RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Obesity has emerged as a public health crisis in many populations including Egypt. Adipose tissue produces a number of adipokines, one of them is adiponectin which has attracted much attention because of its antidiabetic and antiatherogenic effects. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a weight loss program on serum adiponectin level and insulin resistance among overweight and obese adult premenopausal females. STUDY DESIGN: A pre-postintervention study was carried out among 95 premenopausal overweight and obese females (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) aged 20 to 40 years at the integrated health clinic affiliated to the High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria, Egypt, from February 2016 to February 2017. All participants underwent a weight loss program based on a reduced calorie balanced diet and advised to increase their physical activity. Dietary instructions and follow-up were done weekly throughout 16 weeks. Blood samples were collected to investigate serum adiponectin level and insulin resistance at the beginning and the end of the intervention. RESULTS: After 16 weeks, a significant decrease in body weight by 9.7% was associated with a significant increase in serum adiponectin from 13.3 ± 4.9 µg/ml to 18.5 ± 5.6 µg/ml. Both fasting insulin and insulin resistance had decreased significantly by 13.6% and 13.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: A weight reduction program depending on a reduced calorie diet for 16 weeks was associated with a significant increase in total adiponectin level and reduction in insulin resistance. An emphasis on the importance of keeping normal weight through nutritional education and the promotion of healthy diets is recommended to reduce the risk of occurrence of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: There is insufficient information on the usage of dietary supplements among Egyptians. The aim of this study was to identify the pattern of dietary supplement usage among employees of Alexandria University. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out on 500 staff members, clerks, and workers of Alexandria University. The sample studied was equally allocated between seven institutions (three from medical sectors and four from nonmedical sectors), and was randomly selected from each institution after obtaining their verbal consent. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, lifestyle practices, dietary intake, and pattern of dietary supplement usage were collected from each participant. RESULTS: The use of dietary supplement was reported by 31.2% of the participants. These supplements were mainly multivitamins, iron, or calcium. Almost half of the users (52.6%) had used supplements regularly for years. The supplements were prescribed by doctors among 70.6% of the users for protection against diseases or to improve mental and physical well-being. The daily intake of the studied nutrients for both users and nonusers was found to be lesser than their requirements; also there was no statistically significant difference in the levels of nutrients studied, except in the adequacy of riboflavin, which was found to be higher among users than among nonusers (P=0.040). Female sex, higher educational and occupational levels, and the presence of chronic diseases were associated with the increased usage of dietary supplements. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Dietary intake of the studied nutrients for both users and nonusers of supplements was found to be less than their daily requirements. Nutritional education programs highlighting the importance of eating a balanced diet or the usage of dietary supplements are recommended for university employees.
