Background & objectives: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is prevalent across all age groups in general population of India but studies among tribal populations are scanty. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of VDD in the indigenous tribal population of the Kashmir valley and examine associated risk factors. Methods: In this cross-sectional investigation, a total of 1732 apparently healthy tribal participants (n=786 males and n=946 females) were sampled from five districts of Kashmir valley by using probability proportional to size method. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were classified as per the Endocrine Society (ES) recommendations: deficiency (<20 ng/ml), insufficiency (20-30 ng/ml) and sufficiency (>30 ng/ml). The serum 25(OH)D levels were assessed in relation to various demographic characteristics such as age, sex, education, smoking, sun exposure, body mass index and physical activity. Results: The mean age of the male participants was 43.79±18.47 yr with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 20.50±7.53 kg/m 2 , while the mean age of female participants was 35.47±14.92 yr with mean BMI of 22.24±4.73 kg/m 2 . As per the ES guidelines 1143 of 1732 (66%) subjects had VDD, 254 (14.71%) had insufficient and 334 (19.3%) had sufficient serum 25(OH)D levels. VDD was equally prevalent in male and female participants. Serum 25(OH)D levels correlated positively with serum calcium, phosphorous and negatively with serum alkaline phosphatase. Gender, sun exposure, altitude, physical activity and BMI did not seem to contribute significantly to VDD risk. Interpretation & conclusions: VD deficiency is highly prevalent among Kashmiri tribals, although the magnitude seems to be lower as compared to the general population. These preliminary data are likely to pave way for further studies analyzing the impact of vitamin D supplementation with analysis of functional outcomes.

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Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy greatly influence the maternal and foetal outcome in terms of morbidity and mortality. Complications include involvement of the kidney and progression of the disease which leads to deterioration of renal parameters and function. If left unattended, oliguria and renal shutdown are serious sequelae. Hence the importance of monitoring serum concentrations of cystatin C, creatinine and uric acid. The present study was designed to understand the variations of these markers in pregnant women in this part of India.Methods: Serum levels were therefore determined in samples from 75 healthy women at term as well as in 38 samples of patients with Gestational hypertension and in 30 patients with pre-eclampsia (PE). The values were analysed after tabulation and results subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software programme.Results: The levels of all three components were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic patients when compared to healthy controls with the mean±SD being 1.86±0.82 vs. 1.08±0.33 for cystatin C, 0.93±0.18 vs. 0.62±0.07 for creatinine and 7.02±1.92 vs. 4.04±1.06 for uric acid respectively. In gestational hypertension, cystatin C was significantly higher, 1.42±1.1 unlike creatinine, 0.84±0.16 and uric acid, 5.26±1.40.Conclusions: In view of significant increase in serum cystatin C, creatinine and uric acid in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy compared to those of healthy pregnant women, in our study, we conclude that these parameters are of significant value if used as markers to predict the onset of GH/PE. This can be established after further and larger clinical trials.

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Background: Pregnancy is a stressful condition accompanied by a high energy demand and increased oxygen requirement. Oxidative stress has been recognized as a significant factor linked to hypertension. Elucidation of anti-oxidant cascade in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). can give insights about the oxidative stress and lead to better management of the condition. It was a prospective case control study to elucidate the parameters of oxidative stress in patients with PIH.Methods: Levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were eludidated using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in hypertensive mothers and their age matched pregnant and non-pregnant controls to determine the lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress.Results: A total of four hundred and twenty study subjects were enrolled in the study. Malondialdehyde levels from mothers with hypertension were significantly higher than their age matched pregnant controls. The results indicate that oxidative stress induced by pregnancy induced hypertension manifests as increased lipid peroxidation. Conclusion: There is a decrement in anti-oxidant status reflecting the ineffective scavenging of reactive oxygen species resulting in oxidative damage and tissue injury.