Author

Nada Dehneh – Mazen Rajab – Wafika Zarzour – Muhidien Jouma

Published in

Cogent Medicine, Vol. 3, No.1,  9 May 2016

Abstract

In Syria, a Mediterranean country, health risk data on young women are limited. The aim of study: is to evaluate lifestyle factors, along with biomarkers related to cardiovascular risk factors in a group of university female students. Healthy female students (n = 206, 18–25 years old) participated in the study. Participant anthropometric characteristics and blood pressure were measured; alcohol drinking, smoking, and physical activity were assessed; the Mediterranean dietary pattern was evaluated; biomarkers such as glucose, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were determined. Results: Among participants, 22.34% were overweight and obese; 10.2% were considered to be at high risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases associated to waist circumference (>88 cm); 47.58% have abdominal obesity; 94.17% were non-alcoholic beverage consumers; 70.87% were non-smokers; and 63% practice sport daily. The average of adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern was 49.14 ± 8%. No correlation was found between Mediterranean dietary score and anthropometric or biomarkers’ measurements. Non‐refined cereal consumption was inversely correlated with uric acid measurement. Participants with normal levels of hemoglobin had significant correlation between fruits and vegetables’ consumption. Clearly, young women in Syria should consider a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Keywords: obesity, Mediterranean diet, lifestyle, biological markers, hematologic tests, metabolic syndrome X

Link to read full paper

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2331205X.2016.1180741