iRUFARS-2021

Association between Attitudes on Food Advertisements, Eating Behaviour and BMI among Adolescent Boys in a Selected School in Colombo

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Association between Attitudes on Food Advertisements, Eating Behaviour and BMI among Adolescent Boys in a Selected School in Colombo Gimhan, J.S.; Fonseka, G.O.M.S.; Gooneratne, K.M.A.; Seneviratne, S.N. Background: Obesity is a common problem in childhood and adolescence. Eating behaviour is an important determinant of obesity. Therefore, it was hypothesized that there should be an association between attitudes towards food advertisements, eating behaviour and Body Mass Index (BMI). Objectives: To determine attitudes towards food and beverage advertisements, eating behaviour and their association with BMI among adolescent school boys in Colombo. Methods: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted on adolescent boys (15-16 years, n=120) from a selected boys’ school in Colombo district using cluster sampling method. Self administered ‘Adolescent Food Habit Checklist’ and 5-point Likert scale (developed by the researchers) were used to assess data on eating behaviour and attitudes towards food and beverage advertisements respectively. The BMI was calculated to assess the nutritional status. Bivariate Pearson correlation coefficient test was used to determine the associations. Results: From the participants 59% were from urban areas and 64.2% had a monthly income more than 50000 LKR. Regarding the BMI 64.2% had a normal BMI. The underweight, overweight and obese percentage was 20.0%, 11.7% and 4.2%, respectively. Majority of the participants (85.6%) had a good consumption of fruit and vegetables but also had a high consumption of fried food (75.6%). Attitudes regarding advertisements were largely influenced by the appearance of professionals such as doctors or nutritionists and use of comic visuals and catchy melodies. There was a negative correlation between attitudes and eating behaviour (r=- 0.341, p=0.020) and there was no statistically significant association between eating behaviour and BMI (r=0.044, p=0.768). Conclusions: Unfavorable attitudes toward advertisements regarding food and beverages had a moderate degree correlation with the unhealthy eating behaviours. Therefore, it is necessary to regulate the advertisements regarding food and beverages while applying measures to authenticate the information given in the advertisements. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between eating behavior and BMI.

Prevalence of Risk Factors of Osteoporosis among a Group of Middle-aged Premenopausal Women in Sri Lanka

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Prevalence of Risk Factors of Osteoporosis among a Group of Middle-aged Premenopausal Women in Sri Lanka Subasinghe, H.W.A.S.; Lekamwasam, S.; Ball, P.; Morrissey, H.; Waidyaratne, E.I. Background: Osteoporosis has a multitude of risk factors and many of those begin in the middle age. Early recognition and management of risk factors in the middle age helps prevention of osteoporosis in old age. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of osteoporosis risk factors among a group of premenopausal women in Sri Lanka. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 323 community-dwelling premenopausal women aged 20-40 years. Sociodemographic data and the prevalence of risk factors of osteoporosis were assessed using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Previous history of fracture, parental history of fragility fracture, prolonged systemic glucocorticoid use (>3 months), smoking and alcohol use, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic disease conditions, parity and duration of breast feeding, exposure to sunlight, calcium and vitamin D rich food intake were evaluated as main risk factors. Anthropometric measurements were made following standard procedures. Results: Mean±SD age and body weight of the study sample were 31±6 years and 54.5±12.0 kg, respectively. Among the participants, 27.6% were overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2 ) and 20.1% had lower BMI (<18.5 kg/m2 ). Approximately 13.7% had a family history of hip or major osteoporotic fractures. Prevalence of non-communicable diseases (diabetes, hypertension, asthma, hypercholesterolemia) was very low (6%). None were current smokers or alcohol users or on prolonged glucocorticoid therapy. About 3.7% women did not consume any dairy product while one third of the sample had very low diary and non-dairy calcium rich food consumption. Median (IQR) duration of total breastfeeding was 48 (24−48) months. Among the breastfed women, 70% had very longer durations of breast feeding (>24months). Daily exposure to sunlight was <2 hours in 55.7% of women. Conclusions: Less exposure to sunlight, low intake of calcium rich foods, long-term breast feeding and underweight are the potentially modifiable risk factors of osteoporosis prevalent among middle aged premenopausal women. Lifestyle modifications are the best option to reduce them.

Evaluation of Cytotoxic Effects in Aqueous Herbal Extracts Obtained from Psidium guajava, Garcinia quaesita and Cinnamomum verum Using Brine Shrimp Assay

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Evaluation of Cytotoxic Effects in Aqueous Herbal Extracts Obtained from Psidium guajava, Garcinia quaesita and Cinnamomum verum Using Brine Shrimp Assay Wijenayka, D.; Bulugahapitiya, V.; Jayasinghe, S. Background: World Health Organization indicates that 70-80% of the world's population rely on plant based traditional medicine but their toxicological properties have not been explored adequately. Brine shrimp lethality assay is used in preliminary assessment of toxicity. Clarkson's toxicity criterion classifies plant extracts with LC50≥1000 ppm; non-toxic, LC50 500– 1000 ppm; low toxic, LC50 100-500 ppm; medium-toxic, and extracts with LC50≤100 ppm are very toxic. Leaves of Psidium guajava (Guava), Garcinia quaesita (Garcinia) and barks of Cinnamomum verum (Cinnamon) are selected as those plant extracts are known to have anti diabetic properties and can be incorporated into functional food and nutraceuticals. Objectives: To evaluate cytotoxicity of leaves of Psidium guajava (Guava), Garcinia quaesita (Garcinia) and barks of Cinnamomum verum (Cinnamon) using Brine shrimp assay. Methods: Aqueous extracts of guava and garcinia leaves and cinnamon-barks were freeze dried. Serial dilution of garcinia, cinnamon (10, 100, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 ppm) were prepared. In addition, dilutions of guava were prepared up to 5000 ppm with 1000 intervals. Brine shrimps were hatched in artificial sea water with dry Artemia salina cysts. After incubation, the nauplii were separated into petri-dishes with 4 mL of artificial seawater. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and artificial sea water were used as positive and negative control, respectively. LC50 were calculated with the number of dead nauplii at 24-hours using probit regression analysis with SPSS software. Results: None of the brine shrimp nauplii died with guava up to 1000 ppm. Average of 28.5 nauplii died from 2000 to 5000 ppm. The numbers of dead nauplii in ascending order of 10, 100, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 ppm garcinia concentrations were 22, 26, 30, 28, 30 and 30, respectively. In cinnamon, it was 03, 04, 09, 09, 12 and 16, respectively. All the nauplii died in the positive control and all nauplii alive in the negative control. LC50 of leaves of guava, garcinia and barks of cinnamon were 1660, 2.2, and 1642 ppm, respectively. Conclusions: This study reveals that aqueous extracts of guava-leaves and cinnamon-bark are non-toxic, whereas garcinia-leaves demonstrated toxicity in brine shrimp assay.

Does Sri Lanka Need to Reshape the Education for Substance Use Prevention in Schools?

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Does Sri Lanka Need to Reshape the Education for Substance Use Prevention in Schools? Jayamaha, A.R.; Dharmarathna, H.H.N.D.; Ranadeva, N.D.K.; Nawarathne, L.C.; Herath, H.M.N.D.M.; Buddhini, D.G.H.; Samarakoon, D.N.A.W.; Arachchi, A.M.P.S.; Senerath, S.N.; Darshana, A.T.; Samarasinghe, K.L.; Senanayake, B.; Welagedara, L.; Fernando, S.S.N. Background: The age of instigating substance use has decreased globally and school children have become more vulnerable. This is attributed to the scantiness of knowledge regarding substance use and, its’ consequences. School-based education for substance use prevention is appropriate and a convenient platform to access the vulnerable adolescence. Further, it will be instrumental in empowering school children against substance use. Objectives: To assess the influence of school education on substance use among the residential rehabilitees. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 113 individuals with substance use disorder who are enrolled in government and non-governmental residential drug rehabilitation programmes. Participants were enrolled in the study using consecutive sampling. Data such as demographics, drug use, factors associated with drug use, were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics due to the descriptive nature of the study. Results: Majority (97%) of the participants were males with the mean age of 27±6 years. All the participants were poly drug users with a mean duration of substance use of 7±5 years. Of the participants, 80% attended government schools and 51% educated up to ordinary levels, 28% up to advanced levels and 10% were graduates. Most (62%) of the participants did learn about substance use and its consequences at school and 89% attended Sunday/Dhamma (religious) school. The mean age of instigating substance use was 17±4 years. Conclusions: Regardless of providing awareness regarding the substance use and its’ consequences at schools and Sunday/Dhamma school, individuals instigating substance use at school age. This reveals the need of reshaping the school-based education for substance use prevention by both formal and informal health curricula.