Arab Journal of Nutrition and Exercise (AJNE)

Editorial

Dimitrios Papandreou — 2023-05-31

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Association Between Dietary Quality, Socioeconomic Level, Body Mass Index, and Age in Adolescents (Eastern Algeria): A Cross-sectional Study

Rabiâa Karoune — 2023-05-31

Aim: This article aims to evaluate the quality of adolescents’ diet in Constantine (Eastern Algeria) and investigate factors associated with this quality: Socio-economic Level (SEL), nutritional status (BMI), and age.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Constantine (Eastern Algeria) in 2019 with 1126 adolescents (aged 11–19 years). The dietary data were collected by a 24-hr recall. The diet quality was assessed by a diet diversity score (DDS) calculated for 9 food groups (DDS above the mean reflects a diversified diet) and a mean adequacy ratio (MAR) calculated for 12 nutrients. MAR’s cut-off value was "one." Weight and height were measured, and BMI was interpreted according to the World Health Organization reference values. The SEL was assessed using a socioeconomic classification score (SECS) according to parents' education level, profession, and other household information.

Results: The mean DDS was 3.97 ± 1.25. It was shifted to the lowest values compared to the theoretical mean value (4.5). Insufficient scores (DDS ≤4.5) were found in 65.0% of subjects. The mean MAR was 0.59 ± 0.20 and values <1 represented 79.1%. A significant negative correlation was recorded between age and MAR (r = −15%; P < 0.0001), and a positive correlation was found between it and SECS (r = 18%; p < 0.0001). BMI is inversely and significantly associated with MAR (r = −9.9%; P = 0.0009).

Conclusion: In addition to highlighting a low diversity and a poor adequacy with nutritional recommendations among adolescents in Algeria, this study underlines the significant effect of age, BMI, and socioeconomic level on the quality of diet.

Keywords: dietary diversity score (DDS), mean adequacy ratio (MAR), BMI, socioeconomic level, adolescents

Use of Herbal Medicine Among the Public in Abu Dhabi

Lina Al Kury — 2023-05-31

Background: Herbal remedies have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to treat various human ailments.

Aim: Given the rising increase in the use of herbal products among the United Arab Emirates (UAE) population, this study aims to explore the level of knowledge, attitude, and beliefs about the use of herbal medicine among the public in Abu Dhabi.

Methods: A total of 410 male and female participants aged between 20 and 60+ years completed a 20-item face-to-face questionnaire that was composed of three sections. The first section of the questionnaire included demographic data (age, gender, nationality, marital status, and level of education), health status, and familiarity with herbal medicine. The second section included practices of using of herbal medicine among participants. The last section included respondents' beliefs and attitudes about herbal medicine based on its use.

Results: The results of this study showed that almost half of the respondents were married and aged between 20 and 29 years. Only one-fifth of the participants were very familiar with the herbal medicine while more than one-third reported no familiarity. The results also showed that about 35% of the participants use herbal medicine. The only demographic features linked with the usage of herbal medications were age and marital state, where married respondents reported higher use of herbal medicine than unmarried. In addition, older respondents (40+ years) reported higher use compared to younger generations. Moreover, the patient's high cholesterol level was the sole connected health-related attribute. Interestingly, most users indicated that herbal medicine was recommended to them by family or friends, followed by herbalists and medical doctors. According to nonusers, the biggest deterrent to utilizing herbal remedies was being healthy and having no need for using herbal medicine, while lack of available information about herbal medicine was the second reason. The highest belief of respondents about the use of herbal medicine was their role in maintaining and promoting health.

Conclusion: Although the results of this study showed that herbal medicine is moderately used in UAE, particularly by those who have hypercholesterolemia, it is important to emphasize the benefits and drawbacks of utilizing herbal remedies. Effective herbal medicine policies and health education programs must be developed. Patient counseling and education about medication use are needed to augment their awareness about their use.

Keywords: herbal medicine, demographic features, hypercholesterolemia

Use of Ergogenic Substances amongst Bodybuilding Athletes Around Polokwane Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Sylven Masoga — 2023-05-31

Background: Although there is a lack of scientific evidence supporting the use of some ergogenic substances, it remains a common practice among bodybuilding athletes. Nevertheless, the use of ergogenics among bodybuilding athletes around Polokwane Municipality (PM) in Limpopo Province remains unknown.

Aim: To determine the use of ergogenic substances amongst bodybuilding athletes around Polokwane municipality in Limpopo Province.

Methods: A descriptive study with a purposive sampling technique was used to obtain 51 amateur bodybuilding athletes in gyms around PM. Ethical approval and permission were obtained from the MEDUNSA Research and Ethics Committee (MREC) and coaches respectively. Sampled athletes signed written informed consent forms. Data collection was done using self-designed questionnaires covering the demography, training information, and the use of ergogenic agents. Data were loaded onto the SPSS (v.23) and analyzed. Descriptive tests were used to describe ergogenic use through ranges, percentages, means, and standard deviations (±SD).

Results: The majority (94.1%) were males, of which 66.7% participated as bodybuilders for ≤2 years. Almost all athletes (86.3%) trained three to four days a week for 1–3 hr (94.1%) on weekdays. Only 37.3% relied on coaches for nutrition information followed by those who used social media (29.4%), teammates (29.3%), and nutrition experts (4.0%). A few athletes (15.7%) used ergogenics, of them, 13.7% used creatine and 2.0% vitamin capsules.

Conclusion: Overall, Polokwane bodybuilders were not using ergogenic agents during their bodybuilding sports careers.

Keywords: bodybuilding, ergogenic agents, supplements and athletes