Bone Mineral Density in Saudi Arabia and DXA - Dissertation Example

Bone Mineral Density in Saudi Arabia and DXA Final Title The Effects of Physical Activity and Calcium Intake on Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in Saudi Women Based on DXA Measurements Annotated Bibliographies Marwaha RK, Puri S, Tandon N, Dhir S, Agarwal N, Bhadra K, Saini N. Effects of sports training & nutrition on bone mineral density in young Indian healthy females. Indian J Med Res, 134(3): 307, 2011. The aim of the study was to explore impact of sports training on BMD among young Indian females. The study also aimed at evaluating the impact of dietary intake BMD among young Indian females. The findings illustrate that dietary practices and training enhance the level of BMD among women and prevents incidences the inciddencences of low BMD among women. The implication of such findings is that training and dietary practices play an integral role in how women can manage incidences of low BMD. In fact, the findings reveal that dietary practices and sports training are the most effective and long lasting intervention approaches tom the management of low BMD. I will use the paper to develop a dietary and training program that women can use to manage the spread of low BMD. Salamat MR, Rostampour N, Shanehsazzadeh S, Tavakoli MB, Siavash M, Almasi T. Assessment of bone mineral density with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in pre-and post-menopausal women. IRAN J RADIAT RES, 6(2): 103-107, 2008. The objective of the study was to assess the effects of calcium supplementations combined with vitamin D on Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and its mineral content (BMC) in pre- and post-menopausal women. The trial was such that a group of 120 Italian women aged over 45 participated in a random placebo-controlled double-blind trial over a 30-month period. The researchers took details on their daily dietary intake and assessed their DXA results. The DXA was to measure both the BMD and BMC. The researchers noted that there was no change in dietary or calcium intake in the significant groups over the 30-month period. The placebo group lost total BMD at a rate higher than the calcium group. The findings also revealed an increase in BMD with lower age groups. The findings also suggested that healthy women with low dietary calcium intake are more likely to benefit from calcium supplements. They revealed that as much as calcium supplementation helps to reduce bone loss, diet-induced weight loss countered these effects. The researcher's conclusion was that there is a positive effect of calcium and Vitamin D supplementation on bone mineral density in both pre- and post-menopausal women. The study is helpful in my project in that it will help me factor in the relationship between weight changes among women receiving calcium supplements and their combined effect on bone marrow density and bone mineral content. There are great references in original research that I will find and use in my research too. El Maghraoui A, Ghazi M, Gassim S, Mounach A, Ghozlani I, Nouijai A, Achemlal L, Bezza A, Dehhaoui M. Bone mineral density of the spine and femur in a group of healthy Moroccan men. Bone, 44(5): 965-969, 2009. The purposes of the study were to determine the normal BMD of the Moroccan men. Additionally, there was need to determine whether the obtained BMD values were different enough from US, European or Arab reference values to warrant separately Moroccan reference data. The researchers used the DXA system to establish reference values for 592 Moroccan men aged between 20 and 79 years that measured BMD of lumbar and femur. Then there was a comparison between this data to values from US, European, Lebanese and Saudi men. The researchers then studied the impact on osteoporosis diagnosis using the personalized curve and US (NHANES), European and Arabian values. The research indicated that there is a decrease in the BMD with advancement in age with the rate of bone loss varying with the anatomical region. The findings established that there are racial/ethnic differences in BMD values. The reference values for the lumbar spine classified a larger proportion of the US/European men as osteoporotic since they were higher compared to the Arabs’. When compared to other countries, the spine BMD of Moroccan men were lower than the Iranians’, Europeans and Brazilian’s but higher than the Saudi and Lebanese males. The Moroccan BMD values were higher than Saudi and Lebanese young adults (20-39).Moroccan values were higher than Saudis were and almost similar to Lebanese for older subjects. The findings provide a re-analysis of the research findings in my project. The research suggests that population-based variations exist. Thus, there is need to establish local reference values to make the data more comprehensive on the populations I researched on in my project. Jahanbin I, Aflaki E, Ghaem H. Relationship between Lifestyle Factors and Bone Density in Women Referring to Bone Densitometry Research Center in Shiraz, Iran. Women’s Health, 1(1): e18960, 2014. The aim of the study was to establish the relationship between lifestyle and Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in women going for referral in bone densitometry Research Center. 1170 premenopausal and postmenopausal women participated in the study. It was a cross-sectional study. The researchers obtained details on anthropometric, lifestyle data including physical activities, smoking habits, dairy intake and its consumption pattern. The researchers also included a history of steroid intake and calcium intake .DXA was used to measure the lumbar and femoral BMD. The research also includes demographic data (age, number of pregnancies, number of children, height body mass index). After age adjustments, the research revealed a correlation between BMD and body weight for women. Low body weight and advancement in age predisposes one to bone loss according to the findings. Women who had more than four pregnancies were significantly susceptible to the osteoporosis of the lumbar spine and femoral neck. A positive relationship existed between BMD and smoking, drinking plenty of tea and coffee, soft drinks consumption, thyroid disorders and drugs including corticosteroids. BMD was higher for the women that engaged in physical activities though this was more with hip than the spine. Consumption of dairy products correlated well with an increase in BMD. Collectively, increasing age, low calcium intake and poor physical activity were risk factors for a low BMD. The study explored many factors that I will include in my project that expounds more on osteoporosis in pre- and postmenopausal women. The findings on calcium intake and physical activity provide further material for my project. Di Daniele N, Carbonelli MG, Candeloro N, Iacopino L, De Lorenzo A, Andreoli A. Effect of supplementation of calcium and Vitamin D on bone mineral density and bone mineral content in peri-and post-menopause women: A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Pharmacol. Res, 50(6): 637-641, 2004. The article highlights the seriousness of the issue of osteoporosis and the importance of improving prevention methods of the disease. The objective of the study is to assess the effects of combining calcium supplementations and Vitamin D on bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD). The study measures the effects of the two minerals using dietary intake assessments. The findings of the study suggest that a combination of calcium supplementations and Vitamin D improve BMD. The implication is that women belonging to both peri and post-menopausal status can prevent early incidence of low BMD. The article is critical to my research because it will enable me to identify some of the dietary practices that women at risk of recording low BMD can prevent the incidence of low BMD. The aim of the research was to assess the degree of bone loss on femoral neck and lumbar spine in pre and post-menopausal women referred to the Isfahan Osteoporosis Diagnosis Centre (IODC) since 2005. Osteoporosis is the gradual loss of bone mineral loss due to a variety of factors.174 early post-menopausal women and 174 pre-menopausal women were selected randomly for the research. Researchers conducted the investigation using Norland XR46 system (a type of dual x-ray absorptiometry). For the study, women who had undergone hysterectomy, had a history of HRT (hormone replacement therapy), or had diseases affecting bone metabolism were excluded. The findings revealed that postmenopausal Iranian women had a lower bone mineral density than premenopausal Iranian women. From previous investigations in different countries, (e.g. USA, Europe, and Arab countries) femoral neck test scores (FN T-scores) were higher than LN T-scores for those nations except for the women from Isfahan in Iran. In contrast to previous findings, there were a significantly lower BMD T-scores for FN in comparison with for both pre and post-menopausal women. This might be due to physiological, lifestyle, poor calcium and low activity factors. Another study was carried out in Isfahan comparing the BMD in lower and upper body between non-athletic and athletic women. The athletes had significantly higher BMD than non-athletic females. In Iran, foods do not contain enough vitamin D.As a result; there is widespread vitamin D deficiency in the Iranian population (about 80%). This research provides a platform on which I can compare the relation of bone mineral density with levels of activity in Saudi Arabian population. The results of the correlation between Vitamin D (main source of calcium) in the diet and the bone mineral density also make it integral to my project. Outline for Introduction As an overview, this project aims at discussing the prevalence of low BMD levels and osteoporosis among women in Saudi Arabia, and the necessary eradication measures. The paper’s focus is on the effect of calcium intake and physical activities on BMD levels among postmenopausal women in the country. Low BMD levels are a public health concern in the country, and thus it demands urgent attention for its elimination. The report focuses on research conducted in 2014 in Iran.1 The research helped medical practitioners to estimate the prevalence of low BMD levels nationwide. Calcium is a key nutrient constituent that helps in the strengthening of bones. Physical activity also improves bone strength, and thus bettering structural development of a person. Lack of these two among women in Saudi Arabia is the major reason behind weak bones, which is a cause of low BMD levels. Calcium intake and physical activity are vital to bone strength and treatment of osteoporosis, making them a necessity in the lifestyles of postmenopausal women, precisely in Saudi Arabia. Based on DXA measurements (Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry), the report aims at focusing on Saudi Arabian women and the effects of both calcium and physical exercise on their BMD. It aims to cover all aspects of BMD among the Saudi Arabian women in the region of Riyadh. The choice of location owes to the presence of DXA equipment and easy access to the reassert data. The goal of this project is to report, evaluate and create a conclusion on the outcomes of bodily activities and calcium intake on the Saudi Arabian women’s BMD, mostly in the postmenopausal stages. It helps generating a conclusion pertaining BMD in regards to calcium intake and physical activity. Purpose of the project The major purpose of this project is to determine the outcomes of calcium ingestion and bodily activities on the BMD levels of postmenopausal women in Saudi Arabia. In this project, there will be a development in the known outcomes of calcium ingestion and bodily activities on bettering the bone structure of women in Saudi Arabia. As noted in the introduction, prevalence of low BMD levels in Saudi Arabia is very high, and as a result, most of the females suffer from osteoporosis. The research will help give a clearer picture, to both the people of Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world on the adverse effects resulting from low calcium intakes and minimal physical activity. Consequently, it will help better the lives of a large world population, by enabling them to better their nutrition and maximize physical activity, empowering them into leading a healthy lifestyle. The research will also back the works of authors such as Mohamed A. Al-Maatouq, who have taken a great step in attempting to help postmenopausal women in Saudi Arabia, who suffer from osteoporosis and low BMD levels. The King Khalid University Hospital has also embarked on major researches assessing the situation in terms of low BMD prevalence in the country. In their already conducted researches, they have brought forward outstanding information, which is very helpful in this research. The research will back this information and credit the works of past researchers and institutions, creating a clearer image of the current situation in Saudi Arabia. The area of investigation has received an upper hand by other authors, including Di Daniele, Carbonelli, Candeloro, Iacopino, De Lorenzo and Andreoli2. Indian Journal of Medical Research also acknowledges that the prevalence of low BMD is because of low calcium intake and lack of sufficient physical activity.3 These are thus reliable sources, proving that calcium intake, alongside physical activity, result to increase of BMD levels, reducing the threat of Osteoporosis However, there are some areas demanding extensive research, such as the data on women suffering from low BMD levels. The information is not easily accessible and requires the deducing from various researches and national health provisions. The research project will help in the provision of search information, which will ease the conduction of other studies or in the provision of medication to the patients. Specific research questions The project aims at discussing a couple of research questions in detail to better the understanding of the prevalence of low BMD levels in Saudi Arabia among postmenopausal women. Here is a list of this and other research questions. List of the research questions to be answered in the project What are the major causes of low BMD levels/ Osteoporosis among women in Saudi Arabia? Is BMD a treatable or a permanent disease? Who are the most prone to suffering from Osteoporosis? What are the outcomes of calcium ingestion on the BMD of a postmenopausal Saudi Arabian woman? What are some of the cheap and accessible sources of calcium nutrients in the Saudi Arabian region? How much calcium intake is sufficient in eliminating any threats of lowering BMD levels among women past the menopausal age? What are the major effects of physical activity on the level of BMD? What are the examples of physical activities that a woman in the postmenopausal age bracket indulges in to lower the risks of low BMD levels? How often does a patient or any other individual have to exercise to increase their Bone Mineral Density levels? What are the major effects of low BMD levels in postmenopausal women? What are other forms of medications or available treatments for low levels of Bone Mineral Density or Osteoporosis? Objectives and specific aims The project aims at informing the reader and the public of the existence of BMD and ways to reduce the risk of acquiring the disease. It also has a vast focus on the increase in numbers of postmenopausal women suffering from low BMD levels in Saudi Arabia. By the end of the research, the project hopes to have made an understanding of the dangerous disease of Osteoporosis, which closely relates to low BMD levels. Among the objectives listed above, the project also focuses on pointing out the major effects of calcium intake on the BMD. It will discuss and point out the various sources of calcium in Saudi Arabia and enable the public to better their understanding of nutrition. Physical activity is also a key treatment for low BMD levels, and thus the project aims to educate individuals on the vital exercises and activities that can better BMD. It is the project's aim to better the understanding of this deadly situation in Saudi Arabia and inform the government, the world as whole and other well-wishers on the need to eradicate this menace forever. Lay-level Topic Discussion In Saudi Arabia, low levels of BMD among women are a public concern in regards to health. Based on the research, women living in the region of Riyadh have a tremendously low BMD, which affects their lives adversely. Lack of sufficient calcium intake affects the BMD by lowering its levels in the body. The report presents data obtained from the location, and thus a conclusive statement of calcium effects alongside exercises, on Bone Mineral Intensity. The research will consider publications by other authors and researchers and their results. In Saudi Arabia, the problem of low BMD levels among postmenopausal women is increasing alarmingly. The issue is now a public health concern, and the government and other Non-Governmental Organizations are fully indulging and seeking to take control of the matter. However, the extent of prevalence of the condition is still wanting, demanding extra attention from all citizens and the rest of the world. Our project here aims at educating the affected and infected individuals on the advantages of nutrition and physical activity in eradication of the perilous menace. As you look at the data provided by researches, it is evident that there has been a major increase in the number of individuals suffering from low BMD levels and Osteoporosis. The disquieting increase demands urgent attention by all individuals, to help the patients and prevent further ailments. Women past the menopausal age are the most vulnerable to Osteoporosis and low BMD levels. Consequently, their bones become weaker, and they are unable to conduct bodily activities, including simple tasks such as walking. Extremely low BMD levels automatically result to paralyzing the victim. The victim may finally die, out of the infection rather than natural death causes.4 My project aims at solving this mystery and educating people, precisely the Saudi Arabian women, on the importance of Calcium and physical activities in eradicating the menace. Through this project, they will understand the need for improved nutrition and exercising, which will in turn result in health improvement in Saudi Arabia. It will maximize the productivity of our country and result in economic growth, owing to the energetic pool of the labor force. Therefore, let us join hands in educating the people, which will result in the eradication of the menace of low BMD levels and Osteoporosis among Saudi Arabian women.5 Reference List Di Daniele N, Carbonelli MG, Candeloro N, Iacopino L, De Lorenzo A, Andreoli A. Effect of supplementation of calcium and Vitamin D on bone mineral density and bone mineral content in peri-and post-menopause women: A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Pharmacol. Res, 50(6): 637-641, 2004. El Maghraoui A, Ghazi M, Gassim S, Mounach A, Ghozlani I, Nouijai A, Achemlal L, Bezza A, Dehhaoui M. Bone mineral density of the spine and femur in a group of healthy Moroccan men. Bone, 44(5): 965-969, 2009. Jahanbin I, Aflaki E, Ghaem H. Relationship between Lifestyle Factors and Bone Density in Women Referring to Bone Densitometry Research Center in Shiraz, Iran. Women’s Health, 1(1): e18960, 2014. Marwaha RK, Puri S, Tandon N, Dhir S, Agarwal N, Bhadra K, Saini N. Effects of sports training & nutrition on bone mineral density in young Indian healthy females. Indian J Med Res, 134(3): 307, 2011. Salamat MR, Rostampour N, Shanehsazzadeh S, Tavakoli MB, Siavash M, Almasi T. Assessment of bone mineral density with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in pre-and post-menopausal women. IRAN J RADIAT RES, 6(2): 103-107, 2008. Read More