AIM: This study aimed to compare the performance of BMI, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) in predicting Malaysians with excess body fat defined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 399 men and women aged ≥40 years were recruited from Klang Valley, Malaysia. The body composition of the subjects, including body fat percentage, was measured by DXA. The weight, height, WC and WHtR of the subjects were also determined.
RESULTS: BMI [sensitivity = 55.7%, specificity = 86.1%, area under curve (AUC) = 0.709] and WC (sensitivity = 62.7%, specificity = 90.3%, AUC = 0.765) performed moderately in predicting excess adiposity. Their performance and sensitivity improved with lower cut-off values. The performance of WHtR (sensitivity = 96.6%, specificity = 36.1, AUC = 0.664) was optimal at the standard cut-off value and no modification was required.
CONCLUSION: The performance of WC in identifying excess adiposity was greater than BMI and WHtR based on AUC values. Modification of cut-off values for BMI and WC could improve their performance and should be considered by healthcare providers in screening individuals with excess adiposity.
HIGHLIGHT: This review aimed to summarize the preclinical and clinical findings on the effects of vitamin E on periodontitis. The current literature suggests that vitamin E could improve the periodontal status by correcting redox status imbalance, reducing inflammatory responses, and promoting wound healing, thus highlighting the potential of vitamin E in the management of periodontitis.
CONCLUSION: Direct evidence for the use of vitamin E supplementation or treatment of periodontitis in humans is still limited. More well-designed and controlled studies are required to ascertain its effectiveness.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst university students from a Malaysian's public university. A total of 228 students responded to a self-administered questionnaire consisting of items evaluating knowledge and practices of osteoporosis.
RESULTS: The students showed a moderate level of osteoporosis awareness with a score of 63.3%. Male subjects had higher awareness scores of osteoporosis complications compared to female subjects (p= 0.010). Malay (p= 0.002) and Chinese (p= 0.005) had higher levels of osteoporosis awareness compared to Indian students. Coffee and alcohol intakes were significantly different between the sexes (p= 0.013) and the ethnic groups (p= 0.029). Most of the subjects in our study were minimally active (43.9%).
CONCLUSIONS: The students had a reasonable levels of knowledge about osteoporosis, but their health activities to avoid osteoporosis were insufficient. This illustrates the need for educational programmes to improve students' knowledge and awareness for successful osteoporosis prevention.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the circulating markers of osteocytes and calcium homeostasis between Malaysian postmenopausal women with and without osteoporosis.
METHODS: Postmenopausal women with (n=20) or without osteoporosis (n=20) as determined by dual- energy X-ray absorptiometry were randomly drawn from a bone health cohort. Their fasting blood was collected and assayed by a multiplex immunoassay panel.
RESULTS: The results showed that osteoprotegerin and sclerostin levels were significantly lower among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis than the normal control. No significant differences in other markers were observed between the two groups. Sclerostin level correlated positively with spine Bone Mineral Density (BMD), while 25-hydroxyvitamin D correlated negatively with hip BMD in the control group. No significant correlation was observed between other markers with spine or hip BMD.
CONCLUSION: These data provide an insight into the possible roles of osteocyte markers, especially osteoprotegerin and sclerostin, in classifying subjects with osteoporosis. However, the lack of association between these markers and BMD indicates that osteoporosis is a complex and multifactorial condition.
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: T-score discordance between hip and spine is a common problem in bone mineral density assessment. A difference ≥ 1 standard deviation (SD) (regardless of diagnostic class) is considered minor, and a difference more than one diagnostic class is considered major discordance. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors of hip and spine T-score discordance in a population aged ≥ 40 years in Klang Valley, Malaysia.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, subjects answered a demographic questionnaire and underwent body composition and bone health assessment using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Chi-square and binary logistic regression analysis were used to assess the prevalence of T-score discordance among the subjects.
RESULTS: A total of 786 Malaysians (382 men, 404 women) subjects were recruited. The prevalence of minor and major discordance was 30.3% and 2.3%, respectively. Overall, factors related to T-score discordance were advanced age, decreased height, and being physically active. Sub-analysis showed that decreased height and being physically active predicted T-score discordance in men, being menopausal and Indian (vs Chinese) were predictors in women.
CONCLUSIONS: T-score discordance between hip and spine is common among Malaysian middle-aged and elderly population. Diagnosis of osteopenia/osteoporosis should be based on the T-score of more than one skeletal site as per the current recommendations.