<p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Background: </span></strong><span lang="EN-GB">Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones, increasing the risk of sudden and unexpected fractures. Literally meaning “porous bone”, it results in an increased loss of bone mass and strength. The disease often progresses without any symptoms or pain. Though the exact cause is not known it can be prevented. After age 35, bone breakdown outpaces bone build-up, resulting in a gradual loss of bone mass. Once this loss of bone reaches a certain point, a person has osteoporosis. After menopause, bone resorption (breakdown) outpaces the building of new bone. </span><span lang="EN-US">Osteoporosis is a silent disease, reflected only in a low bone density, till a fracture occurs.</span><span lang="EN-US">One of the most rapidly emerging health problems in the postmenopausal women is osteoporosis. It is now realized that, osteoporotic fractures are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in India in the elderly women population. Aim:</span><span lang="EN-GB">To study the correlation between serum minerals and Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in pre and postmenopausal women.</span></p><p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Methods: </span></strong><span lang="EN-GB">This study was designed to find out the serum mineral levels and its correlation with bone mineral density in pre and post-menopausal women. The present study was a cross-sectional study. 40 women from each group i.e. premenopausal and postmenopausal women were selected for the study with no medical, surgical or gynaecological abnormalities. The Bone Mineral Density (BMD) was measured by Bone Densitometer and classified as normal, osteopenia and osteoporosis according to T-score. Serum minerals were measured in autoanalyser. </span><span lang="EN-US">The data was analyzed using Microsoft excel 2007. For the comparison of values between the groups, students ‘t’ test was used, for the correlation, Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used. </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Results: </span></strong><span lang="EN-GB">Around 80% of the post-menopausal women are osteoporotic. BMD scores were significantly low in postmenopausal women according to T-score along with significantly decreased Serum mineral levels when compared to premenopausal women. There was significant positive correlation between T-score and serum calcium and magnesium levels in postmenopausal women.</span></p><p class="abstract"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Conclusions: </span></strong><span lang="EN-GB">Our study suggests that peri and postmenopausal women should take magnesium rich foods also like whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables (especially dark-green, leafy vegetables) every day which will help to provide recommended intakes of magnesium and maintain normal storage levels of this mineral. If these foods are not available or serum levels are too low supplementation can be given in the form of tablets.</span></p>

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Two trace elements, copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in serum are elevated in cancer patients since both areconstituents of super oxide dismutase (SOD) as metalloenzyme, the enzyme that scavenge free radicals andactivated oxygen species in the body. The study of 52 cancer patients comprising of 31 carcinoma stomachand 21 breast cancer showed the elevation of both of these trace elements in serum when compared to 32healthy controls and effected the kidney functions as a consequences. Serum Cu and Zn were estimated byAtomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS), analyzed statistically by student "t" test and marked elevationwas observed in cancer patient compared to healthy controls. Serum Cu and Zn values were 98.13 ± 17.49μg/dl 99..57 ± 13.91 μg /dl respectively in 38 healthy subjects and these trace metals were 156.23 ± 31.02 μg/dl and 171.86 ± 35.15 μg/dl in 52 cancer patients showing significant elevation (P <0.001). These elevatedelements were routed through kidneys and damaged nephrons since both of them are cationic heavy metals.Nephrotoxicity of these trace metals was reflected as elevated level of blood urea and creatinine and werefound to be 27.44 ± 7.72 mg /dl and 0.83 ± 0.30 mg/dl in control groups and 64.49 ± 49 mg /dl and 1.60 ± 0.72mg/dl in cancer patients respectively, a significant elevation (P<0.001) in study group. The elevation ofthese parameters may indicate renal origin.Key Words: Serum copper, serum zinc, super oxide dismutase, carcinoma stomach, carcinoma breastand nephrotoxicity.

Introduction: Pre-diabetes is an important risk factor for the development of overt diabetes as well as cardiovascular disease. Pre-diabetes is frequently associated with obesity which in turn is commonly associated with hypovitaminosis-D. Low Vitamin D levels impair synthesis & secretion of insulin and through many other mechanisms is attributed in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a stage where prevention efforts have been shown to be effective in delaying or preventing the onset of diabetes. However, there are not many studies that have examined the association between low serum 25(OH) Vit D levels and prediabetes. The aim of this study was to compare Vit D levels between the normals, pre-diabetics & diabetics and study the relationship between insulin resistance and vitamin-D status among individuals with pre-diabetes and diabetes Materials and Methods: 50 non diabetic, 50 pre-diabetic and 50 type 2 diabetics were included in the study. Waist hip ratio and Body mass index calculated. Fasting blood sugar, insulin, lipid profile, calcium, alkaline phosphatase and serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D were estimated. Insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) and beta cell function (HOMA2-β) was calculated using HOMA 2 calculator. Result: Vitamin-D deficiency (<20 ng/ml) was seen in 20% normals, 36% of prediabetics and 48% of diabetics. BMI, WHR, Total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL & VLDL were significantly increased & HDL decreased in prediabetic and diabetic groups when compared to normals (p<0.001).25 OH Vit D levels were significantly decreased (p<0.0001) in diabetics as compared to normals and pre diabetics (p<0.0001). There was a strong negative correlation between Vit D and HOMA 2-IR in diabetics (r=-0.63) and prediabetic (r=-0.77). Conclusion: Vit D deficiency is common in prediabetic state and subjects having severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/ml), had the worst insulin resistance. Our study results help in proposing vitamin D levels as an early marker for diabetes and help in recommending vitamin D to be prescribed in the pre diabetic stage itself.

Background: Depression, the most common type of mental illness is the second leading cause of disability worldwide next to CAD. Vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12 are involved in a series of methylation reaction that produce monoamine neurotransmitters, phospholipids and nucleotide. Therefore the present study was planned to assay the blood levels of vitamin B12 and folate in patients with depression. The objective of this was to study if metabolites are affected by diet and may be helpful in the prevention of depression. Methods: Current study was an experimental case control study, was conducted at Santosh Medical College. A total of 88 cases (44 patients and 44 controls) both males and females in the age between 18 -65 years were included in the study. Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) -17 items scale was used to rate the level of depression. Results: In the present study a total of 88 subjects including 45 females and 43 males participated, out of which 44 were control, 24 males and rest 20 were females. Majority 55 patients were of no depression category, 11 were of mild depression category, 10 were of severe depression and rest 9, were of moderate depression category. Mean value of B12 were found lowest in 'moderate' depressed patients (115), than in 'most severe depressed' (137), followed by 'severe' and 'mild' depressed patients category. Value of HDRS increases with severity of depression, it was found lowest in the 'mild' (10.64), then it steadily increases with severity, moderate (15.11), severe (21.20) and most severe (27.55). Conclusion: This study showed that majority of the patients with clinical depression had vitamin B12 deficiency.