Medium-Chain Triglyceride Oil and Dietary Intervention Improved Body Composition and Metabolic Parameters in Children with Glycogen Storage Disease Type 1 in Jordan: A Clinical Trial

Glycogen storage diseases (GSDs) are a group of carbohydrate metabolism disorders, most of which are inherited in autosomal recessive patterns. GSDs are of two types: those that have to do with liver and hypoglycaemia (hepatic GSDs) and those that are linked to neuromuscular presentation. This study aims to assess the impact of dietary intervention, including medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, on anthropometric measurements, body composition analysis and metabolic parameters among Jordanian children and is expected to be the first in the country. A sample of 38 children with glycogen storage disease type 1 (GSD-1) (median age = 6.4 years) were on a diet that included uncooked cornstarch therapy and a fructose-, sucrose- and lactose-restricted diet. Patients started to take MCT oil along with the prescribed diet after the first body composition test. Patients' nutritional status was re-evaluated three months later. The study results show that the percentage of patients who suffered from hypoglycaemia at the beginning of the study decreased significantly from 94.7% to 7.9% (p < 0.0001). The serum levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, uric acid and lactate decreased significantly after three months of intervention (100-71.1%, 73.7-21.1%, 97.4-52.6% and 94.7-18.4%, respectively). In contrast, there was no statistical difference in neutrophil count. Regarding clinical parameters, liver span was significantly reduced from (16.01 ± 2.65 cm) to (14.85 ± 2.26 cm) (p < 0.0001). There were significant improvements in growth parameters, including height-for-age and BMI-for-age for children aged ≥2 years (p = 0.034 and p = 0.074, respectively). Significant improvements in skeletal muscle mass and bone mineral content were also noticed at the end of the trial (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, medium-chain triglyceride therapy is found to improve biochemical and growth parameters in children with GSD-1 in Jordan.

General and sports nutrition knowledge among Jordanian adult coaches and athletes: A cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Nutrition knowledge (NK) is a modifiable determinant of diet intake and can positively influence athletic performance. This study aimed to (1) adapt and translate a validated general and sports NK questionnaire into Arabic (2) assess the NK of Jordanian sportspeople, and (3) evaluate the relationship between NK and various sociodemographic factors.

METHODS

The Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (ANSKQ) was translated into Arabic using forward-backward translation and underwent pilot testing and psychometric validation (internal consistency, test-retest reliability, inter-rater agreement) using a convenience sample of 30 individuals. Following ANSKQ validation, athletes a from 50 sport institutes in Jordan were invited (via email) to complete the Arabic ANSKQ online. Differences in NK based on demographics were analysed using t-test or ANOVA for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables. The ability of demographic factors to predict NK score-category (poor/good/average/excellent) was assessed using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

The Arabic ANSKQ had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92), test-retest reliability (Pearson r = 0.926) and inter-rater agreement (Cohen's k statistic = 0.89). A total of 3636 eligible participants completed the Arabic ANSKQ. Participants were mostly athletes (91.4%), female (68.0%), had normal BMI (50.6%), and played high-intensity sports (59.6%). 88.3% of participants had poor NK (<50%). There were statistically significant differences in NK score based on participant role (athlete vs coach), age, gender, BMI, nationality, smoking, years playing sport, sport frequency, sport intensity, and nutrition training. Multivariate modelling showed participant role, BMI, education level, sport frequency and nutrition training were predictors of NK category.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, Jordanian sportspeople have poor NK and may benefit from increased nutrition training.

Antibacterial properties of selected Malaysian Tualang honey against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pyogenes

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Tualang honey (TH) is a Malaysian multifloral jungle honey. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the number of studies published in medical databases regarding its potential health benefits. The study aimed to investigate the effect of TH against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pyogenes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effect of TH on both bacteria was investigated using MIC, MBC, growth curve, time-kill curve, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

The MIC of TH against P. aeruginosa and S. pyogenes was 18.5% (w/v) and 13% (w/v) respectively and MBC was 25% (w/v) for both bacteria. Spectrophotometric readings of at least 90% inhibition yielded MIC90 values of TH, 18.5% (w/v) and 15% (w/v) for P. aeruginosa and S. pyogenes respectively. A time-kill curve demonstrated a bactericidal with a 4-log reduction estimated within 8 hours. Using SEM, loss of structural integrity and marked changes in cell shape were observed. RT-qPCR analysis showed that TH reduced the pattern of gene expression in both bacteria, with a trend toward reduced expression of the virulence genes of interest.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that TH could potentially be used as an alternative therapeutic agent for microbial infection particularly against these two organisms.