In Pakistan, there is limited evidence for the levels and relationship of 25 (OH) Vitamin D (25(OH)D) status in pregnant women and their newborns, while the association between maternal 25(OH)D and newborn anthropometric measurements remains unexplored. Sociodemographic data were collected from 213 pregnant mothers during their visit to a tertiary care hospital at the time of childbirth. Anthropometric measurements were performed on all mothers and their newborns and blood samples collected from both for 25(OH)D levels. Participants were classified into two groups according to their 25(OH)D status: sufficient (25(OH)D ≥50 nmol L −1 ) and deficient (25(OH)D <50 nmol L −1 ). Simple and multiple regression models were used for analysis. Among 213 pregnant women, prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency was 61.5%, and their newborn was 99.5% (mean 25(OH)D levels: 46.3 [11.3] and 24.9 [5.4] nmol L −1 , respectively). Maternal sociodemographic characteristics were similar between 25(OH)D deficient and sufficient mothers, whereas newborn 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in the former (22.60 [4.53] vs. 27.67 [3.82] nmol L −1 , respectively, P < 0.001). There was a strong positive association between maternal and newborn 25(OH)D levels ( r , 0.66; r 2 , 43%, B [SE], 0.3 [0.02]; P < 0.001). Association of maternal 25(OH)D levels with newborn weight, length and head circumference was not significant (all P > 0.05). Our study shows a high prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency in pregnant women and their newborns and a strong positive association between maternal and newborn 25(OH)D levels. Findings of this study indicate the importance of maintaining sufficient 25(OH)D levels during pregnancy.

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Purpose: The present study aimed to assess whether treatment with combined resveratrol and myoinositol is more effective in ameliorating the altered parameters associated with PCOS when compared to the combined metformin and pioglitazone therapy.Method: One hundred and ten obese, infertile PCOS women, aged 20-35 years were randomly assigned into two treatment arms. Participants in arm-1 (n=55), received combination of metformin and pioglitazone (1000 mg and 30 mg, respectively), once daily, while those in arm-2 (n=55) received combination of resveratrol and myoinositol (2000 mg and 2000 mg, respectively) once daily for 12 weeks. Evaluations performed at baseline were repeated after 3 months of therapy. The endocrine and metabolic derangements were assessed by measuring serum levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, adiponectin and insulin using ELISA. Cohen's perceived stress scale (PSS) was employed as a subjective measure of stress.Results: Pre-treatment PCOS women in both the arms (arm-1 and arm-2) had remarkably elevated serum testosterone and insulin concentrations, low serum adiponectin and high perceived stress response scores. The treatment reduced the altered endocrine indices in arm-2 (resveratrol and myoinositol) participants, manifested by statistically signi cant reduction in serum testosterone level (p=0.001) and notably increased serum adiponectin level (p=0.001). Interestingly, the hormonal pro le, including serum LH and FSH levels also decreased (p<0.001) along with a marked reduction in the ovarian volume (p=0.001) in arm-2 participants. There was a signi cant reduction in BMI (p<0.001) and an improvement in waist-hip ratio (p<0.001) in arm-2 participants compared to arm-1 group. The PSS scores of the arm-2 subjects improved signi cantly (p<0.001) whereas, the Ferrimen-gallwey score was improved in both the arms (arm-1 and arm-2; p= 0.010 and 0.008 respectively) however, the change was highly signi cant in arm-2 (resveratrol and myoinositol). Interestingly, the menstrual regularity was 81.4% in arm-2 while 18.2% in arm-1. We conclude that the therapeutic intervention with combined resveratrol and myoinositol is more effective in ameliorating altered endocrine, metabolic indices and stress burden and could be of clinical importance in high risk group of obese, infertile married PCOS affected women.

Background: Adiponectin plays an important role in glucose metabolism and released in response to insulin. It helps to decrease glucose levels and insulin resistance; however, this relation is not been studied in pregnant ladies. Objective was to determine serum adiponectin level and glycaemic status in pregnant women belonging to Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and to find any possible relationship between them. Methods: Hundred pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 100 healthy pregnant women without GDM were randomly selected in a cross-sectional study. After an overnight fast, their blood samples were taken for determination of serum adiponectin, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG). The relationship of adiponectin with glycaemic status was determined with Pearson Correlations coefficient (r). Results: Pregnant women with GDM when compared to healthy pregnant women showed significantly low levels of serum adiponectin (µg/mL) (2.2±0.2 vs. 11.25±4.8, p<0.05) and significantly high level of FBG (mg/dl) (182.7±64.2 vs. 93.6±5.9, p<0.05) and HbA1c (%) (7.4±0.1 vs. 5.4±0.1, p<0.05). Serum adiponectin level showed a statistically significant negative correlation with FBG (r = -0.203, p=0.042) and HbA1c (r = -0.744, p=0.000) in pregnant women with GDM. Conclusion: Serum adiponectin concentration is markedly decreased in pregnant women with GDM which concludes that Hypoadiponectinemia is related with deranged (elevated) glycaemic status in pregnancy. Moreover, adiponectin is associated negatively with FBG and HbA1c in the studied population.

Background: Undernutrition including micronutrient deficiency results in adverse health-related outcomes in children of low-medium income countries. This study aims to explore the effect of four weeks of Lipid-based nutritional supplement (LNS) on energy intake, anthropometry and micronutrient status in moderate acute malnourished children. Methods Thirty-four children with mean age 7.08±1.47 years and a BMI Z score between -2 and -3 SDS were randomized into LNS and Placebo groups in a single blind randomized control trial. Energy intake, fasting blood samples, and anthropometric measurements were obtained prior to and after four weeks of LNS (535 kcal) or Placebo (92kcal) supplementation in addition to their habitual dietary intake. Results: During four weeks of supplementation, energy intake (kcal) [(611±155) to (987±224), p<0.001)], weight (kg) [(17.5±2.83) to (18.1±3.24), p< 0.001], mid-upper arm circumference (cm) [(14.8±0.91) to (15.1±0.84), p=0.005)] and BMI (kg/m2) [(12.9±0.33) to (13.3±0.45), p=0.002] was significantly improved in the LNS group compared to Placebo. A significant increase in hemoglobin (g/ml) [(12.2±1.14) to (13.7±1.69), p<0.01] and iron levels (µg/dl) [(0.36±0.09) to (0.67±0.20), p<0.001] were observed in the LNS group. No significant differences were detected in the copper and zinc levels. Conclusion: Lipid-based nutritional supplement is effective in improving energy intake, nutritional outcomes and iron but not copper and zinc. The trial was registered at www.isrctn.com under reference: ISRCTN147181521.