Bayan A. Obeidat

Influence of dietary intake of dairy products on dysmenorrhea

Aim:  To determine the frequency of dysmenorrhea and its associated symptoms amongst a number of adolescent female students and to investigate the possible association between daily dairy product intake and dysmenorrhea.

Premenstrual Symptoms in Dysmenorrheic College Students: Prevalence and Relation to Vitamin D and Parathyroid Hormone Levels

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of premenstrual symptoms (PMS) due to primary dysmenorrhea among a sample of university female students, and to explore possible association with vitamin D and parathyroid (PTH) levels, as well as frequency of consumption of dairy products. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: One Jordanian university. Subjects: A total of 177 female students aged between 18 and 24 years who experienced primary dysmenorrhea participated in the study and completed a self administered questionnaire to collect information concerning demographics, menstruation- related information, associated specified premenstrual symptoms, and consumption of dairy products. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin vitamin D level and intact parathyroid hormone level were measured. Results: Of the 177 participants 91.5% had two or more symptoms among which fatigue, mood swings, anxiety, abdominal bloating, and depression were the most prevalent symptoms. There was no evident association between presence of symptoms and vitamin D status, PTH level or dairy products consumption. Headaches and social withdrawal were significantly lower in those women who consumed high amounts of dairy products. Conclusion: Premenstrual symptoms are very common in young women with primary dysmenorrhea. PMS has no relation to levels of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone or dairy products consumption. Headache and social withdrawal may be affected by dairy product consumption.

Vitamin D deficiency among healthy infants and toddlers: A prospective study from Irbid, Jordan

Background:  The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy infants and toddlers, as well as its associated factors, in Irbid, Jordan.

Vitamin D and PTH Status among Adolescent and Young Females with Severe Dysmenorrhea

OBJECTIVE To investigate Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH) status among adolescent and young females with severe and very severe dysmenorrhea. DESIGN Cross-sectional study in specific selected sample. SETTING One Jordanian university. PARTICIPANTS Fifty-six females, ages between 17 and 24 years, with severe and very severe dysmenorrhea were surveyed regarding demographics, pain with menstruation, and dietary intake of dairy products. Plasma Vitamin D, PTH levels were measured. RESULTS About 61% of the studied population experience very severe dysmenorrhea. Half of participants had dairy intake less than 1 serving per day. The majority of participants (80%) had insufficient plasma vitamin D and 48% of them had hyperparathyroidism. CONCLUSION A high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism and/or low dietary calcium intake among adolescent and young adult females who experience severe and very severe dysmenorrhea may negatively affect bone metabolism during achievement of peak bone mass at a young age and adverse bone health at older age.

Hb level in relation to vitamin D status in healthy infants and toddlers

OBJECTIVE To assess the presence of an association between vitamin D deficiency and anaemia in Jordanian infants and toddlers, in whom both vitamin D deficiency and anaemia have previously been proved to be common separately. DESIGN Cross-sectional prospective study. SETTING Department of Paediatrics, Princess Rahma Teaching Hospital, Jordan. SUBJECTS Healthy infants and children aged 6-36 months who were seen for primary care. RESULTS Out of 203 infants and toddlers included in the study, the anaemia prevalence was 40·4 %. The prevalence of anaemia among infants (n 110) was 51·8 %, whereas it was 26·9 % among toddlers (n 93). No association between vitamin D status and anaemia was found. CONCLUSIONS Vitamin D deficiency is not a risk for anaemia in infants and toddlers.

Analysis of Lead and Cadmium in Selected Leafy and Non-Leafy Edible Vegetables Using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Sixteen leafy and non-leafy edible vegetables were collected from the Northern Al-gour area, Jordan, and analyzed for Pb and Cd using atomic absorption spectrometry. In addition, soil samples were collected from areas adjacent to the sites from which the vegetables samples were collected and about 40 m from the road. Results indicated that the average Pb and Cd concentrations in the selected edible vegetables were found in the following order: Leaves > roots > fruits > seeds. Moreover, Pb and Cd levels in soil samples collected from the near main road were higher than those soil samples collected from the sites 40 meters far from the main road.

Reproduction, Pregnancy, and Women: Diet Quality and Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is a Greek word that means painful or difficult monthly menstrual flow. It is also defined as menstrual cramps of uterine origin. Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common gynecologic complaints among adolescent and young females [1, 2]. Different types of studies from both developed and developing countries have found a consistently high prevalence of dysmenorrhea in women of different ages and nationalities. Dysmenorrhea is more prevalent in adolescent women. It occurs with an estimated prevalence of up to 97 % of menstruating females [3].