Spirituality moderates the relationship of psychosocial stress to metabolic risk factors among Afro-Caribbean immigrants in the US Virgin Islands

Association between bone turnover markers, bone mineral density, and serum osteoglycine in middle-aged men with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have decreased bone health. We aimed to investigate serum levels of bone turnover markers (BTMs) (markers of bone formation and bone resorption) and bone mineral density (BMD) at three sites (lumber, neck femur, and total femur) in middle-aged men with type 2 diabetes and to analyze the relationship between them. Also to evaluate serum osteoglycin as a novel marker and its relation to BTMs, BMD, and diabetic status.

METHODS

We recruited seventy-eight patients with T2DM and thirteen non-diabetic, male volunteers as a control group. BMD was measured using a DEXA scan. BTMs (carboxy-terminal crosslinking telopeptide of type 1 collagen [CTX] and procollagen type 1 N propeptide [P1NP]), osteoglycin, PTH, and vitamin D were estimated. Data was compared among subjects and statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Most of the patients were having normal BMD with no significant difference between patients and the controls. BTMs and osteoglycin were significantly higher and vitamin D was significantly lower in the diabetic patients. Serum osteoglycin was positively correlated with DEXA Neck Femur (r = 0.233; p-value < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Body mass index and Serum osteoglycin have a significant positive effect on BMD. Both markers of bone formation and bone resorption were increased indicating a state of increased bone turnover in T2DM.

Spiritual well-being, religious activity, and the metabolic syndrome: results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study

Sociocultural risk and protective factors for developing the metabolic syndrome (MetS), a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), have not been well studied in Hispanics/Latinos residing in the United States (U.S.). Religiosity and/or spirituality (R/S), important aspects of Hispanic/Latino culture, have been inversely associated with CVD and multiple CVD risk factors. Cross-sectional associations between dimensions of R/S and prevalent MetS, and its five individual components were examined using multiple logistic and linear regression, among 3278 U.S., middle-aged and older Hispanic/Latino adults from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study. Dimensions of R/S were not associated with presence of the MetS. Certain dimensions of Spiritual Well-being (Meaning, Peace, Faith), and frequency of non-organizational religious activity were weakly but significantly associated with one or more MetS components including waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure. R/S variables were not associated with triglycerides, fasting glucose or HDL cholesterol levels. Prospective, longitudinal studies are needed to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of the relationship between R/S and health risk factors in U.S. Hispanics/Latinos.

Obesity and Insulin Resistance Are the Central Issues in Prevention of and Care for Comorbidities

For a long time the assumption has been that, although weight reduction was necessary and desirable, comorbidities were far more important and needed treatment even if weight loss was not a treatment goal, preferably with medication. This controversy leads to postponement of treatment, and later on causes very intensive medical treatment, thus, raising the health care costs to unacceptable levels, leading to the medicalization of individuals, and a declining of the responsibility of patients for their health, leaving the question of when to regard their own weight as a problem that should be dealt with up to individuals. The central problem is insulin resistance, which leads to a cascade of health problems. This condition should be diagnosed in primary practice and obesity clinics to ensure a better, tailor-made treatment for patients. Treatment should start at the earliest stage possible, when comorbidities are still reversible and includes a personalized dietary advice and counseling, preferably by a dietitian, to tackle insulin resistance. An exercise program is part of the treatment.