Sahar M. Abuhajar1, Mohammed S.
Ellulu2 , Mahmoud H. Taleb3
1.
Master Program of Clinical
Nutrition, Al Azhar University of Gaza (AUG), Palestine, Lab Technician, UNRWA,
Gaza Field Office. Email: saharabuhajer@gmail.com
2.
Department of Clinical Nutrition,
Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al Azhar University of Gaza (AUG),
Palestine
3.
Assistant Professor of pharmacology
and toxicology Al Azhar University of Gaza
ABSTRACT
Objective:
This study aimed to examine the influence of vitamin C deficiency on metabolic
health-related quality in individuals with and without chronic respiratory
diseases CRDs.
Methods: A matched case-control
study including 52 cases of CRD patients and 52 controls of healthy
participants were matched with cases of age, gender, waist circumferences (WC)
and body mass index (BMI) aged 18-60 years conducted on three hospitals in Gaza
Strip. Fasting venous blood was collected to measure concentrations of vitamins
C, protein carbonyl (PC) as oxidative marker, high sensitivity C reactive
protein (hs-CRP), fasting blood sugar (FBS), and lipid profile including
cholesterol, Triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c). Blood
pressure and oximeter measurements were taken and Interview questionnaire was
conducted about demographic, socioeconomic, medical history and lifestyle
factors besides of a food-frequency questionnaire for Dietary intakes of
vitamin C.
Results:
After conducting the match statistical analysis between the two groups found
there was no significant difference between case and control groups regarding
age [44.17±12.98 and 43.40±12.39 respectively p=0.251], BMI [27.99±7.10 and
28.24±5.0 respectively p=0.703), WC [95.13±17.58 and 92.49±12.47 respectively
p=0.150], and sex (p=1.000). Comparing the results between these two groups
found that, CRDs patients had significantly lower plasma concentrations of
vitamins C than control group (P=0.025) but significantly higher in PC, hs-CRP,
and FBS than control group (P=0.005, P=0.001, and 0.017 respectively). And had
significantly lower blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate than control group
(P<0.001 for both of them), whereas
no significant differences regarding lipid profiles. The
consumption of vitamin C was significantly lower in the case group
(P<0.001).
Conclusion: CRDs patients in Gaza strip have lower levels
of antioxidant nutrients (vitamin C) in their plasma and diet than do healthy
people, and higher oxidative stress and inflammatory marker than healthy people
which are risk factors for predicting metabolic complications of adults of CRD
patients in Gaza strip. Establishing the strategies in treating of CRDs and its
complication can pass through including vitamin C in the treatment list,
Nutritional education and public awareness.
