Chloroquine Phosphate is not Proved to be an Effective Treatment for Coronavirus: A Meta-analysis of Clinical Trials

Chloroquine Phosphate is not Proved to be an Effective Treatment for Coronavirus: A Meta-analysis of Clinical Trials

Mohamed Farouk Allam 

Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University. 

The Open Microbiology Journal 2020, 14: 310-311

DOI: 10.2174/1874434602014010310

Abstract:

The aim of this meta-analysis is to investigate the effectiveness of chloroquine in treating coronavirus, in general not only novel coronavirus (COVID­-19), by pooling the results of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). Only 28 publications were identified; none of which was a RCT. Identified studies were published between 1987 and March 15, 2020. Of these 28 publications, 7 were published in 2020 and discussed the effectiveness of chloroquine against COVID-19. Till March 15, 2020, the final results of the clinical trials currently conducted in China were not available; only the preliminary results reported promising effectiveness of chloroquine against COVID-19. The other 21 publications not related to COVID-19 were distributed as follow; in vitro experiments (11 publications), in vivo experiments (5 publications), both in vitro and in vitro experiments (1 publication), and reviews (4 publications). Only 2 in vitro experiments were about Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and 5 publications (2 in vitro experiments, 2 reviews, and 1 in vivo experiment) were about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). In conclusion, this meta-analysis could not prove that chloroquine is an effective treatment against coronavirus in general or COVID-19 in particular. Expanded access trials should be encouraged especially that chloroquine is available, cheap and relatively safe drug.

Keywords: Chloroquine, coronavirus, COVID-19, Meta-analysis, Systematic Review.

The Open Microbiology Journal 2020, 14: 310-311

https://benthamopen.com/contents/pdf/TOMICROJ/TOMICROJ-14-310.pdf 

Surgical versus Non-Surgical Management of Obstructive Sleep-disordered Breathing in Children: A Meta-analysis

Surgical versus Non-Surgical Management of Obstructive Sleep-disordered Breathing in Children: A Meta-analysis

Alaa Ahmed Abd El Hamid (1), Anas Mohamed Askoura (2), Diaa Marzouk Abdel Hamed (1), Mohamed Shehata Taha (2), Mohamed Farouk Allam (1)

1. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

2. Department of ENT, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

 

The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal 2020;14:47-52. 

Electronic publication date: 23/10/2020

Publisher Item Identifier (PII): BMS-TORMJ-2020-10

 DOI: 10.2174/1874306402014010047

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (OSDB) is a term for several chronic conditions in which partial or complete cessation of breathing occurs many times throughout the night, resulting in fatigue or daytime sleepiness that interferes with a person’s functions and reduces the quality of life.

Objective: Comparing the effectiveness of surgical versus non-surgical treatment of OSDB in children in clinical trials through a meta-analysis study.

Patients and Methods: A number of available studies and abstracts concerning the surgical versus non-surgical treatment of OSDB in children were identified through a comprehensive search of electronic databases. Data were abstracted from every study in the form of a risk estimate and its 95% confidence interval.

Results: The current study revealed that there was a statistically significant improvement in the surgically treated patients rather than non-surgically treated patients regarding the quality of life.

Conclusion: The current meta-analysis reports a significant clinical improvement in the surgical (adenotonsillectomy) group as compared to the non-surgical group, in terms of disease specific quality of life, and healthcare utilization in spite of the availability of only one study.

 

Keywords: OSDB, Children, Surgical, Meta-analysis, Systematic review, Quality of life.

The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal 2020;14:47-52.

https://benthamopen.com/contents/pdf/TORMJ/TORMJ-14-47.pdf

BCG Vaccine does not Protect Against COVID-19

Mohamed Farouk Allam, Ghada Essam El-Din Amin

Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal 2020;14:45-46.

Electronic publication date: 23/10/2020

Publisher Item Identifier (PII): BMS-TORMJ-2020-17

DOI: 10.2174/1874306402014010045 

Abstract

A recent article by Jop de Vrieze (March 23, 2020) suggested that BCG vaccine could protect against COVID-19 infections. The arguments were that several European countries, like Italy, Spain, France, and Germany, which are badly affected by COVID-19, and the USA stopped vaccination of the general population by BCG and excluded it from their routine vaccination schedule. Many people started to receive doses of BCG based on that hypothesis even before its confirmation. We think that the BCG vaccine could not protect against COVID-19 because several countries like China and Iran, which are severely affected by COVID-19, still include the BCG vaccine in its routine vaccination schedule. Other arguments include that the BCG vaccine improves cell-mediated immunity with little effect on humoral immunity; Immunity against viruses, in general, is mainly humoral.

Keywords: Coronavirus, COVID-19, BCG, Vaccine, Review, Immunity.

 

The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal 2020;14:45-46. 

https://benthamopen.com/contents/pdf/TORMJ/TORMJ-14-45.pdf

Vaccination Schedules and COVID-19 Risk

 

Mohamed Farouk Allam, Fady Andraous, Ghada Essam El-Din Amin

Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

 

The Open Microbiology Journal 2020;14:278-280. 

Electronic publication date: 23/10/2020

Publisher Item Identifier (PII): BMS-TOMICROJ-2020-46

 

Abstract

A significant difference in the number of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) cases and mortality has been noted among different World Health Organization (WHO) regions and countries. We compared the vaccination schedules for 2 countries from WHO Europe Region (Italy and Spain) and 2 countries from WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (Iran and Egypt). Both Iran and Egypt included the Sabin vaccine as part of the obligatory vaccination programs; meanwhile, Italy and Spain used the Salk vaccine. Recently, Iran and Egypt added a single dose of the Salk vaccine to the 6-7 doses of Sabin vaccine because of the new evidence showing that the use of the Salk vaccine in conjunction with Sabin vaccine achieves better mucosal immunity. Italy and Spain used an acellular vaccine against pertussis. Meanwhile, Iran and Egypt used a whole-cell vaccine. Taking into consideration the lower number of deaths in Iran and Egypt compared to Italy and Spain, we could hypothesize that the whole-cell pertussis vaccine could have a cross-immunity against COVID-19. Further research is warranted to identify the main reasons for the lower number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in certain countries in order to control COVID-19.

Keywords: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pertussis, BCG, Measles, Vaccine, Review.

The Open Microbiology Journal 2020;14:278-280. 

https://benthamopen.com/contents/pdf/TOMICROJ/TOMICROJ-14-278.pdf

Need for Telehealth in the Era of Covid-19

Need for Telehealth in the Era of Covid-19

 

Sara Ahmed Esmat Shoman (1), Tamer Emara (2), Heba Gamal Saber (3) and Mohamed Farouk Allam (1)

 

1. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

2. Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

3. Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

 

Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research 20202;31(3):24303-24305.

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2020.31.005118

ABSTRACT

Telehealth means the usage of telecommunications and virtual technology in facilitating healthcare services in far areas. Telehealth is a multi- phasic system as it serves patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) by providing them with helpful tool for proper healthcare services and giving HCWs the chance to receive training sessions and conducting research. Telehealth proved to be practical in outbreaks and emergency settings as it provides platforms that are easy in usage and accessible for health, education, training, and others. Since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth services have been of great importance in diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and control of corona virus infection. Telehealth application during COVID-19 pandemic appears in screening and triaging the patients according to their symptoms through phone screening, online tools, mobile applications, and virtual visits to evaluate their conditions, and making the appropriate decisions. Also, telehealth is used in contacts tracing to determine whether they are infectious and need to be quarantined. The importance of telehealth extends to include following up of home isolated patients with mild and moderate symptoms to avoid overcrowding of healthcare facilities, in addition to delivering care by a diverse experienced team to provide and adjust treatment plan. Finally, telehealth sustains continuous care by keeping away from negative outcomes that could occur by delaying due to COVID-19.

 

Keywords: Telehealth; Healthcare Services; Virtual care; COVID-19; Remote treatment; Pandemic

 

Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research 20202;31(3):24303-24305.

https://biomedres.us/pdfs/BJSTR.MS.ID.005118.pdf

Vitamin D level in a sample of Egyptian Females of Childbearing Age Attending a Family Medicine Center

Vitamin D level in a sample of Egyptian Females of Childbearing Age Attending a Family Medicine Center

 

Maivel Emile Soby Gerges, Ghada Essam Aldin Amin, Fady Andraous, Diaa Marzouk Abdel Hamid, Mohamed Farouk Allam

 

Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

 

The International Journal of Clinical Practice. First published: 29 September 2020

https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.13738

 

ABSTRACT

Background. Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as a pandemic. The normal range of Vitamin D in the Arab countries is much lower than the international standards. Several Arab countries have published studies assessing serum Vitamin D levels among women – to date there is no national study assessing Vitamin D levels among Egyptian women.

Objective. The aim of the study is to measure Vitamin D level among Egyptian women of childbearing age.

Patients and Methods. We included 100 healthy adult females of childbearing age, who were attending a Family Medicine Center in Cairo, Egypt. A validated interview questionnaire was conducted with participants, thereafter BMI and serum 25 (OH) Vitamin D levels were measured.

Results. The age of the included women ranged from 19 years to 49 years old with a mean age of 34 ± 8.47 years. Only 39% of participants were employed and 61% were housewives. 76% of participants were married, 20% unmarried and 4% divorced. Most of participants (82%) wore hijab; only 9% wore niqab and 9% wore no scarf. Only 44% of participants had normal levels of Vitamin D (˃20‐150 ng/ml). 43% of the participants were Vitamin D deficient and 13% were Vitamin D insufficiency.

Conclusion. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent among Egyptian women of childbearing age. A routine monitoring screening for Vitamin D deficiency and Vitamin D health education are required to minimize risk factors among women of childbearing age.

Keywords: Vitamin D, Deficiency, Egypt, Women, Family Medicine Center.

The International Journal of Clinical Practice. First published: 29 September 2020

 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijcp.13738

Use of Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine in Treatment of COVID-19: Is it Ethical?

Use of Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine in Treatment of COVID-19: Is it Ethical?

 

Mohamed Farouk Allam, Fady Andraous

Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

 

Central European Jounral of Public Health 2020; 28 (3): 246-247

 

https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a6464

 

To date, the use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 treatment is restricted to clinical trials. The efficacy of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine in pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis groups is unknown and pending the outcomes of clinical trials.

This raises the following questions: is the current use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, while awaiting RCTs results, ethical? Should the medical community hold off its use while the RCT results pend? Is it ethical to suggest the prophylactic use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for healthcare workers?

 

Keywords: Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine, COVID-19, Clinical Trials, Ethics.

 

Central European Jounral of Public Health 2020; 28 (3): 246-247

https://cejph.szu.cz/pdfs/cjp/2020/03/13.pdf

Prevalence of Strox Smoking among University Students in Cairo, Egypt

Prevalence of Strox Smoking among University Students in Cairo, Egypt

 

Ahmed M. M. Hashim (1), Ahmed M. Hassan (1), Ghada Essam El-Din Amin (1) and Mohamed Farouk Allam (1,2)

 

1. Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

2. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cordoba, Córdoba, Spain.

 

The Open Public Health Journal 2020;13:425-429.

DOI: 10.2174/1874944502013010425, 2020, 13, 425-429

 

Abstract:

Background: In Egypt, the prevalence rate of New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) use is severely underestimated. In the last 5 years, several non-scientific reports have demonstrated the presence of an emergent, cheap NPSs that has taken the name of “Strox” or “Egyptian Spice”. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence rate of Strox smoking among undergraduate students attending Ain Shams University (ASU), Cairo (Egypt).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in five non-medical colleges of ASU, namely, Law, Commerce, Computer Science, Engineering, and Literature. Participants were recruited using a convenient sampling method and were asked about NPSs use. Data were collected using the Marijuana Smoking History Questionnaire (MSHQ) developed by Bonn-Miller and Zvolensky (2009). The questionnaire was translated and modified to reflect Egyptian slang and culture.

Results: This study included 558 students, 422 (75.6%) males and 136 (24.4%) females. The results showed that 189 (33.9%) were current tobacco smokers, 51 (9.1%) were smokers of substances other than tobacco, 45 (8.1%) were cannabis smokers, 38 (6.8%) were Strox smokers, and 3 (0.5%) were Voodoo smokers. When students were asked about their reasons for smoking Strox, they cited the following motivations: to achieve a feeling of euphoria(28.9%), depression (23.7%), experimentation (23.7%), peer pressure (21.1%), and having excess money (2.6%). The results showed a clear association between tobacco and cannabis smoking and consumption of Strox.

Conclusion: Although the prevalence rates of NPSs usage as observed in this study were not high, higher rates could be expected in other communities outside of the university. Community-based studies are needed to estimate the magnitude of NPSs use in Egypt and the associated risk factors.

 

Keywords: Smoking, Cannabis, Strox, Voodoo, Drug use, Prevalence.

 

The Open Public Health Journal, 2020, 13: 425-429

https://benthamopen.com/FULLTEXT/TOPHJ-13-425

 

Scoring System for the Diagnosis of COVID-19

Scoring System for the Diagnosis of COVID-19

 

Mohamed Farouk Allam

Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

 

The Open Public Health Journal 2020;13:413-4.

 

DOI: 10.2174/1874944502013010413, 2020, 13, 413-414

 

Abstract:

Due to the international spread of COVID-19, the difficulty of collecting nasopharyngeal swab specimen from all suspected patients, the costs of RT-PCR and CT, and the false negative results of RT-PCR assay in 41% of COVID-19 patients, a scoring system is needed to classify the suspected patients in order to determine the need for follow-up, home isolation, quarantine or the conduction of further investigations. A scoring system is proposed as a diagnostic tool for suspected patients. It includes Epidemiological Evidence of Exposure, Clinical Symptoms and Signs, and Investigations (if available). This scoring system is simple, could be calculated in a few minutes, and incorporates the main possible data/findings of any patient.

 

Keywords: Nasopharyngeal swab, COVID-19, diagnosis, RT-PCR, CT, Score system.

 

The Open Public Health Journal 2020;13:413-4.

https://benthamopen.com/FULLTEXT/TOPHJ-13-413

Predictive factors for nutritional behavior among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic in 6th of October City

 

Doaa A Nasrallah (1), Hanan S Ez-Elarab (2), Eman A Sultan (3), Mohamed Farouk Allam (1)

1. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

2. Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt and at Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, Jeddah, KSA.

3. National Nutrition Institute, Cairo, Egypt.

Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene 2020; 61: E186-E193

https://doi.org/10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2020.61.2.1302

Background: Good maternal nutrition during pregnancy is important to ensure health for both the mother and the foetus. This study aimed to assess nutritional knowledge and behavior among a  group  of  Egyptian  pregnant  women  in  addition  to  identify  the factors influencing both their nutritional knowledge and behavior.

Methods: This  comparative  cross  sectional  study  included  300 pregnant  women  attending  the  antenatal  care  clinics  in  6th  of October  University  private  hospital  and  El-Hussary  primary health care (PHC) unit. The data was collected through a modified nutritional survey that was translated from Spanish to Arabic and revised by language experts for clarity.

Results: Almost  all  of  the  women  attending  the  private  hospital were  university  educated  while  about  half  of  the  women  attending  the  PHC  unit  were  graduated  from  technical  education.  In general, the level of knowledge about food requirements of both groups was satisfactory good; however,  neither  of  them  fulfilled the  WHO  recommendations  of  food  intake  during  pregnancy  or the optimum number of meals per day. The mean of random blood glucose was higher among the women attending the PHC unit; the BMI, mid  arm  circumference  and  subcutaneous  fat  were  higher among  the  same  group  as  well.  In  regard  to  fulfilling  the WHO recommended  servings  per  day,  only  starch  and  fat  items  were fulfilled by both groups, whereas the other three items (vegetables, fruits  and  dairy  products)  were  merely  included  in  the  diets  of both groups.

Conclusions: Healthy  behavior  among  pregnant  women  in  both group  were  influenced  by  their  educational  level,  occupation  as well as their pre-gestational BMI. Those were the only three significant predictive factors, where women with higher education showed an active lifestyle. In addition, women starting with normal BMI before pregnancy had better healthy behaviours including the choice of healthy diets

Keywords: Pregnancy, Nutrition, Life-style behavior, Eating habits, Antenatal care.

Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene 2020; 61: E186-E193

https://www.jpmh.org/index.php/jpmh/article/view/1302/765

Brain Cancer Risk Factors: Sun Exposure and/or Smoking?

Brain Cancer Risk Factors: Sun Exposure and/or Smoking?

Amin GED (a), Abou Seif HA (a) , Abd Elaziz KM (a) and Allam MF (a,b)

a. Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

b. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Journal of Community Medicine and Health Research 2020;2(1):120.

Abstract

Background: An ecological study was conducted to evaluate the associations among brain cancer, cutaneous malignant melanoma and lung cancer in 40 European countries. Methods: Incidence rates were obtained from the database of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 2012. We analyzed age-adjusted and gender-stratified incidence rates for cutaneous malignant melanoma, lung cancer and brain cancer in 40 European countries that had registration systems that fulfilled the IARC quality criteria. Before calculating the correlations among cutaneous malignant melanoma, lung cancer and brain cancer, the normal distribution of the variables was examined using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Results: There was no significant correlation between the overall rates (males and females combined) of cutaneous malignant melanoma and lung cancer (r=0.128; P=0.4), cutaneous malignant melanoma and brain cancer (r=-0.045; P=0.7), or brain cancer and lung cancer (r= 0.229; P=0.1). Conclusion: Brain cancer had no positive correlation with cutaneous malignant melanoma or lung cancer, rejecting the hypothesis that sun exposure and smoking could be risk factors for brain cancer. New analytical and genetic studies are needed to identify the risk factors for brain cancer.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Ecological; Brain Cancer; Melanoma; Lung Cancer

Citation: Amin GED, Abou Seif HA, Abd Elaziz KM, Allam MF (2020). Brain Cancer Risk Factors: Sun Exposure and/or Smoking?. J Community Med Health Res 2(1): 120

https://www.pubtexto.com/pdf/?brain-cancer-risk-factors-sun-exposure-andor-smoking

Persecutory Subtype Of Delusional Disorder. Descriptive Study Of 129 Cases.

Subtipo Persecutorio Del Trastorno Delirante: Estudio De Series De 129 Casos.

Persecutory Subtype Of Delusional Disorder. Descriptive Study Of 129 Cases.

Francisco Mármol Bernal (1), Rogelio Luque Luqueb (2), Mohamed Farouk Allam (3), Rafael Fernández-Crehuet Navajas (4)

(1) Delegación Territorial de Salud, Córdoba, España.

(2) Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía. Universidad de Córdoba, España.

(3) Área de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Córdoba, España.

Rev Chil Neuro-Psiquiat 2020; 58 (2): 116-126

Summary

Objective. The objective of this study is to investigate the demographic, environmental, psychosocial and clinical characteristics of the persecutory subtype in a group of patients with delusional disorder (DD). Methodology. Retrospective descriptive study of DD cases registered at Psychiatry and Mental Hygiene Clinic of Cordoba according to DSM-IV-TR criteria was conducted. We obtained a sample of 261 DD patients who met the inclusion criteria; of them 129 cases has persecutory subtype. Data and variables collected were divided into 4 groups: I. Socio-demographic and general data. II. DD risk factors (personal and family). III. DD clinical picture and diagnosis (presentation, symptoms, disability, use of health care resources, treatment, and evolution). Results. The proportion of males versus females of the persecutory subtype was of 1.04. Only 5.4% of patients had primary level of education. At the first visit of the psychiatry clinic, 65.9% of the patients were married and about half of them shared home. About 14.7% of patients had a past history of alcohol consumption, and only 0.8% consumed other drugs. Ideas of reference and of persecution were found in 98.4% and 99.2% respectively. Conclusions. It is necessary to conduct future prospective studies to investigate the risk factors associated with the persecutory subtype of DD.

Key words: delusional disorder, paranoia, persecutory subtype, retrospective study, case series.

Resumen

Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer las características demográficas, factores ambientales, factores de riego psicosociales, y clínicas del subtipo persecutorio en un grupo de pacientes con trastorno delirante (TD). Metodología. Estudio epidemiológico retrospectivo sobre un Registro de Casos en el Dispensario de Psiquiatría e Higiene Mental de Córdoba sobre pacientes con TD según criterios DSM-IV-TR. Aquellos pacientes que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión definidos constituyeron nuestra muestra final de 261 casos, de ellos 129 casos presentaban el subtipo persecutorio. Las variables sobre las que se recogió información en base a protocolos, fueron agrupadas con el orden siguiente: I. Variables de los datos sociodemográficos y generales. II. Variables de los Factores de riesgo del TD (familiares y personales). III. Variables del Cuadro Clínico y el Diagnostico del TD (Presentación, sintomatología delirante, funcionalidad y discapacidad, utilización de los recursos sanitarios, tratamiento, problemas psicosociales, evolución y curso). Resultados. La proporción hombres versus mujeres en el subtipo persecutorio fue de 1,04. Solo el 5,4% de estos pacientes tenía estudios primarios. Un 65,9%, al realizar la primera consulta psiquiátrica, se encontraba casado y el 50,4% convivían en el hogar. Un 14,7% consumió previamente alcohol y un 0,8% otras sustancias. Las ideas de referencia y de persecución se presentaron el 98,4% y en el 99,2% de los casos respectivamente. Conclusiones. Son necesarios futuros estudios prospectivos para investigar los factores de riesgo del subtipo persecutorio del TD.

Palabras clave: Trastorno delirante, paranoia, subtipo persecutorio, estudio retrospectivo, series de casos.

Rev Chil Neuro-Psiquiat 2020; 58 (2): 116-126

https://scielo.conicyt.cl/pdf/rchnp/v58n2/0717-9227-rchnp-58-02-0116.pdf

Is there a benefit of vitamin D supplementation in deficient children and adolescents suffering from obesity? A meta-analysis

Is there a benefit of vitamin D supplementation in deficient children and adolescents suffering from obesity? A meta-analysis

M F Nassar, E K Emam, M F Allam

QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, Volume 113, Issue Supplement_1, March 2020, hcaa063.001, https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcaa063.001

Published: 05 May 2020

Background and objectives. Both childhood obesity and vitamin D deficiency are common in the Middle East. This systematic review/meta-analysis aims to highlight the effect of vitamin D supplementation in deficient children suffering from obesity.

Methods. Published clinical studies on vitamin D supplementation in obese children and adolescents with vitamin D deficiency were identified through a comprehensive MEDLINE/PubMed search (from July 1966 to November 2017). Outcomes intended after vitamin D supplementation were improvements in vitamin D status, BMI alterations and appetite changes. The inclusion criteria were children aged 2 to 18 years of both sexes in clinical trials that specified the oral and/or intramuscular dose of vitamin D supplementation.

Results. Ten studies were retrieved, but only six were relevant. First, supplemented obese children and adolescents were compared to non-obese controls; thereafter, supplemented obese children and adolescents were compared to matching obese peers given placebo. Pooled risks from the two studies that evaluated the number of obese and non-obese children and adolescents who improved upon vitamin D supplementation revealed that obesity poses a risk for not benefiting from the vitamin D supplementation regardless of the dose and the duration of supplementation. Pooled results from the six retrieved studies that compared supplemented obese children and adolescents to matching non-obese or obese peers given placebo revealed significantly lower vitamin D levels in obese participants than in non-obese peers.

Conclusion. Vitamin D levels are significantly lower in obese children and adolescents with obesity, posing a risk for not benefiting from vitamin D supplementation regardless of the dose and duration of supplementation. Our results suggest that only with simultaneous weight adjustment strategies, vitamin D sufficiency would be achieved more effectively.

Vitamin D supplementation in deficient children suffering from obesity.

Keywords: Adolescents, children, clinical trials, obesity, supplementation, vitamin D

Topic: obesity, adolescent, child, vitamin d, childhood obesity

Issue Section: Pediatrics

https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/article-abstract/113/Supplement_1/hcaa063.001/5829038