Alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG), a derivative of glutaminic acid and glutamate, was shown to increase muscle protein synthesis as well as to have a positive effect on the quality of bone strength. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of AKG supplemented either as a salt (Ca + AKG) of pH 5 AKG 5, or in the pure form of pH 2 (AKG 2) on rats growth, performance, feed utilization, some blood parameters and histology of the small intestine. Sixty four rats were divided into 4 treatments and stayed on trial for 9 (n = 6) or 18 days (n = 10). The AKG 2 treated rats were observed to generally have the lowest average daily gain (ADG) with a high average daily food intake (ADFI). The only significant difference found was a reduced (P < 0.03) feed efficacy on day 9 of the AKG 2 treatment from that of the control group. All dietary treatments showed higher Hb levels than the controls on day 9, with those of dextrose and AKG 2 being significant (P < 0.03 and P < 0.005, respectively). The enterocyte crypt depth in the proximal small intestine of the AKG 2 treated rats was significantly enlarged in comparison to that of the dextrose group. From day 9 to day 18, the control as well as the dextrose and the AKG 2 treatments showed an increase in the free Gln levels, while the AKG 5 group showed a decrease in free Gln levels over time. In the AKG 2 group, the level of peptide bound (PB) Gln + Glu was higher than in controls.
In various epidemiological and clinical studies, bone quality, bone mineral density (BMD), as well as risk of falling have been associated with lifestyle and anthropometric/demographic characteristics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the osteoporosis risk factors occurrence and its association with BMD in rural and urban women from the Lublin Region in Poland. A cross-sectional study of risk factors of osteoporosis and fracture was carried out in a cohort of 900 rural and urban women aged 30-79 years, representative of the general population the Lublin Region. Data pertaining to osteoporosis risk factors as well as medical history were taken using a specially designed 31 item questionnaire divided in seven sections: social history, past medical history, reproductive history, drug history, family history of osteoporosis, nutritional habits and lifestyle factors. The lumbar spine (L2-L4) was examined in a-p position using the dual X-ray absorptiometry- DXA (LUNAR Corp.). The differences between urban and rural women in the appearance of particular osteoporosis risk factors, such as gynecological, dietary calcium intake, smoking and coffee consumption, was noticeable. Age, years of menopause and family history of osteoporosis (in mothers) were found to have strong negative independent associations with lumbar spine BMD. Body Mass Index (BMI) was found to have strong positive association with BMD. Dietary calcium intake, coffee consumption and level of physical activity had noticeable positive and independent, but not significant association with BMD.
The utility of biochemical markers of bone metabolism has not been proven in the diagnosis of metabolic diseases of the bone tissue; however they are widely used as a tools for treatment monitoring. Their serum concentrations are influenced by a number of factors, like gender, health status, anthropometric and environmental factors. All the factors listed above should be taken into consideration during clinical use. The aim of the study was to determine the reference values and evaluate the influence of environmental and anthropometric variables on biochemical markers of bone turnover for women from Lublin Region (Poland). Subjects of the study were 188 normal women aged 30-79, all residents of Lublin Region. Analysed markers of bone turnover were: osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), both assessed using ELISA method. All blood samples were taken and analyzed at the Clinical Chem. Laboratory and Patho-morphology Department at the Institute of Agricultural Medicine in Lublin. The lumbar spine (L2-L4) of all subjects was examined in a-p position using the dual X-ray absorptiometry-DXA (DPX-A LUNAR Corp.) at the Department of Metabolic and Degenerative Diseases of Bone Tissue of Institute of Agricultural Medicine in Lublin. Data pertaining to factors affecting bone tissue were collected using a specially prepared questionnaire. Serum levels of OC and CTX-I in women in every age range were different, generally increasing with age. Serum levels of OC and CTX-I in the analysed population strongly depended of both menopausal status and bone mineral density. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that age and menopausal status variations need to be considered when interpreting laboratory measurements of biochemical markers of bone metabolism.
Osteoporosis and osteoarthrosis are the most common diseases of bone tissue affecting both rural and urban populations. The aim of the study was to investigate the level of education and requirement for health promotion within the scope of common diseases of the skeletal system among rural population in Poland. This was an exploratory study with a cross-sectional design performed between May 2004–September 2005 in rural areas of 16 Voivodeships (main provinces) of Poland. The study population comprised of 404 (62.9%) rural women and 238 (37.1%) rural men (total 642). All subjects were randomly sampled and recruited by personal contact in primary health care centres. Study data were obtained using a specially prepared questionnaire. The most commonly reported diseases were: arterial hypertension (26.1%), joint degenerative disease (24.6%) and osteoarthritis (14.7%). The occurrence of osteoarthritis and joint degenerative disease increased with age and was highest in the group aged over 50 (21% and 38.7% respectively). Osteoarthitis was more frequent in women compared to men (16% and 12.2% respectively). In most cases, the basic information about methods of prevention and treatment given by a General Practitioner or a specialist was characterized as “satisfactory” (73.6% and 62.9% respectively). The most popular prophylactic action performed in local communities was bone densitometry (14.1%), and the most important source of knowledge - TV and radio (65%). Populations living in rural areas have limited access to health education and health prophylaxis actions, irrespective of the geographical region of Poland. Inhabitants with secondary or higher education, as well as those with a higher household income, have better knowledge about skeletal system diseases compared to those with a lower educational level. The practical implications of this study suggest the necessity for paying more attention to etiology, symptoms and methods of prevention and treatment of bone diseases when attending to patients in specialist practice.
Obesity is a multivariate syndrome which can negatively affect whole body functioning. It is most common in highly developed countries, and in recent years a progressive increase in obesity occurrence is noticeable. The aim of the study was to assess serum lipid profile and metabolic syndrome occurrence among obese rural women from Lublin Region in Eastern Poland. The study was conducted in the Institute of Agricultural Medicine in Lublin (IAM). All subjects had a negative history of diseases and treatment that could affect serum lipid profile or glucose measurements. The inclusion criterion for the study group was overweight and obesity, defined as a body mass index above 25 (BMI>25) and living in a rural area. 44 women participated in the study. There were no women fulfilling the criteria or who had a history of incorrect fasting glucose (IFG) or incorrect glucose tolerance (IGT). In contrast, the prevalence of arterial hypertension (or treatment) was high - 53%. 22.7% women had normal serum TC values. The proportion of those with hyper-LDL-C was 38.6% and with hyper-TG - 18.2%. 20.5% of studied women had incorrect serum HDL-C levels, and in 15.9% hypo- HDL-C was accompanied by high serum TC levels. Analysis of correlation showed that serum TC was positively correlated with both LDL- and HDL-C. 55% of the studied obese or overweight women had at least 2 additional components of the metabolic syndrome.