Boekhtiar Borhanuddin

Vitamin e and bone structural changes: an evidence-based review.

Purpose. This paper explores the effects of vitamin E on bone structural changes. Methods. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify relevant studies about vitamin E and osteoporosis/bone structural changes. A comprehensive search in Medline and CINAHL for relevant studies published between the years 1946 and 2012 was conducted. The main inclusion criteria were published in English, studies had to report the association or effect of vitamin E and osteoporosis-related bone changes, and the osteoporosis-related bone changes should be related to lifestyle variables, aging, or experimentally-induced conditions. Results. The literature search identified 561 potentially relevant articles, whereby 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. There were three human epidemiological studies and eight animal experimental studies included in this paper. Four animal studies reported positive bone structural changes with vitamin E supplementation. The rest of the studies had negative changes or no effect. Studies with positive changes reported better effects with tocotrienol vitamin E isomer supplementation. Conclusions. This evidence-based review underscores the potential of vitamin E being used for osteoporosis. The effect of one of the vitamin E isomers, tocotrienols, on bone structural changes warrants further exploration. Controlled human observational studies should be conducted to provide stronger evidence.

Vitamin E and the Healing of Bone Fracture: The Current State of Evidence

Background. The effect of vitamin E on health-related conditions has been extensively researched, with varied results. However, to date, there was no published review of the effect of vitamin E on bone fracture healing. Purpose. This paper systematically audited past studies of the effect of vitamin E on bone fracture healing. Methods. Related articles were identified from Medline, CINAHL, and Scopus databases. Screenings were performed based on the criteria that the study must be an original study that investigated the independent effect of vitamin E on bone fracture healing. Data were extracted using standardised forms, followed by evaluation of quality of reporting using ARRIVE Guidelines, plus recalculation procedure for the effect size and statistical power of the results. Results. Six animal studies fulfilled the selection criteria. The study methods were heterogeneous with mediocre reporting quality and focused on the antioxidant-related mechanism of vitamin E. The metasynthesis showed α-tocopherol may have a significant effect on bone formation during the normal bone remodeling phase of secondary bone healing. Conclusion. In general, the effect of vitamin E on bone fracture healing remained inconclusive due to the small number of heterogeneous and mediocre studies included in this paper.

Amphotericin B-deoxycholate is as effective and safe as the costly amphotericin B colloidal dispersion in the treatment of paediatric invasive fungal infections

Amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmBD) and amphotericin B colloidal dispersion (AmBCD) are the two most commonly used antifungals for invasive fungal infections (IFI) among paediatric patients. The objective of this pilot study was to compare the efficacy, adverse effects and cost-effectiveness between AmBD and AmBCD in the treatment of IFI among paediatric patients admitted at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Methods : Secondary data analysis of the medical records of all paediatric patients with IFI was obtained and data extraction was performed for patients admitted between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2011. Efficacy of treatment was determined and reports of adverse effects were noted. Results : Between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2011, thirty-five patients received AmBD-only treatment and five patients received AmBCD-only treatment. Twenty-four patients were males and the mean age was 7.18 (SD 4.59) years. On average, the AmBCD treatment course was significantly more expensive than AmBD (p<0.01). Patients on AmBD had more adverse effects compared to those on AmBCD. However, there was no significant difference in severe adverse events between these groups. There was no significant difference in efficacy between these groups, in terms of IFI resolution or treatment duration. Conclusion : These findings imply that the use of AmBD instead of AmBCD in IFI treatment among paediatric patients is justified, given its cost-effectiveness, as there was no significant difference in the efficacy or in the incidence of severe adverse effects between these two treatments.

Global Lung Initiative 2012 spirometry reference values in a large Asian cohort of Malay, Chinese and Indian ancestry: Validation of the GLI 2012 in an Asian cohort

Although the multi‐ethnic European Respiratory Society/Global Lung Initiative (ERS/GLI) 2012 reference values have been developed, the Taskforce has called for further validation specifically on subpopulations that were under represented such as the Malays, Chinese and Indians, in which the two latter ethnic groups represent about one‐third of the world population. Thus, the aims of this study were to evaluate the appropriateness of the ERS/GLI 2012 reference values in a healthy adult Malaysian population and to construct a local lung function reference for the Malaysia population specific to the three major ethnic groups.

Association of job sectors with type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and obesity: a cross-sectional study from the Malaysian Cohort (TMC) project

Abstract Background The investigation of risk factors of cardiovascular disease (e.g., major endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases) across job sectors is useful for targeted public health intervention. This study examined the occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypercholesterolemia and obesity in 21 job sectors in the general population. Methods A baseline cross-sectional analysis of the Malaysian Cohort was conducted, which included 105 391 adults. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted for these three diseases across 20 job sectors compared with the unemployed/homemaker sector. Results The prevalence of T2DM, hypercholesterolemia and obesity was 16.7%, 38.8% and 33.3%, respectively. The Accommodation & Food Service Activities and Transportation & Storage sectors had significantly higher odds for T2DM (adjusted [adj.] prevalence odds ratio [POR] 1.18, p=0.007 and adj. POR 1.15, p=0.008, respectively). No job sector had significantly higher odds for hypercholesterolemia compared with the unemployed/homemaker sector. Only the Accommodation & Food Service Activities sector had significantly higher odds for obesity (adj. POR 1.17, p≤0.001). Conclusions Many job sectors were significantly associated with lower odds of having these three diseases when compared with the unemployed/homemaker sector. These differing associations between diverse job sectors and these diseases are important for public health intervention initiatives and prioritization.