3.009 to −0.977) independently predicted TNF‐α levels after adjustment for potential confounders.ConclusionsElevated plasma levels of TNF‐ α and IL‐6 among PCOS women reflects a state of chronic inflammation with p...
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Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are associated with cardiometabolic diseases and social inequities. For most nations, recent estimates and trends of intake are not available; nor variation by education or urbanicity. We investigated SSB... more
Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are associated with cardiometabolic diseases and social inequities. For most nations, recent estimates and trends of intake are not available; nor variation by education or urbanicity. We investigated SSB intakes among adults between 1990 and 2018 in 185 countries, stratified subnationally by age, sex, education, and rural/urban residence, using data from the Global Dietary Database. In 2018, mean global SSB intake was 2.7 (8 oz = 248 grams) servings/week (95% UI 2.5-2.9) (range: 0.7 (0.5-1.1) in South Asia to 7.8 (7.1-8.6) in Latin America/Caribbean). Intakes were higher in male vs. female, younger vs. older, more vs. less educated, and urban vs. rural adults. Variations by education and urbanicity were largest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Between 1990 and 2018, SSB intakes increased by +0.37 (+0.29, +0.47), with the largest increase in Sub-Saharan Africa. These findings inform intervention, surveillance, and policy actions worldwide, highlighting the gro...
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The global burden of diet-attributable type 2 diabetes (T2D) is not well established. This risk assessment model estimated T2D incidence among adults attributable to direct and body weight-mediated effects of 11 dietary factors in 184... more
The global burden of diet-attributable type 2 diabetes (T2D) is not well established. This risk assessment model estimated T2D incidence among adults attributable to direct and body weight-mediated effects of 11 dietary factors in 184 countries in 1990 and 2018. In 2018, suboptimal intake of these dietary factors was estimated to be attributable to 14.1 million (95% uncertainty interval (UI), 13.8–14.4 million) incident T2D cases, representing 70.3% (68.8–71.8%) of new cases globally. Largest T2D burdens were attributable to insufficient whole-grain intake (26.1% (25.0–27.1%)), excess refined rice and wheat intake (24.6% (22.3–27.2%)) and excess processed meat intake (20.3% (18.3–23.5%)). Across regions, highest proportional burdens were in central and eastern Europe and central Asia (85.6% (83.4–87.7%)) and Latin America and the Caribbean (81.8% (80.1–83.4%)); and lowest proportional burdens were in South Asia (55.4% (52.1–60.7%)). Proportions of diet-attributable T2D were generall...
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Animal-source foods (ASF) provide nutrition for children and adolescents’ physical and cognitive development. Here, we use data from the Global Dietary Database and Bayesian hierarchical models to quantify global, regional and national... more
Animal-source foods (ASF) provide nutrition for children and adolescents’ physical and cognitive development. Here, we use data from the Global Dietary Database and Bayesian hierarchical models to quantify global, regional and national ASF intakes between 1990 and 2018 by age group across 185 countries, representing 93% of the world’s child population. Mean ASF intake was 1.9 servings per day, representing 16% of children consuming at least three daily servings. Intake was similar between boys and girls, but higher among urban children with educated parents. Consumption varied by age from 0.6 at <1 year to 2.5 servings per day at 15–19 years. Between 1990 and 2018, mean ASF intake increased by 0.5 servings per week, with increases in all regions except sub-Saharan Africa. In 2018, total ASF consumption was highest in Russia, Brazil, Mexico and Turkey, and lowest in Uganda, India, Kenya and Bangladesh. These findings can inform policy to address malnutrition through targeted ASF c...
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Evidence on what people eat globally is limited in scope and rigour, especially as it relates to children and adolescents. This impairs target setting and investment in evidence-based actions to support healthy sustainable diets. Here we... more
Evidence on what people eat globally is limited in scope and rigour, especially as it relates to children and adolescents. This impairs target setting and investment in evidence-based actions to support healthy sustainable diets. Here we quantified global, regional and national dietary patterns among children and adults, by age group, sex, education and urbanicity, across 185 countries between 1990 and 2018, on the basis of data from the Global Dietary Database project. Our primary measure was the Alternative Healthy Eating Index, a validated score of diet quality; Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension and Mediterranean Diet Score patterns were secondarily assessed. Dietary quality is generally modest worldwide. In 2018, the mean global Alternative Healthy Eating Index score was 40.3, ranging from 0 (least healthy) to 100 (most healthy), with regional means ranging from 30.3 in Latin America and the Caribbean to 45.7 in South Asia. Scores among children versus adults were generall...
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Summary Background Diet is a major modifiable risk factor for human health and overall consumption patterns affect planetary health. We aimed to quantify global, regional, and national consumption levels of animal-source foods (ASF) to... more
Summary Background Diet is a major modifiable risk factor for human health and overall consumption patterns affect planetary health. We aimed to quantify global, regional, and national consumption levels of animal-source foods (ASF) to inform intervention, surveillance, and policy priorities. Methods Individual-level dietary surveys across 185 countries conducted between 1990 and 2018 were identified, obtained, standardised, and assessed among children and adults, jointly stratified by age, sex, education level, and rural versus urban residence. We included 499 discrete surveys (91·2% nationally or subnationally representative) with data for ASF (unprocessed red meat, processed meat, eggs, seafood, milk, cheese, and yoghurt), comprising 3·8 million individuals from 134 countries representing 95·2% of the world population in 2018. We used Bayesian hierarchical models to account for differences in survey methods and representativeness, time trends, and input data and modelling uncertainty, with five-fold cross-validation. Findings In 2018, mean global intake per person of unprocessed red meat was 51 g/day (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 48–54; region-specific range 7–114 g/day); 17 countries (23·9% of the world's population) had mean intakes of at least one serving (100 g) per day. Global mean intake of processed meat was 17 g/day (95% UI 15–21 g/day; region-specific range 3–54 g/day); seafood, 28 g/day (27–30 g/day; 12–44 g/day); eggs, 21 g/day (18–24 g/day; 6–35 g/day); milk 88 g/day (84–93 g/day; 45–185 g/day); cheese, 8 g/day (8–10 g/day; 1–34 g/day); and yoghurt, 20 g/day (17–23 g/day; 7–84 g/day). Mean national intakes were at least one serving per day for processed meat (≥50 g/day) in countries representing 6·9% of the global population; for cheese (≥42 g/day) in 2·3%; for eggs (≥55 g/day) in 0·7%; for milk (≥245 g/day) in 0·3%; for seafood (≥100 g/day) in 0·8%; and for yoghurt (≥245 g/day) in less than 0·1%. Among the 25 most populous countries in 2018, total ASF intake was highest in Russia (5·8 servings per day), Germany (3·8 servings per day), and the UK (3·7 servings per day), and lowest in Tanzania (0·9 servings per day) and India (0·7 servings per day). Global and regional intakes of ASF were generally similar by sex. Compared with children, adults generally consumed more unprocessed red meat, seafood and cheese, and less milk; energy-adjusted intakes of other ASF were more similar. Globally, ASF intakes (servings per week) were higher among more-educated versus less-educated adults, with greatest global differences for milk (0·79), eggs (0·47), unprocessed red meat (0·42), cheese (0·28), seafood (0·28), yoghurt (0·22), and processed meat (0·21). This was also true for urban compared to rural areas, with largest global differences (servings per week) for unprocessed red meat (0·47), milk (0·38), and eggs (0·20). Between 1990 and 2018, global intakes (servings per week) increased for unprocessed red meat (1·20), eggs (1·18), milk (0·63), processed meat (0·50), seafood (0·44), and cheese (0·14). Interpretation Our estimates of ASF consumption identify populations with both lower and higher than optimal intakes. These estimates can inform the targeting of intervention, surveillance, and policy priorities relevant to both human and planetary health. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and American Heart Association.
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an increasing world health problem. Traditional risk factors fail to account for all deaths from CVD. It is mainly the environmental, dietary and lifestyle behavioral factors that are the control keys in... more
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an increasing world health problem. Traditional risk factors fail to account for all deaths from CVD. It is mainly the environmental, dietary and lifestyle behavioral factors that are the control keys in the progress of this disease. The potential association between chronic heavy metal exposure, like arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, and CVD has been less well defined. The mechanism through which heavy metals act to increase cardiovascular risk factors may act still remains unknown, although impaired antioxidants metabolism and oxidative stress may play a role. However, the exact mechanism of CVD induced by heavy metals deserves further investigation either through animal experiments or through molecular and cellular studies. Furthermore, large-scale prospective studies with follow up on general populations using appropriate biomarkers and cardiovascular endpoints might be recommended to identify the factors that predispose to heavy metals toxicity in...
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Background: The relationship between Vitamin D (VitD) with insulin sensitivity and secretion in Type-2 diabetes (T2D) has shown to be different amongst different ethnic populations. In Saudi Arabia, where both T2D and VitD deficiency are... more
Background: The relationship between Vitamin D (VitD) with insulin sensitivity and secretion in Type-2 diabetes (T2D) has shown to be different amongst different ethnic populations. In Saudi Arabia, where both T2D and VitD deficiency are highly prevalent health concerns, little is known about the relationship between VitD, insulin sensitivity, resistance and the relative importance of ethnicity. Our aim in this study is to investigate influence of ethnicity on VitD association with glycaemic profile primarily and to measures of obesity secondarily, among multiethnic postmenopausal women with T2DM in Saudi Arabia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Postmenopausal females (n = 173, age ≥ 50 years) with T2D were randomly selected in this study. Anthropometric measures and fasting blood samples were obtained for all study participants. Several biochemical parameters were measured including...
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Most available diagnostic methods of insulin resistance are either unsuitable for screening or fail to detect marginal cases. It was reported that including plasma free fatty acids (FFA) into QUICK (quantitative insulin sensitivity check... more
Most available diagnostic methods of insulin resistance are either unsuitable for screening or fail to detect marginal cases. It was reported that including plasma free fatty acids (FFA) into QUICK (quantitative insulin sensitivity check index) I improves its diagnostic power. The aim was to test the effectiveness of modified QUICK I against HOMA (homeostasis model assessment) and QUICK I in identifying insulin resistant subjects in the non-diabetic adult population. 357 healthy adults aged 18 - 50 years were recruited randomly. Their anthropometric and demographic information were taken. Biochemical parameters and FFA (free fatty acid) were measured in fasting blood samples and used to calculate modified QUICK I. Reported cut-off point was used to identify IR subjects, who were matched for age and sex to individuals from the rest of the subjects. 209 subjects satisfied the criteria. 97 individuals were identified to be IR. This group had statistically different anthropometric and b...
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Background Numerous research studies have found an association between vitamin D (vitD) status and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in vitD metabolism. It is notable that the influence of these SNPs on... more
Background Numerous research studies have found an association between vitamin D (vitD) status and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in vitD metabolism. It is notable that the influence of these SNPs on 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels might vary in different populations. In this study, we aimed to explore for genetic variants in genes related to vitD metabolism in families with vitD deficiency in Saudi Arabia using whole-exome sequencing (WES). Methods This family-based WES study was conducted for 21 families with vitD deficiency (n = 39) in Saudi Arabia. WES was performed for DNA samples, then resulting WES data was filtered and a number of variants were prioritized and validated by Sanger DNA sequencing. Results Several missense variants in vitD-related genes were detected in families. We determined two variants in low-density lipoprotein 2 gene (LRP2) with one variant (rs2075252) observed in six individuals, while the other LRP2 variant (rs4667591) was...
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Traditional risk factors do not appear to explain fully the variation in the incidence of the cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Epidemiological studies have not been entirely consistent with regard to the relationship between antioxidant... more
Traditional risk factors do not appear to explain fully the variation in the incidence of the cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Epidemiological studies have not been entirely consistent with regard to the relationship between antioxidant vitamin intake and CVD and there appears to be little data on this relationship in non-Caucasian populations. This study aimed to investigate the dietary intake of vitamin A, C, and vitamin E, and carotenoids, serum concentrations of vitamin E and A and indices of lipid peroxidation were measured in male Saudi patients with established CVD and age-matched controls. We assessed the dietary intakes of vitamins A, C, and E and carotenoids, by a food frequency questionnaire. Serum vitamins A and E concentrations were measured by HPLC, in 130 Saudi male subjects with established CVD, and 130 age-matched controls. We also determined serum lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C), lipoprotein (a), oxidized LDL, and serum lipid peroxide ...
Research Interests: Carotenoids, Cardiovascular disease, Antioxidants, Humans, Hypertension, and 15 moreDiabetes mellitus, Cholesterol, Asia Pacific, Food Frequency Questionnaire, Body Mass Index, Lipid peroxidation, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, Ascorbic Acid, Coronary heart disease, Cardiovascular Risk Factor, Cardiovascular Diseases, Epidemiologic Studies, Case Control Studies, Coronary Risk Factors, and Dietary fats
Background The relationship between vitamin D (VitD) and insulin sensitivity and secretion in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) has been shown to be different amongst different ethnic populations. In Saudi Arabia, where both T2D and VitD... more
Background The relationship between vitamin D (VitD) and insulin sensitivity and secretion in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) has been shown to be different amongst different ethnic populations. In Saudi Arabia, where both T2D and VitD deficiency are highly prevalent health concerns, little is known about the relationship between VitD, insulin sensitivity, resistance and the relative importance of ethnicity. Our primary aim in this study was to investigate influence of ethnicity on VitD association with glycaemic profile and to measures of obesity as a secondary outcome, among multiethnic postmenopausal women with T2D in Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Postmenopausal females ( n = 173, age ≥ 50 years) with T2D were randomly selected in this study. Anthropometric measures and fasting blood samples were obtained for all study participants. Several biochemical parameters ...
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Background: Measurement of free 25-hydroyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status has been suggested as a more representative marker of vitamin D status than that of total 25(OH)D. Previously, free 25(OH)D could only be calculated indirectly; however,... more
Background: Measurement of free 25-hydroyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status has been suggested as a more representative marker of vitamin D status than that of total 25(OH)D. Previously, free 25(OH)D could only be calculated indirectly; however, a newly developed direct assay for the measurement of free 25(OH)D is now available. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate directly measured total and free vitamin D levels association with metabolic health in postmenopausal healthy women living in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A sample of 302 postmenopausal women aged ≥ 50 years (n=302) living in Saudi Arabia were recruited in a cross-section study design. Blood samples were collected from subjects for measurement of serum levels of total 25(OH)D, directly measured free 25(OH)D, metabolic bone parameters, lipid profile, and other biochemical tests. Results: A positive correlation was found between directly measured free and total 25(OH)D (r=0.64, P<0.0001). Total, but not free 25(OH)D show...
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Vitamin D (vitD) deficiency has been suspected as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It has been reported that an inverse relationship exists between vitD status and risk of T2DM. The aim of this study was to investigate... more
Vitamin D (vitD) deficiency has been suspected as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It has been reported that an inverse relationship exists between vitD status and risk of T2DM. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between vitD status and glycemic profile and other metabolic parameters among postmenopausal women with T2DM (living in Saudi Arabia). A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. One thirty six (n = 136) postmenopausal females (age ≥ 50 years) living in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia, with T2DM were randomly recruited in this study. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure readings and fasting blood samples were obtained fro all study participants. Several biochemical parameters were estimated in fasting serum samples including total 25(OH)D, HbA1c, insulin, glucose, c-peptide and lipid profile. Surrogate markers for insulin resistance were cal...
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Vitamin D (vitD) deficiency is highly prevalent in the Middle East (including Saudi Arabia) despite the abundance of sunlight. Older individuals in particular are at high risk of being vitD deficient. VitD binding protein (DBP), which... more
Vitamin D (vitD) deficiency is highly prevalent in the Middle East (including Saudi Arabia) despite the abundance of sunlight. Older individuals in particular are at high risk of being vitD deficient. VitD binding protein (DBP), which acts as a carrier of vitD and its metabolites, has been reported to influence vitD status. In our study we aimed to investigate vitD status among postmenopausal women and its relation to DBP. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Seventy six postmenopausal females (age ≥ 50 years) who were not taking vitD supplementation and who were resident in Jeddah city, were randomly recruited from internal medicine clinics at King Abdulaziz University Hospital. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, lifestyle history, dietary vitD intake and fasting blood samples were obtained from all study participants. Serum total 25 hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D), DBP, albumin, parathyr...
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Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cardio-metabolic risk factors in apparently healthy Saudi women with vitamin D deficiency. Study Design: A retrospective chart review. Place and Duration of Study: This study... more
Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cardio-metabolic risk factors in apparently healthy Saudi women with vitamin D deficiency. Study Design: A retrospective chart review. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the Center of Excellence for Osteoporosis Research (CEOR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between June 2015 to October 2015. Methodology: Healthy women 20–40 years old, with no history of previous illnesses and not on any medications were included in this study. Data on anthropometric measurements as well as blood pressure (BP) were obtained. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Laboratory results including fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting lipid profile, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were also obtained. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25(OH)D3 concentration <50 nmol/l. Modified NCEP:ATPIII criteria were used to define cardio-metabolic risk factor cutoff points. Results: A...
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Abstract Our aim was to investigate the relationship between plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels with different measures of central obesity among Saudi women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). One hundred and sixty-four... more
Abstract Our aim was to investigate the relationship between plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels with different measures of central obesity among Saudi women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). One hundred and sixty-four Saudi females, between 22 and 38 years of age, with and without PCOS were enrolled in this case-control study. Physical examination and laboratory tests were completed for every subject. 2/3 of the study population were obese. Fasting serum insulin, plasma IL-6 levels and insulin resistance show significant increase among POCS than the controls (p<.05). Based on linear regression analysis, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was the only independent predictor of plasma IL-6 levels, accounting for 4% of the variability in plasma IL-6 (β = 0.217, p=.005, 95% CI: 0.049–0.275). Coexistence of metabolic and inflammatory factors in PCOS females is accompanied by central obesity which overpowers the effect of insulin resistance, contributing to higher plasma levels of IL-6 and CRP. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a cluster of many cardiovascular risk factors, but is also known as an inflammatory condition. Insulin resistance and abdominal obesity are classic components of PCOS. High circulatory levels of inflammatory markers in PCOS patients have been reported but it remains unclear whether their elevation is related to PCOS itself, or are a function of abdominal adiposity. What the results of this study add? The relationship between plasma interleukin-6 levels and different measures of central obesity was investigated among Saudi women with and without PCOS. Elevations of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory markers were reported in PCOS patients independently of insulin resistance. It remains to be established whether the proinflammatory state in PCOS is primarily due to inflamed adipose tissue. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The present study demonstrates that coexistence of metabolic and inflammatory factors in PCOS females are accompanied by central obesity which overpowers the effect of insulin resistance, contributing to higher plasma levels of IL-6 and CRP. Future studies including a larger population are needed to investigate the mechanisms by which IL-6 and hs-CRP promote cardiovascular risk in PCOS patients.
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OBJECTIVES Adipokines have gained much interest in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis studies over the past years in that they play crucial roles in bone and cartilage homeostasis. Obesity is known to be one of the well-recognized and... more
OBJECTIVES Adipokines have gained much interest in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis studies over the past years in that they play crucial roles in bone and cartilage homeostasis. Obesity is known to be one of the well-recognized and modifiable causes of OA burden. Key mediators in this metabolic link between obesity and OA could be resistin, among other cytokines secreted by the adipose tissue. We aimed to evaluate the association of serum resistin with obesity, and inflammation in female patients with knee OA. METHODS One hundred female participants, aged above 40 years, with symptomatic primary knee OA were matched for age with 100 apparently healthy females in a case-control study design. All study participants were subjected to clinical examination, laboratory investigations and radiological examination. RESULTS Patients with primary knee OA had elevated levels of serum resistin compared with healthy controls. We demonstrated that elevated serum resistin positively correlated with adiposity measures, inflammatory markers and WOMAC index. High sensitivity C reactive protein was found to be an independent predictor of serum resistin levels after adjustment for confounder factors. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that resistin may play an important role in the progression of knee OA and may serve as a novel and reliable biomarker for reflecting disease severity, with the potential to contribute to the fundamental processes underlying the pathogenesis of knee OA.
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BACKGROUND The present study aimed to investigate levels of nutrient intakes, including dietary antioxidant quality (DAQ) score, among Saudi females with and without knee osteoarthritis (OA). We also aimed to examine the relationship... more
BACKGROUND The present study aimed to investigate levels of nutrient intakes, including dietary antioxidant quality (DAQ) score, among Saudi females with and without knee osteoarthritis (OA). We also aimed to examine the relationship between nutrient intakes and knee OA severity. METHODS One hundred female participants with symptomatic primary knee OA were matched for age with 100 apparently healthy females and were sequentially recruited from the Orthopaedics Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia, in a case-control study design. Radiographic disease severity of OA was assessed by the Kellgren-Lawrence grading system. Symptomatic severity was evaluated according to the Western Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis scores. Dietary intake was assessed using a prevalidated food frequency questionnaire. The DAQ score was calculated considering the risk of an inadequate intake (<2/3 reference nutrient intake) for selenium, zinc, vitamins A, C and E. RESULTS A higher intake of saturated fatty acids [15.4 (0.3) as a mean (SD) percentage of energy supplied] and monounsaturated fatty acids [16.6 (0.2) as a percentage of energy supplied] than the recommendations was evident among the study population. OA patients consume less antioxidants than non-OA subjects as determined by their DAQ score [8.41 (0.1) versus 9.17 (0.1), P < 0.0001]. After adjusting for potential confounders, DAQ score, and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, most of the micronutrient intakes were found to be negatively associated with the prevalence of radiographic knee OA. CONCLUSIONS Dietary antioxidants could be implicated in the development and progression of knee OA. Modifying dietary fatty acids may be one way of reducing the development and subsequent burden of knee OA.
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Background:Progranulin is an adipokine that is involved in the inflammatory response, glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and may therefore be involved in chronic subclinical inflammation associated with the pathogenesis of childhood... more
Background:Progranulin is an adipokine that is involved in the inflammatory response, glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and may therefore be involved in chronic subclinical inflammation associated with the pathogenesis of childhood obesity. We aimed to investigate the association of circulating progranulin levels with metabolic parameters in children and to assess the importance of progranulin as a biomarker for metabolic diseases.Methods:A total of 150 children were consecutively recruited from the Pediatric Nutrition Clinics at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Children were classified into four groups based on quartile for serum progranulin. Anthropometric variables were measured in all study subjects. Fasting blood samples were collected for measurement of blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile.Results:Children within the upper quartile for serum progranulin concentration were heavier, more insulin resistant and had higher concentrations of seru...
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Relationship between Diet Habits and Adiposity Measures among Medical and Para- Medical Students Behaviour patterns acquired at college generally persist in adult life. Global rise in obesity epidemic are attributed to socioeconomic and... more
Relationship between Diet Habits and Adiposity Measures among Medical and Para- Medical Students Behaviour patterns acquired at college generally persist in adult life. Global rise in obesity epidemic are attributed to socioeconomic and cultural factors. The relationship between dietary factors and obesity development is complex and poorly investigated. Data on dietary habits among Saudis are limited. Thus we aimed to assess the relationship between dietary habits and adiposity measures in college students.
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Osteoporosis and atherosclerosis often present atypically in postmenopausal women, making clinical recognition difficult. Prospective studies suggest independent associations between bone mass and vascular calcification through vitamin D... more
Osteoporosis and atherosclerosis often present atypically in postmenopausal women, making clinical recognition difficult. Prospective studies suggest independent associations between bone mass and vascular calcification through vitamin D deficiency as an established predictor of both conditions. We aimed to examine the relationship between serum osteocalcin and vitamin D status in postmenopausal women with and without angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). One hundred and eighty postmenopausal women undergoing coronary angiography were selected sequentially from the Catheterization unit of King Abdulaziz University Hospital. Socio-demographic, anthropometric parameters and dietary habits were measured. Biochemical variables were estimated in blood samples. Half of the postmenopausal women did not have significant CAD, 24% had significant CAD in a single and/or double coronary vessels, 26% had significant CAD in three coronary vessels. Mean serum vitamin D concentrat...
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Osteoporosis and atherosclerosis often present atypically in postmenopausal women, making clinical recognition difficult. Prospective studies suggest independent associations between bone mass and vascular calcification through vitamin D... more
Osteoporosis and atherosclerosis often present atypically in postmenopausal women, making clinical recognition difficult. Prospective studies suggest independent associations between bone mass and vascular calcification through vitamin D deficiency as an established predictor of both conditions. We aimed to examine the relationship between serum osteocalcin and vitamin D status in postmenopausal women with and without angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). One hundred and eighty postmenopausal women undergoing coronary angiography were selected sequentially from the Catheterization unit of King Abdulaziz University Hospital. Socio-demographic, anthropometric parameters and dietary habits were measured. Biochemical variables were estimated in blood samples. Half of the postmenopausal women did not have significant CAD, 24% had significant CAD in a single and/or double coronary vessels, 26% had significant CAD in three coronary vessels. Mean serum vitamin D concentrat...