The impact of vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc supplements on immune status among Jordanian adults during COVID-19: cross-sectional study findings.

Background And Aims: Nutritional status is essential for the maintenance of the immune system, with malnutrition suppressing immunity. The aims of the current study were to assess the immune status of a group of Jordanian adults and to evaluate the association between vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc consumption and the Immune Status during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A total of 615 adults Jordanian participants were enrolled in this study, an online- based cross sectional survey was used as a tool for this study.

Brain insulin resistance as a mechanistic mediator links peripheral metabolic disorders with declining cognition.

Background And Aims: Studies continue to investigate the underlying mechanism of the association between the increased risk of different types of cognitive decline and metabolic dysregulation. Brain insulin resistance (BIR) has been suggested to explain this association. The vital role of insulin in the body has been examined intensively and extensively; however, its role in the brain requires further investigation.

Does obesity put your brain at risk?

Background And Aims: The negative impact of obesity on the brain is an issue of increasing clinical interest. Hence, this review summarized evidence linking obesity with brain morphology (gray and white matter volume), brain function (functional activation and connectivity), and cognitive function.

Methods: A criticals review of the relevant published English articles between 2008 and 2022, using PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct.

Healthy nutritional behavior during COVID-19 lockdown: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Ongoing outbreak of the novel coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID- 19) constitutes a major global pandemic health care system challenge. Shortly following the disease outbreak, like SARS-CoV virus, all affected countries are implementing various preventive and control measures to mitigate the spread of the disease. Optimizing public health system during COVID-19 pandemic requires not only advanced medical and biological sciences knowledge, but also all human sciences related to social, as well as nutritional behavior, and lifestyle practices.

Markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in schoolchildren with obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Background: Although increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), soluble adhesion molecules and proinflammatory biomarkers are strongly implicated in the development of atherosclerotic lesions, the role of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in atherogenicity and inflammation among schoolchildren is not well investigated.

Aim: To determine the levels of cIMT, endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory biomarkers in a group of schoolchildren with obesity and MetS.

Methods: Eighty-seven schoolchildren (age 10-15 years) were categorised into three groups: normal bodyweight group, obese group and severely obese with MetS group (17 boys and 12 girls in each group).

Androgens and hirsutism score of overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome improved after vitamin D treatment: A randomized placebo controlled clinical trial.

Background & Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D treatment on androgen levels and hirsutism scores in overweight women with PCOS.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted at King Abdullah University Hospital in Irbid, Jordan. Overweight Jordanian females aged 18-49 years with vitamin D deficiency and PCOS (n = 60) were assigned to two groups: the treatment group (n = 30) who received 50,000 IU per week of vitamin D and the control group (n = 30) who received a placebo.

The association between fat mass and subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy schoolchildren.

Background And Aims: Childhood obesity is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. The aims of this study were to investigate the change of atherosclerosis risk factors in three fat mass percentiles and to examine the association between fat mass and atherosclerosis risk factors among a group of schoolchildren.

Methods: A total of 125 schoolchildren (64 boys) aged 10-15 years were distributed into three groups: (i) the lower fat mass (LFM) group, for participants who reported fat mass ≤50th percentile; (ii) the middle fat mass (MFM) group, for participants who reported fat mass >50th percentile and <75th percentile; and (iii) the higher fat mass (HFM) group for participants who reported ≥ 75th percentiles.

Increased waist circumference is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in schoolchildren.

Background: Waist circumference (WC) is an indicator of adiposity; particularly visceral fat, cardiometabolic risk factors and related morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine the attribution of WC to increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and circulating levels of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in schoolchildren.

Methods: A total of 122 children (61 boys and 61 girls) aged 10-15 years were distributed into three groups: (i) the lower smoothed sex- and age-specific WC (LWC) group (ii) the middle smoothed sex- and age-specific WC (MWC) group, and (iii) the higher smoothed sex- and age-specific WC (HWC) group.

Physical activity, sedentary behaviors and dietary patterns as risk factors of obesity among Jordanian schoolchildren.

Objective: To identify certain risk factors associated with childhood obesity related to lifestyle; dietary patterns, physical activity, and sedentary behavior.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 977 schoolchildren (473 boys and 449 girls) aged 7-18 years. Children were selected randomly from three main cities in Jordan: Amman, Irbid, and Mafraq by using multistage cluster sampling method.

Validation of resting metabolic rate equations in obese and non-obese young healthy adults.

Background And Aims: Although validating resting metabolic rate (RMR) prediction equations in different populations is warranted to estimate total energy requirements, there are no data about the accuracy and applicability of RMR predictive equations in young healthy Jordanians. This study aimed to test the validity of predicted RMR using four prediction equations and its agreement with RMR measured using indirect calorimetry in healthy young obese and non-obese Jordanian adults.

Methods: Predicted RMR was tested for agreement with indirect calorimetry.

Thinking about brain insulin resistance.

Introduction: Dementia and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are two of the epidemics of our time; in which insulin resistance (IR) is playing the central role. Epidemiological studies found that different types of dementia development may be promoted by the presence of T2DM.

Objectives: We aimed in this review to highlight the role of insulin and the IR in the brain as a pathophysiological factor of dementia development and also to expand our understanding of T2DM as a mediator of IR in the brain and to review the possible mechanisms of action that may explain the association.

The associations of body composition and anthropometric measures with carotid intima-media thickness in obese and non-obese schoolchildren: A possible predictor for cardiovascular diseases.

Background Increased carotid intima-media thickness is one of the predictors of future cardiovascular diseases. However, it is still unknown which body composition parameter or anthropometric measure is the best predictor for carotid intima-media thickness change among children and young adolescents. Objective To investigate the associations of body composition and anthropometric measures with carotid intima-media thickness among a group of obese and normal bodyweight schoolchildren.

Association between complement component C3 and body composition: a possible obesity inflammatory biomarker for insulin resistance.

Background And Objectives: The C3 complement component (C3) is increasingly recognized as a cardiometabolic risk factor. We aimed to examine the role of C3 in insulin resistance (IR) and its association with adiposity.

Methods And Study Design: Sixty-seven obese (18-35 years) participants were matched with normal weight participants from the University of Jordan.

Vitamin D Insufficiency Predicts Elevated Levels of Complement 3 Independent of Insulin Resistance and BMI.

This study was to determine serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the complement 3 (C3), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and their association with the risk of insulin resistance (IR). A case-control study was carried out among 134 participants with body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m and BMI=18.5-24.

Markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in schoolchildren with obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Background: Although increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), soluble adhesion molecules and proinflammatory biomarkers are strongly implicated in the development of atherosclerotic lesions, the role of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in atherogenicity and inflammation among schoolchildren is not well investigated.

Aim: To determine the levels of cIMT, endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory biomarkers in a group of schoolchildren with obesity and MetS.

Methods: Eighty-seven schoolchildren (age 10-15 years) were categorised into three groups: normal bodyweight group, obese group and severely obese with MetS group (17 boys and 12 girls in each group).

Complement 3 serum levels as a pro-inflammatory biomarker for insulin resistance in obesity.

Introduction: Obesity is frequently characterized by chronic inflammation and insulin resistance (IR). Obesity-associated inflammation is responsible for the complement system activation of which the third component (C3) plays the central role.

Objective: to discuss several aspects of the central component of the complement system in relation to obesity and obesity-associated IR.

In vitro evaluation of potential complexation between bovine insulin and bovine serum albumin.

The objective of this study was to examine the possible binding of bovine insulin (BI) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) to form a new potential diabetogenic irreversible complex protein. Several preparations of BSA and BI were prepared. Both capillary electrophoresis and spectrophotometric analysis were undertaken to test the possibility of complexation between BI and BSA.

Depression among adults with diabetes in Jordan: risk factors and relationship to blood sugar control.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of undiagnosed depression among adults with diabetes mellitus in Jordan and to determine the factors that may indicate the presence of depression and to examine the relationship between depression and blood sugar control among Jordanian subjects with diabetes.

Methods: A systemic random sample of 649 type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients aged 18-75 years was selected during the period from July 2009 to January 2010. A prestructured questionnaire was used for collecting the information about sociodemographic data and clinical characteristics.

Body image dissatisfaction among adolescent schoolgirls in Jordan.

The present study has investigated the occurrence of body image dissatisfaction among adolescent schoolgirls in Amman, Jordan, and the risk factors that are known to predispose it including individual, familial and social variables. A sample of 326 adolescent girls aged 10-16 years was recruited from public and private schools in Amman. Participants completed a socio-demographic data sheet, eating attitude test, and body shape questionnaire.

Eating disturbances among adolescent schoolgirls in Jordan.

Objectives: Several studies indicated that the prevalence of eating disorders has increased among adolescent girls. The aim of the present study, therefore, is to investigate the occurrence and correlates of eating disorders among adolescent girls in Amman, Jordan.

Method: A sample of 432 adolescent girls aged 10-16 years were recruited from public and private schools in Amman.