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Purpose of this study is to measure the Vitamin D status of healthy adults and to correlate with their lifestyle and feeding habits. Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is the most common marker of vitamin D status of an individual. Deficiency of vitamin D is defined as the serum level less than 20 ng/mL and insufficiency as 30 ng/mL which can be prevented.

Vitamin D status of healthy adults (n = 82), both male and females between the age of 18 – 50 years who were attending to the National Transport Authority, Kandy, Sri Lanka from February to March 2016, was measured and correlated with their lifestyle, feeding habits, etc.

The mean total serum D (25(OH)D in this study was 40.15 ± 3.74 nmol/l with the mean value of 42.8 ± 28.8 and 37.5 ± 16.6 for women and men, respectively. The serum calcium levels of both female and male were around 8 mg/dl and the serum total protein was 6.5 and 7 g/dl in women and men, respectively. The serum Vitamin D, calcium and total protein were not statistically significantly different between the sexes. In this study, 84 per cent of the total subjects were normocalcemic, and there was no significant relationship between vitamin D levels and their calcium levels.

This study demonstrates that there was no statistically significant correlation between the serum vitamin D with age, serum calcium or total proteins. The majority of participants who had exposure to the sunlight more than 30 mins/day had sufficient level of vitamin D and less than 30 min/day exposure had deficiency of vitamin D. Daily intake of multivitamin influenced vitamin D status of the study group.

These findings will implicate the importance of cultural, feed and social habits for the nutritional status of an individual.and there are no reported studies on vitamin D status with reference to the variation of life style.

It is very important to investigate the factors affecting to the vitamin D status of a population as such, vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency can be prevented. In Sri Lanka, the population is consisting with many ethnic groups, different ethnic groups may find some nutritional problems according to their main cultural habits.

The objectives of this study are to evaluate the Vitamin D status in a group of healthy adults between 20 and 50 years in both men and women and to find out the correlation of their vitamin D status with their lifestyle and feeding habits, etc.

Osteoporosis is increasingly affecting the young female adults of the Iranian population. The role of nutrition and physical activity on bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in young female students has not been fully examined. This study aims to assess the dietary intake of several nutrients, such as calcium, phosphorus and protein; serum concentrations of vitamin D; and physical activity and their relationship with BMC and BMD in young female students.

Three-day dietary intakes of 67 female students were measured via duplicate portion sampling (DPS) method. Calcium and phosphorus content of the food samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Protein intake was determined by Kjeldahl method. Serum 25(OH) D concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

The mean ±SD dietary intake of protein, calcium and phosphorus was 58.8 ± 16.9 g/day, 388 ± 135 mg/day and 1884 ± 682 mg/day, respectively. Significant positive correlation was found between serum vitamin 25(OH) D concentrations and BMC of lumbar spine (r = 0.28, p = 0.016) and BMD of femoral neck (r = 0.29, p = 0.016). Moreover, the authors observed a significant positive correlation between physical activity and femoral neck BMC (r = 0.26, p = 0.03) and BMD (r = 0.28, p = 0.02). This study found no significant associations between dietary intakes of protein, calcium and phosphorus and bone density measurements.

In this study, the authors measured the dietary intake of protein, calcium and phosphorus using DPS method. This study highlights the role of physical activity and serum vitamin 25(OH) D concentrations in female students’ bone health.

Normal calcium metabolism may be considered under six main headings, each closely related to, and dependent on one another. These divisions are: (1) The skeleton; (2) The level of calcium in the blood; (3) The intake of calcium; (4) The output of calcium; (5) The factors which regulate the absorption of calcium from gut; (6) Certain endocrine glands which have a controlling influence on the output of calcium in the urine.

The aim of the study was to compare the nutritional status of children having celiac disease (CD) with those not having the disease in the age group of 7-12 years. Children not having CD were from first- and second-degree siblings of the children affected to match for family and environment. In Indian celiac pediatric population, studies on nutritional status of celiac children and comparisons with their siblings as reference have not been reported.

Children with CD (n = 50) and without CD (n = 25) were matched for age and were purposively selected. Nutritional assessment included anthropometry, biochemical, clinical and nutrient intake. Weight and height measurements were recorded as per the standardized techniques. Biochemical investigations were done by skilled technicians. A two-day 24-h dietary recall method was used for calculation of nutrient intake. The observations were categorized as celiac and non-celiac children and pre-adolescents in age group of 7-9 years and 10-12 years.

The issues of being underweight and of low height according to age among celiac children were rampant. The non-celiac children were comparatively taller than children with CD. The hemoglobin and serum iron were significantly lower in celiac than non-celiac group (p < 0.01). Energy intake was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in celiac pre-adolescents as compared to non-celiac children (7-9 years). The protein intake was higher in non-celiac children, and the difference was highly significant (p < 0.01). The fat consumption was higher in celiac pre-adolescents. The nutritional status of celiac children was poor as compared to non-celiac children.

The present study is an attempt to compare the nutritional status of celiac children with their siblings.

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of hypocalcaemia among first-trimester pregnant women and its contributing factors.

A cross-sectional study was carried out among first-trimester pregnant women who were recruited during their first antenatal visit. A total of 396 respondents of age 18-40 years completed the self-administered questionnaire (socio-demographic, socio-economic, obstetric information), validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for calcium (FFQ-calcium), anthropometric measurements (weight and height) and blood test for serum calcium during their first trimester.

The prevalence of hypocalcaemia based on serum calcium level of less than 2.11 mmol/L was 26.0 per cent (n = 103). The median serum calcium level was 2.2 mmol/L (IQR, 25th and 75th percentile – 2.1 and 2.3, respectively). Milk intake of less than two glasses per day during pregnancy showed a twofold increase in developing hypocalcaemia (OR, 2.231; 95 per cent CI, 1.399, 3.588). Other than that, underweight (aOR, 2.038; 95 per cent SK, 1.088, 3.820) and obese before pregnancy (aOR, 1.954; 95 per cent SK, 1.007, 3.790) are also predictors of hypocalcaemia.

The prevalence of hypocalcaemia among first-trimester pregnant women in this study was 26.0 per cent. Intake of two or more glasses of milk per day can help prevent hypocalcaemia at this stage of pregnancy.

This study aims to report the phytochemical screening and anti-diarrhoea properties of methanol extract of Diodia sarmentosa Swartz (DSS) leave (at 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) in albino rats.

Three types of diarrhoea models (castor oil-induced diarrhoea, castor oil-induced gastrointestinal motility and castor oil-induced enteropooling), as well as an assay for serum and faecal electrolyte concentrations, were used. Acute toxicity study and phytochemical screening of the extract were carried out using standard techniques.

The percentage inhibition of diarrhoea by DSS 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg was obtained as 25.7%, 55% and 84.6%, respectively, compared with loperamide that had 87.6% inhibition. DSS dose dependently modulated the number and frequency of defecation, the weight of the faeces of the diarrhoea rats, the distance that was travelled by charcoal meal, mean differences in the full lengths of the intestines and the distance travelled by charcoal meal, weight and volume of intestinal contents, serum and faecal concentrations of potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, bicarbonate, iron and zinc relative to the negative control and in a manner akin to loperamide (for the extract at 600 mg/kg). DSS or loperamide attenuated the loss of calcium in the faeces of the rats. DSS possesses anti-diarrhoea properties, which may be attributed to the phytochemicals in it. Finally, the study showed the safety in the usage of DSS.

DSS exerted its anti-diarrhoea action in castor oil-induced diarrhoea rats, by modulating their intestinal secretory and motile activity in a manner akin to loperamide (for DSS at 600 mg/kg).

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between micronutrient intake and coronary heart disease (CHD) in middle-aged Jordanian participants.

A case-control study was conducted among patients referring for elective coronary angiography. A total of 400 patients were enrolled in this study. Face-to-face interview was used to complete food frequency questionnaire from which the authors derived usual daily intake of micronutrients. The mean age of participates was 52 years and their average BMI was 30.7 kg/m². Multinomial logistic regression model and linear logistic regression model were used to calculate odd ratios (OR) and its 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) and p-value for trend, respectively. The association between the risk of CHD and micronutrients intake was adjusted for the age, gender, BMI, smoking, physical activity, total energy intake, occupation, education level, marital status and family history.

The study results showed no significant differences between cases and controls for dietary intakes of micronutrients, except for the intake of calcium (p < 0.005), magnesium (p < 0.025), phosphorus (p < 0.023) and potassium (p < 0.006) which were lower in cases than controls. Although no significant trend was observed between most of the dietary intake of micronutrients and the risk of developing CHD, a significant protective effect of magnesium [OR 0.52; 95 per cent CI (0.29-0.95)], phosphorus [OR 0.44; 95 per cent CI (0.24-0.80)] and potassium [OR 0.41; 95 per cent CI (0.22-0.74)] against the risk of CHD was detected.

The findings from this study provide strong evidence that the intake of micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium has no significant associations with the risk of CHD.

Life is made up of debits and credits, as Kipling wrote, long accounts have to be paid — mistakes, misconduct, misdeeds, all the mischief and harm they cause, exact payment which has to be met by someone, not necessarily those that cause the trouble; all too often by innocent victims. The recent industrial strife, destruction and violence, despite the plausible excuses for it, will have disastrous results, a colossal debit in the nation's accounts; and the mass of the people, the vulnerable groups including several millions of elderly pensioners, the handicapped and sick, are under no illusions who will have to pay. The posturing defiance — “heads held high”, bands playing martial music — the complete lack of concern or regret for others will make no difference to the overtaking retribution.

Traditional quality control materials used for monitoring the clinical laboratory test accuracy might be non-commutable with patient samples and may not detect systematic errors. The aim of this paper is to describe a method to monitor inter-instrument bias using result distributions that are independent of the control's commutability.

Serum calcium data collected within a laboratory network were assessed. A reference interval was calculated using a computerized, indirect Hoffmann's algorithm using all data across a laboratory network without excluding any results. Results outside the reference interval were considered as the zero-bias distribution. Three allowable bias levels were then calculated to determine the corresponding shift in abnormal results for each bias level in both directions from the zero-bias distribution. The observed result distributions in three laboratories within the network were compared for bias performance after one year of the reference interval study.

Performance levels for bias were: minimum allowable <1.27 percent; desirable <0.85 percent; and optimal <0.42 percent. Zero bias result distribution above and below the reference interval for calcium was 3.92 percent and 2.53 percent respectively. All three laboratories performed within the desirable allowable bias level.

Bias-monitoring process using patient result distributions allows managers to: assess systematic error between laboratory instruments; improve laboratory quality control; and strengthen patient risk management.

The deficiency or excess of serum zinc in pregnancy may threaten the health of the mother and the fetus. The purpose of this study is to determine the pattern of serum zinc in pregnant women covered by Urmia urban health centers and its association with some nutritional and clinical determinants in the third trimester, from July to December 2018.

In this analytic cross-sectional study, of six selected health centers in Urmia, 400 pregnant women subjects who were in their third trimester were recruited in a simple random manner. The nutritional, demographic, clinical data as well as fasting blood samples were taken from each of the subjects. The data were analyzed using chi-square, independent t-test and logistic regression tests.

The study revealed that about 3 per cent of pregnant women had zinc deficiency, 70.2 per cent were normal and 26.8 per cent had high serum zinc levels. In 388 pregnant women (72.4 per cent with normal serum zinc and 27.6 per cent with high serum zinc), binary logistic regression model showed that high concentration of serum zinc was directly associated with dietary intake zinc (OR: 2.252; 95 per cent CI: 1.85-2.74), supplement zinc (OR: 7.823; 95 per cent CI: 3.676-16.649) and total intake magnesium (OR: 1.005; 95 per cent CI: 1.000-1.01) and inversely associated with frequent reproductive cycling (OR: 0.739; 95 per cent CI: 0.569-0.959).

Pregnant women in Urmia probably have high concentrations of serum zinc, and it is likely related to consumption of the zinc supplementation. Supplementation programs need to be scaled up for pregnant women that take inadequate dietary zinc.