Self-reported urinary urgency in association with vitamin D and psychiatric symptoms among patients with musculoskeletal pain.

OBJECTIVES: Urinary urgency (UU) is linked to musculoskeletal pain (MSP), and it is associated with mental health conditions. This study examined the prevalence of UU morbidity among outpatients with MSP, and the possible association of UU with psychological symptoms and vitamin D deficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 169 participants recruited from outpatient clinics at King Abdullah University Hospital in Jordan. Participants completed self-guided questionnaires that included information about MSP and UU. Psychological symptoms were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A blood sample was collected for measuring vitamin D levels. Regression analysis was performed to explore predictors of MSP and UU. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency was presented in 64.5% of participants, while UU was reported among 35.4% of MSP patients. Approximately 1/3 of participants had psychiatric symptoms (HADS ≥ 8). Regression analyses revealed a significant association between vitamin D deficiency, low calcium intake, and anxiety scores with MSP (p < 0.05), while anxiety score was a significant predictor of UU among MSP patients (adjusted OR = 4.26, p = 0.038). A moderately significant correlation between anxiety score and frequency of UU per day was also observed (r = 0.303, p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: Urinary urgency was prevalent among MSP patients and was strongly associated with anxiety symptoms. The findings suggest the importance of assessment of MSP patients for UU and the associated psychological symptoms so interventions may be potentially implemented to improve patients' health conditions.

Hot Flashes in Adolescence and Young Adult Females: a Link to Vitamin D and Calcium.

Background: Menopause is a stage in life when a woman stops having menstruation and the ovaries produce less estrogen. Hot flashes (HFs) are the classical symptoms for menopausal transition and cessation of menses. Increased anxiety had been reported as a significant risk factor of HFs. Vitamin D deficiency and low daily dietary calcium intake may be associated with the occurrence of hot flashes (HFs) in adolescents and young females that are not related to hormonal changes of menopausal transition. Objective: The aim of this study is to validate this hypothesis. Methods: A case-control study was conducted. Thirty-eight females (38) with HFs aged 18-40 years, and 38 age-matched healthy controls with no HFs were involved. Participants answered questions about HFs symptoms. Psychological symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Serum vitamin D, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Estradiol, and Prolactin were measured. Results: Vitamin D deficiency, psychological symptoms, and Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) were more prevalent in cases versus controls. About 73.68% of females had HFs on a daily basis, 73.7% of them reported that their HFs associated with excessive sweating. Spearman correlation revealed that number of daily HFs were correlated positively and significantly with anxiety scores (r2= -0.278, p=0.045), and average MSP pain (r2=-0.536, p=<0.001). Binary logistic regression showed that, Anxiety score and vitamin D status, (OR=1.33(1.104-1.7), p=0.02, and OR=0.89(0.79-0.99, p=0.03) respectively were the predictors for HFs. Conclusion: This study showed that adolescents and young females may experience HFs that are not related to hormonal changes of menopausal transition. The predictors for HFs were vitamin D deficiency and anxiety.

Nightmares and bad dreams among individuals with musculoskeletal pain: a link to vitamin D and calcium.

Nightmares are frightening or disturbing dreams that awaken sleepers while bad dreams are disturbing dreams that do not awaken sleepers. Both types are known to be associated with psychological symptoms including anxiety and depression. Chronic pain is often comorbid with psychological symptoms and vitamin D deficiency increases risk of chronic musculoskeletal pain (MSP), which in turn is associated with increased risk of anxiety and depression. We aimed to investigate associations between types of dreams, psychological symptoms, vitamin D, and calcium intake in individuals with MSP. The study included 191 outpatients with MSP and 191 age/gender matched healthy controls. Psychological symptoms were assessed using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Serum vitamin D was measured and daily calcium intake was estimated. Participants were asked about types of their dreams (normal, bad, or nightmares) during the past month. Binary logistic regression was used to find predictors of MSP and bad dreams and nightmares. Bad dreams and nightmares, vitamin D deficiency, low calcium intake, anxiety, and depression were more prevalent in cases versus controls (Ps<0.001). Chi-square analyses showed that types of dreams were associated with anxiety, depression, and MSP (Ps<0.001). Participants with normal dreams had higher vitamin D (P<0.01) and calcium intake (P<0.001) and lower anxiety and depression scores (Ps<0.001) compared to participants with bad dreams and nightmares. Anxiety, depression and MSP were predictors for bad dreams and nightmares. Further studies are required to assess if vitamin D supplementation and increasing calcium intake may improve MSP, psychological symptoms and thus prevent nightmares and bad dreams.

Association of asthma with low serum vitamin D and its related musculoskeletal and psychological symptoms in adults: a case-control study.

There are complex potential inter-relationships between the chronic inflammation of asthma and poor control, vitamin D deficiency, musculoskeletal pain and anxiety and depression. The aim was to investigate associations between vitamin D and these possible co-morbidities. This case-controlled study involved 75 adults with asthma and 75 controls. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured, levels of anxiety, depression, musculoskeletal pain, and asthma control were assessed. Participants with asthma had lower 25(OH)D and higher anxiety scores and higher measures of musculoskeletal pain compared to controls. Binary logistic regression showed that asthma was associated with decreased 25(OH)D (Odds ratio (OR) = 0.86), general weakness (OR = 13.29), complaint of musculoskeletal pain (OR = 13.73), and increased intensity of musculoskeletal pain (OR = 0.61) and number of painful sites (OR = 2.58). Asthma was not associated with anxiety or depression. Further studies are required to investigate if vitamin D supplementation can improve asthma symptoms and musculoskeletal pain.

Self-reported sleep bruxism is associated with vitamin D deficiency and low dietary calcium intake: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep bruxism may result in deleterious effects including loss of tooth enamel, fracture of teeth or restorations, teeth hypersensitivity or pain, and headache. The aim was to study the link between sleep bruxism, low serum vitamin D, low consumption of dietary calcium, psychological symptoms, and frequent headache. METHODS: This case-controlled study included 50 individuals with sleep bruxism and 50 age and gender matched controls. 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured in serum. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to measure anxiety and depression. Data about dietary calcium and frequent headache were self-reported. RESULTS: Participants with sleep bruxism had lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D and higher scores of anxiety and depression compared to controls (p < 0.05). Vitamin D deficiency, abnormal scores of anxiety and depression, low calcium consumption (< 323 mg/day), and frequent headache were reported in higher % of individuals with sleep bruxism compared to controls (p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression showed that sleep bruxism was significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency (OR = 6.66, p = 0.02), low consumption of dietary calcium (OR = 5.94, p = 0.01), and frequent headache (OR = 9.24, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression showed that anxiety was significantly associated with decreased 25-hydroxyvitamin D (p = 0.03), increased scores of depression (p < 0.001) and female sex (p = 0.01). Binary logistic regression also showed that frequent headache was significantly associated with sleep bruxism (OR = 5.51, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep bruxism was associated with vitamin D deficiency and low consumption of calcium and was also associated with increased scores of anxiety and depression. Further investigations should be performed to check if vitamin D and calcium supplementation could relieve sleep bruxism.

High prevalence of low dairy calcium intake and association with insomnia, anxiety, depression and musculoskeletal pain in university students from Jordan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess dairy Ca intake and investigate its relationship with insomnia and other common co-morbidities including anxiety, depression and musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among university students. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University, Irbid, Jordan. PARTICIPANTS: Male and female individuals (n 1000), aged 20·87 ± 2·69 years. RESULTS: Low dairy Ca intake (<1000 mg/d) was reported by 96·5 % of participants, and moderate to severe insomnia reported by 15·6 % of participants. Abnormal anxiety and depression scores were reported by 26·2 and 18·0 % of participants, respectively. MSP was reported by 42·9 % of participants. Participants with moderate to severe insomnia had lower dairy Ca, higher anxiety and depression scores and higher measures of MSP compared to participants with no insomnia (P-values < 0·05). Dairy Ca was weakly inversely correlated with Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score, depression score and measures of MSP (P-values < 0·05). Regression analysis indicated that insomnia was predicted by low dairy Ca, anxiety, depression, MSP and smoking (P-values < 0·05). Both anxiety and depression were predicted by increased ISI score (P-values < 0·05), while depression alone was predicted by low dairy Ca (P-value < 0·01). MSP was predicted by increased ISI and anxiety scores (P-values < 0·05). CONCLUSIONS: Low dairy Ca was highly prevalent and associated with insomnia and depression among university students. Individuals should be advised to increase dietary Ca intake to achieve the recommended daily amount. Further research is required to investigate a potential causal relationship between low Ca and both insomnia and its related co-morbidities.

Poor sleep quality among young adults: The role of anxiety, depression, musculoskeletal pain, and low dietary calcium intake.

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationships between sleep quality, anxiety, depression, musculoskeletal pain (MSP), and calcium intake. DESIGN AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study (N = 1422), sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and calcium intake and MSP were assessed by self-reporting. FINDINGS: Poor sleep quality was reported by 62.66% of the participants. The participants with poor sleep quality reported lower calcium intake, higher anxiety and depression levels, more severe MSP, and multisite pain. Anxiety, depression, low calcium intake, and multisite pain were significant predictors of poor sleep quality. Anxiety was predicted by poor sleep quality, depression, multisite pain, and sex (ie, female). Depression was predicted by anxiety, poor sleep quality, and low calcium intake. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The findings underscore the role of low calcium intake in the development of sleep problems, anxiety, depression, and MSP. Individuals with these conditions should be advised to increase their calcium intake.

High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Correlation with Cystatin-C and Other Cardiovascular and Renal Risk Biomarkers in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Complicated with Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is increasingly investigated as having a role in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and its cardiovascular and renal complications. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and biomarkers of cardiovascular and renal complications, including cystatin-C. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 117 participants with T2DM that was not complicated with cardiovascular or renal diseases except hypertension. 25-OHD was measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, while cystatin-C was measured by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent-assay. Other biomarkers, including lipids, creatinine, urea and glycemic measures, were determined by the routine biochemistry assays. RESULTS: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 74.36%. There was no significant difference in cardiovascular and renal biomarkers, including glucose, HbA1c, lipids, urea, creatinine and cystatin-C between participants with adequate and deficient vitamin D (p-values>0.05). Participants with adequate vitamin D were older in age, more obese and having lower eGFR (p-values<0.05). 25-OHD was weakly correlated with age, duration of DM, urea, creatinine and inversely correlated with eGFR (rvalues< 0.32, p-values<0.05). Although creatinine and cystatin-C were directly correlated (r=0.42, pvalue< 0.001), cystatin-C and 25-OHD were not correlated (p-value>0.05). Hypertensive participants were more obese, having a longer duration of DM and higher urea and cystatin-C compared to nonhypertensive participants (p-values<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that hypertension could be predicted from increased BMI. CONCLUSION: 25-OHD was not found to be correlated with cardiovascular risk biomarkers, but it was correlated with renal biomarkers, including urea, creatinine and eGFR. Cystatin-C and 25-OHD were not observed to be correlated to each other, but both were correlated to renal function. Obesity was a significant predictor of hypertension.

Neuropathic pain is not associated with serum vitamin D but is associated with female gender in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Neuropathic pain is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Patients may complain of several neuropathic symptoms including impaired peripheral sensation, numbness, tingling, burning, and pain. Because these symptoms may cross with symptoms of vitamin D deficiency, we hypothesized that neuropathic pain and vitamin D deficiency may be associated in patients with type 2 DM. Research design and methods: This is a cross-sectional study that involved 239 participants with type 2 DM. Neuropathic pain was assessed using PainDETECT questionnaire. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured by the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, fasting blood glucose was measured by the hexokinase method and hemoglobin A1c was measured by the turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay. Results: The prevalence of neuropathic pain among type 2 DM participants was 26.8%. Vitamin D deficiency was reported in 67.8% of type 2 DM participants. The neuropathy score for females was significantly higher than that for males (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in serum vitamin D between type 2 DM participants according to their gender and according to their neuropathy status (p>0.05). Ordinal logistic regression analysis has shown that female gender was the only significant predictor of neuropathic pain among type 2 DM participants (p<0.01 with an OR (95% CI) of 2.45 (1.29 to 4.67)). Conclusions: Neuropathic pain was not associated with serum vitamin D but was associated with female gender in type 2 DM. Because our results were not consistent with other studies that used different neuropathy assessment tools, we suggest that further research should be conducted to check the validity of these tools in identifying subjects with neuropathy.

Overactive bladder and associated psychological symptoms: A possible link to vitamin D and calcium.

INTRODUCTION: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a prevalent syndrome that is associated with multiple urinary tract symptoms and could affect the patient's quality of life and well-being. Vitamin D is shown to be linked to OAB syndrome, which exacerbated by stress conditions. This study evaluated the relationship between vitamin D status, daily calcium intake and OAB, and the associated psychological symptoms. METHODS: The study included 55 patients with OAB and 129 healthy controls. Psychological symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Serum vitamin D was measured. Patients with OAB with low vitamin D level received orally vitamin D supplementation. Urinary symptoms, psychological symptoms, and quality of life were evaluated before and after vitamin D supplementation plus dairy products. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in cases (80%) vs controls (34.9%). Depression (43.7% vs 20.2%) and anxiety (52.8% vs 10.9%) scores (HADS, ≥8) were also more frequent in cases vs controls, respectively. Some 85.5% of the patients' group had musculoskeletal pain vs 0.0% for the control. Depression was negatively correlated with daily calcium intake and positively with anxiety. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, vitamin D, and anxiety scores were significant predictors of OAB. Vitamin D supplements with increased calcium intake had significant improvement in urinary symptoms, psychological distress, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D supplements and improved calcium intake may improve urinary and psychological symptoms and quality of life among patients with OAB syndrome. Assessment for vitamin D status in patients with OAB may be warranted.

Association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D with HDL-cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk biomarkers in subjects with non-cardiac chest pain.

BACKGROUND: Chest pain is a serious symptom that is routinely investigated as a sign of coronary artery disease. Non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) is indistinguishable from ischemic chest pain and both are considered serious and receive similar medical investigations. Although NCCP is not associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), patients with NCCP may become anxious and frightened from developing coronary events. So, it will be valuable to improve modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in such subjects to reduce fear from CVDs. Because vitamin D deficiency was considered as a possible modifiable cardiovascular risk factor, our aim was to investigate association between serum vitamin D and cardiovascular risk variables in subjects with NCCP. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involved 104 subjects who underwent cardiac catheterization that did not reveal any cardiac origin for their chest pain. 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, glucose was measured by hexokinase method, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was measured by turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay and lipid profile was measured by enzymatic colorimetric assays. RESULTS: High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly higher in subjects with sufficient vitamin D compared to those with insufficient or deficient vitamin D (p-value< 0.01). 25-hydroxyvitamin D was positively associated with HDL-C (p-value< 0.01) and inversely associated with HbA1c (p-value = 0.02). 25-hydroxyvitamin D was not significantly correlated with other cardiovascular biomarkers including blood pressure, glucose, and other components of lipid profile (p-values> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: low serum vitamin D could be involved in reducing HDL-C and increasing HbA1c and thus it may increase cardiovascular risk in subjects with NCCP.

Non-cardiac Chest Pain and Anxiety: A Possible Link to Vitamin D and Calcium.

This study was performed to check the hypothesis that low serum vitamin D and reduced calcium intake may contribute to the comorbidity of psychological symptoms (anxiety and depression) and non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP). The design was a case-control study that involved 40 subjects with NCCP and 40 age and gender-matched healthy controls. Serum vitamin D was assessed using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay; anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and dietary calcium intake was assessed by self-reporting. Subjects with NCCP had higher anxiety and depression scores and lower vitamin D and dietary calcium intake compared to healthy controls (p < .05). NCCP was associated with anxiety score (odds ratio = 1.40, p < .01). Prevalence of abnormal anxiety score was much higher in subjects with NCCP (47.5%) compared to healthy controls (7.5%). Anxiety score was inversely correlated with vitamin D level and dietary calcium intake (p < .01). Anxiety score was inversely associated with vitamin D level (R2 = .32, p < .05). In conclusion, development of NCCP can be predicted from increased anxiety score which in turn can be predicted from low vitamin D levels. This suggests physicians to consider anxiety and vitamin D deficiency as possible causes for NCCP.

Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, hemoglobin A1c and fasting blood glucose levels in adults with diabetes mellitus.

In the present study, the aim was to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and measures of glycemic control including hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in adult patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) from the north of Jordan. Another aim was to compare serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D between patients with good glycemic control and patients with uncontrolled DM. This was a cross-sectional study that included 261 participants with DM. The concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, HbA1c was measured using turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay and FBG was measured using the hexokinase method. Data regarding other clinical variables were obtained from medical records or by self-reporting. Participants with good glycemic control exhibited significantly higher levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D compared with participants with uncontrolled DM (P=0.03). Participants with sufficient vitamin D status (>30 ng/ml in serum) exhibited significantly lower HbA1c level compared with participants with deficient vitamin D (<20 ng/ml) status (P=0.02). Correlation analysis determined significant inverse correlations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and HbA1c and FBG levels (r=-0.23 and -0.17, respectively, both P<0.01). There were also significant correlations between duration of DM and HbA1c and FBG levels (both r=0.21, P<0.01). HbA1c level was also inversely correlated with participants' age (r=-0.19, P<0.01). Further multiple linear regression analysis revealed an inverse significant association between HbA1c and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (F=12.95, R2=0.48, P<0.01) but did not identify a similar association between FBG and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. These findings may encourage further research to identify if vitamin D supplementation may improve measures of glycemic control, and how vitamin D may affect glucose homeostasis in patients with DM.

Vitamin D is a potential antidepressant in psychiatric outpatients
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BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depression are globally-common disorders. In Jordan, the number of people visiting psychiatric clinics has been increasing over the past few years. Low level of vitamin D is associated with musculoskeletal pain (MSP) and is increasingly linked to the pathology of mental disorders. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among psychiatric outpatients and their response to vitamin D supplementation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 74 outpatients and gender- and age-matched controls were involved. Outpatients were prediagnosed by a psychiatrist to have mental disorders (anxiety, depression, others). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess psychological symptoms before and after treatment. Patients with low vitamin D received oral vitamin D supplementation. RESULTS: 83.8% had vitamin D deficiency, and 95.95% experienced MSP compared to 40.6% and 0.0% of the controls, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in vitamin D level (p = 0.011) and the total number of pain sites (p = 0.032) among psychiatric outpatient subgroups. HADS-anxiety and HADS-depression were significantly and inversely associated with vitamin D level and total daily calcium intake, and positively associated with pain severity. Relative to baseline, all measured outcome parameters significantly improved after vitamin D supplementation plus dairy products in 40 psychiatric outpatients. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency and MSP were very common among Jordanian psychiatric outpatients independent of diagnostic categories. Vitamin D supplementation plus increased dairy-product intake had a significant positive impact on physical and mental health status in psychiatric outpatients. Screening for vitamin D deficiency and daily calcium intake could be routine for psychiatric evaluation.
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Vitamin D as potential antidepressant in outpatients with musculoskeletal pain
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OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of vitamin D deficiency, anxiety, and depression disorders in an outpatient population with musculoskeletal pain (MSP), and to evaluate the effects of correcting a vitamin D deficiency on MSP and psychological symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 261 outpatients with MSP and 100 controls were involved. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess psychological symptoms. Serum vitamin D was measured. Outpatients with vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency received oral vitamin D supplementation. Pain severity and psychological symptoms were evaluated before and after vitamin D supplementation plus dairy products. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency was found in 88.7% of participants in the MSP group and 69% of controls. Clinical anxiety was reported by 38.3% of participants in the MSP group and 9% of controls, while clinical depression was reported by 31.8% of participants in the MSP group and 2% of controls. Multisite pain was significantly and positively associated with anxiety, depression, and pain severity, and was inversely associated with daily calcium intake. Anxiety was inversely associated with vitamin D level, daily calcium intake, and age. A similar pattern was observed for depression. MSP was the most significant independent predictor of anxiety (OR = 7.84) and depression (OR = 5.89). Relative to baseline, all measured outcome parameters significantly improved after vitamin D supplementation plus increased intake of dairy products. CONCLUSION: Low serum vitamin D is associated with MSP along with low calcium intake, depression, and anxiety. Supplementation with vitamin D improved MSP and associated disorders.
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Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in association with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in association with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, anxiety, depression and neuropathy. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving a total of 124 T2DM patients. Musculoskeletal pain was determined by self-reporting of painful body sites. Pain intensity was assessed using a scale of 0-10. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Neuropathy was assessed using the PainDETECT questionnaire. The concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) was determined using the hexokinase method and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level was determined using turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay. The neck, lower back and head were reported as the most common painful sites (affected in 60.5, 60.5 and 56.5% of patients, respectively). Pain in the lower extremities, including the knees, lower legs and feet, was more common compared with pain in the upper extremities. The pain measurements of number of painful sites and pain intensity did not differ significantly among patients with sufficient (>30 ng/ml), insufficient (20-30 ng/ml) and deficient (<20 ng/ml) vitamin D levels (P>0.05). The pain measurements were identified to have no correlation with age, body mass index, FBS, HbA1c level, 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration, anxiety or depression (P>0.05). However, the pain measurements were correlated with duration of T2DM and neuropathy score (P<0.05). Further regression analysis demonstrated that the pain measurements were significantly associated with the neuropathy score (P<0.05). In conclusion, musculoskeletal pain in patients with T2DM was not associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration, but was associated with neuropathy score. This may encourage further investigations to assess the etiology of musculoskeletal pain in T2DM, and whether vitamin D supplementation and management of neuropathy would be of value as pain relief treatment.

Report - Screening of the Anti-hyperglycemic activity of some medicinal plants of Jordan.

Diabetes represents a group of common diseases that are characterized by dysregulation of blood glucose levels. Plants are traditionally used for management of diseases including diabetes. In this study, we screened the anti-diabetic effect of extracts of 21 plants grown in Jordan. Extracts of plants were screened for their antihyperglycemic activity. Diabetes was induced in Sprague Dawley rats using Alloxan. Plant extracts were dosed at 1gm/kg. Blood glucose was measured at baseline and at every hour for 3 hours. Results showed that five plants out of the 21 screened showed antihyperglycemic activity. These plants are Phoenix dactylifera L., Tecoma stans (L.) Kunth, Cichorium pumilum Jacq., Phaseolus vulgaris L., and Teucrium polium L. On the other hand, Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach. and Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata significantly increased blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. The following plant extracts showed neutral effect on blood glucose levels: Plantago major L., Taraxacum cyprium H. Lindb, Artemisia inculta Delile, Marrubium vulgare L., Inula viscosa (L.) Ai, Rubus sanguineus Friv, Coriandrum sativum L., Cucurbita pepo var ovefera, Cucumis sativus L., Hordeum vulgare L., Apium graveolens L., Avena sativa L., Helianthus annus L., and Anethum graveolens L. In conclusion, Jordanian medicinal plants might be useful for managements of blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes.

High Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Correlation of Serum Vitamin D with Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) identifies subjects with increased risk of cardiovascular disease when they have a combination of insulin resistance, obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and elevated triglycerides (TGs). Increasing evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency could be associated with diabetes and MetS. The aim is to assess if 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) is correlated with cardiovascular risk components of MetS. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involved 124 diabetic patients with MetS according to International Diabetes Federation definition. 25-OHD was measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Fasting insulin, lipid profile, glucose, and hemoglobin-A1c (HbA1c) were determined using routinely standard laboratory methods. Insulin resistance was assessed using homeostatic model assessment (HOMA). RESULTS: 59.68% and 27.42% of patients have vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, respectively. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly higher in patients with vitamin D deficiency compared to patients with sufficient vitamin D (P < 0.05). Serum log (25-OHD) was inversely correlated with SBP, HbA1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), TGs, and total cholesterol and directly correlated with pancreatic ß cell function (HOMA-ß) (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis has shown that SBP can be predicted from log (25-OHD) (B = -9.388, P < 0.05), while HbA1c, LDL-C, TGs, total cholesterol, and HOMA-ß cannot be predicted from log (25-OHD), (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency was very prevalent among patients with MetS. 25-OHD was inversely correlated with glycemic control and cardiovascular risk components of MetS except HDL-C, insulin resistance, and obesity. SBP was the only cardiovascular risk component that can be predicted from vitamin D concentrations.

Antiobesity and antihyperglycaemic effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris extracts: in vitro and in vivo evaluations.

CONTEXT: Adiantum capillus-veneris L. (Adiantaceae) hypocholesterolemic activity is therapeutically praised. OBJECTIVES: Pharmacological modulation of pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase (PL) and α-amylase/α-glucosidase by A. capillus-veneris are evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using positive controls (acarbose, orlistat, guar gum, atorvastatin, glipizide and metformin) as appropriate, crude aqueous extracts (AEs) of A. capillus-veneris aerial parts were tested via a combination of in vitro enzymatic (0.24-100 mg/mL), acute in vivo carbohydrate tolerance tests (125, 250 or 500 mg/kg body weight [b.wt]) and chronic in vivo studies (500 mg/kg b.wt) in high cholesterol diet (HCD) fed Wistar rats. RESULTS: Like acarbose, A. capillus-veneris as well as chlorogenic acid, with respective IC50 values (mg/mL) of 0.8 ± 0.0 and 0.2 ± 0.0, were identified as in vitro potent dual inhibitors of α-amylase/α-glucosidase. Unlike guar gum, A. capillus-veneris had no glucose diffusion hindrance capacity. Equivalent to orlistat, A. capillus-veneris and its phytoconstituents inhibited PL in vitro with an ascending order of PL- IC50 values (µg/mL): ferulic acid; 0.48 ± 0.06 < ellagic acid; 13.53 ± 1.83 < chlorogenic acid; 38.4 ± 2.8 < A. capillus-veneris; 1600 ± 100. Incomparable to acarbose or metformin and glipizide, A. capillus-veneris (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg b.wt) lacked antihyperglycaemic efficacies in acute starch- or glucose-evoked postprandial hyperglycaemia increments in normoglycaemic overnight fasting rats. Superior to atorvastatin; A. capillus-veneris exerted significant antiobesity (p < 0.001) with marked triacylglycerol-reducing capacities (p < 0.001) in comparison to rats fed with HCD for 10 weeks. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: A. capillus-veneris, modulating pancreatic digestive enzymes, may be advocated as a combinatorial diabesity prevention/phytotherapy agent.

Exploring the effect of vitamin C on sleep deprivation induced memory impairment.

In the current study, the possible beneficial effect of vitamin C (VitC) against sleep deprivation induced memory impairment was examined. Chronic sleep deprivation was induced via placing rats in a modified multiple platform apparatus for 8h/day for a period of 6 weeks. Concomitantly, VitC was administered to animals at doses of 150 and 500 mg/kg/day. After 6 weeks of treatment, the radial arm water maze (RAWM) was used to test for spatial learning and memory performance. Moreover, the hippocampus was dissected; and levels/activities of antioxidant defense biomarkers glutathione reduced (GSH), glutathione oxidized (GSSG), GSH/GSSG ratio, catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), were evaluated. Results revealed that chronic sleep deprivation impaired short- and long-term memories (P<0.05). This impairment was prevented by chronic VitC treatments. In addition, VitC normalized sleep deprivation induced decreases in hippocamppal GSH/GSSG ratio (P<0.05), and activities of catalase, and SOD, and increase in GSSG levels (P<0.05). Collectively, spatial memory impairment was induced by chronic sleep deprivation, and VitC treatment prevented such impairment. This was possibly achieved via normalizing antioxidant defense mechanisms of the hippocampus.