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.