Colostrum knowledge among Saudi mothers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge level of Saudi women about colostrum for the newborns. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2015 to June 2016 at the Gynaecological Clinics of King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and comprised lactating mothers in the community. Data was collected using a pretested questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of the 552 mothers, 301(54.5%) were age >30 years. The source of information about colostrum was friends and family for 367(66.67%) subjects. Overall, 367(66%) had high knowledge about colostrum. A significant correlation was detected between age and knowledge about colostrum composition and duration (p<0.05); as well as between educational level and colostrum composition, colour and form (p<0.05). A significant association between occupational status and knowledge about colostrum colour and form was also noted (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Saudi mothers were found to have a good knowledge about colostrum and its benefits.

Chemokines and their association with body mass index among healthy Saudis.

Obesity is a chronic disorder that is associated with body mass index (BMI) of greater or equal to 30 kg/m2. The prevalence of obesity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is increasing at an alarming rate and is expected to reach 41% in men and up to 78% in women by 2022. Since chemokines are associated with involuntary weight loss, the objective of this study was to elucidate their association with BMI among Saudis. A questionnaire was used to collect information about diet, health conditions, and demographics from 15 men and 16 women who participated in the study. BMI was calculated based on clinical measurements and participants were classified according to their BMI category as: normal, underweight, overweight, or obese. Serum samples were collected for a multiplex assay using the Human Chemokine Magnetic 30-plex panel. The serum concentration of either the monokine induced by gamma interferon (MIG) or the CXC-motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL-9) was significantly increased in obese men (P = 0.0194) and women (P = 0.043) as compared to underweight men and women, respectively. However, the serum levels of other chemokines were not significantly different among the groups. We found that MIG levels are differentially regulated in serum, based on individuals' BMI.