Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive decline of cognitive performance, which has a harmful impact on social activities. AD is the main cause of dementia and loss of functional independence in the elderly. AD is a worldwide concern because of its adverse consequences and expanding prevalence and incidence. Vitamin D is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide among children and adults. In addition to its classical function of bone metabolism regulation, vitamin D exhibits multiple biological targets mediated by the vitamin D receptor (VDR). Vitamin D is a risk factor for a wide range of diseases and, as a neurosteroid, has an essential role in nervous system development and protection. Vitamin D regulates mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of AD, including phagocytosis of amyloid-beta plaques, anti-inflammatory action, antioxidant action, regulation of intraneuronal calcium, ischemic zone size reduction, regulation of choline acetyltransferase enzyme and neurotrophic agents. This study aimed to evaluate the association between AD and vitamin D deficiency.
Methods: In this case-control study, 44 Alzheimer’s disease patients (diagnosed based on DSM-IV-TR criteria) compared with 40 patients that had no disease related to vitamin D. This study was performed in the neurology clinics of Roozbeh and Imam Khomeini Hospitals in Tehran, from April to March 2015. The demographic data were collected. After obtaining informed consent, venous blood was taken by clinical staff to measure the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Statistical analysis was performed on data.

Results: The Mean age was 71.55 years old (69.88 for females and 73.74 for males) in the case group. Mean vitamin D levels were 26.31 ng/ml and 36.41 ng/ml in case and control groups, respectively. Vitamin D level was deficient (< 30 ng/ml) in 75% of patients, of which 23% were severely deficient (< 10 ng/ml). Statistical analysis showed no significant relationship between Alzheimer's disease and vitamin D levels (P=0.057), but when participants categorized into three groups based on serum vitamin D levels (deficient, insufficient, sufficient), we found a significant relationship between them (P=0.019).
Conclusion: Our results confirm the association between vitamin D deficiency and Alzheimer's disease. Vitamin D supplementation should be considered in individuals at risk of Alzheimer's disease to reach sufficient vitamin D level.

Asthma is an inflammatory and chronic disease that affects about 300 million people globally. The disease is more common in developed countries. The increase in the prevalence of asthma is not only due to genetic factors, but also to many environmental factors related to urbanization and type of nutrition. It has been reported that obesity is an independent risk factor for asthma and obese children are at higher risk of asthma. The researchers found that many of the common phenotypes of obesity and asthma are due to genetic effects and some genetic component is common to asthma and obesity. Genetic data suggest that there are areas of genetic overlap between the obesity and asthma genes. These children experience more severe asthma and have a poor treatment outcome. On the other hand, there is an association between vitamin D deficiency in the earlier stages of life and incidence of asthma in the following years. Interestingly, obesity is a common risk factor for both asthma and vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, study on the interaction of asthma, obesity, and vitamin D deficiency may play an important role in unraveling the intricate nature of asthma. Prevalence of Pediatric asthma in 6-7 and 13-14 years-old children has been reported more than 10% in Iran. In this review we aimed to assess the latest findings about pediatric asthma and its association with obesity and vitamin D in Iran and the other countries. In addition, the results of a pilot study that has examined the frequency of overweight and obesity, as well as vitamin D deficiency in children with asthma in Tehran, are briefly presented. Enrolling a national study on obesity and vitamin D levels in children with asthma, can provide excellent information on the effects of obesity and vitamin D deficiency on asthma in Iranian children. Also the results could provide a basis for ecological studies to measure correlation between pediatric asthma and Sunlight and food and cultural habits in different parts of the country. Also, it is recommended that for a better understanding of the subject, experimental studies examine the effect of vitamin D supplementation and vitamin D-rich diets on the prevention and treatment of pediatric asthma in different age groups as well as different ethnicities of Iran.

Background: Urinary tract infection is one of the most common infectious diseases in children, the most severe form of which is acute pyelonephritis. Vitamin D plays a very important role in regulating the immune system, this study was conducted to compare vitamin D levels in children with urinary tract infections and healthy children in Kerman, Iran in 2020.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 63 children with pyelonephritis hospitalized in Afzalipour Hospital and 68 healthy children who were referred to Samen Al-Hojaj Clinic in Kerman, Iran from January 2020 to January 2021. Inclusion criteria for patients include the following: a) the presence of clinical signs and symptoms of infection such as fever b) pyuria, neurogenic bladder, urinary stones, chronic renal failure and previous diagnosis of urinary reflux. The case group was evaluated by taking a complete history, completing a questionnaire and clinical examination, and laboratory tests. The two groups were compared in terms of variables of sex, age and vitamin D levels.

Conclusion: Inadequate vitamin D levels are associated with the prevalence of urinary tract infections, and vitamin D supplementation can be a low-risk option for preventing urinary tract infections.

Results: In the group of children with tic disorders, the highest number of patients were girls and in the group of children who were healthy, the highest number of patients were girls. The average age of patients in the case group was 10.37±0.31 years old and the average age of patients in the control group was 10.06±0.41 years old. The average age difference between the children with tic disorders and healthy children was not statistically significant (P=0.971). The average body mass index (BMI) in the case group was 16.98±0.35 and the average BMI in the control group was 16.0±84.56. The average body mass index difference between the children with tic and healthy children was not statistically significant (P=0.838). The mean serum Vit 25(OH) D3 levels in the control group were higher than the average serum level of vitamin D in the case group. The mean serum vitamin D level difference between the children with tic disorders and healthy children was statistically considerable (P=0.036). Conclusion: The results showed that the average serum level of vitamin D in children with tic disorders was significantly lower than in children who were healthy. To investigate and confirm this relationship, more long-term studies with a larger number of patients are needed.