Document Details
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Document Type |
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Thesis |
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Document Title |
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Obesity and the Immune System in Female Adolescents in the Saudi Arabian Population السمنة والجهاز المناعي لدى المراهقات بالمجتمع السعودي |
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Subject |
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Faculty of Sciences |
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Document Language |
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Arabic |
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Abstract |
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One of the most powerful systems of the human body is the immune system, which is responsible for protection against pathogens that can lead to adverse affects if the immune system fails in eliminating or deactivating them. There are many factors, such as overweight and obesity, which may lead to the non-specific enhancement or inhibition of the activity of the immune system.
For the last 15-20 years obesity has been increasing in industrialized and affluent countries. This increase has been shown in children, adults and the elderly of both sexes. The latest statistical studies in Saudi Arabia show that obesity is increasing among Saudi adolescents, more so in girls than in boys, and that these numbers are continuously increasing.
Obesity leads to many medical risks and affects the immune system in direct and indirect ways. In this study the effects of obesity on the immune system of 100 Saudi female adolescent students, from a middle school in Jeddah, are investigated.
Using a blood sample from each subject, the following immune related parameters were determined: total and differential white blood cell counts (WBC); concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin A (IgA); the complete lipid profile; and the concentrations of adiponectin and leptin hormones. Finally, to assess the body weight status of the subjects and to categorise them, the weight, height, and the waist and hip circumferences were measured to calculate the body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and the waist circumference (WC).
The results showed that a significant correlation was present between BMI, WHR and WC with CRP, HDL, LDL, TG, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and total white blood cell counts; and adiponectin and leptin hormone concentrations. Some other parameters are only affected by the increase in the BMI but not the WHR and WC, such as eosinophil cell counts and some parameter is affected only by WC such as red blood cell counts and haemoglobins concentrations.
The findings indicated that obesity seriously affects the innate and aquired immune systems of the subjects. This study confirmed the finding of other researchers that obesity is an inflammatory disease, which explains some health complications associated with obesity. Also the results proved that the immune system was remarkably affected by fat BMI. |
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Supervisor |
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Dr. Sawsan H. Mahassni |
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Thesis Type |
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Master Thesis |
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Publishing Year |
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1432 AH
2011 AD |
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Added Date |
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Thursday, June 16, 2011 |
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Researchers
| رجاء بريك سباع | Sebaa, Rajaa Braik | Researcher | Master | |
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