The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with diet. While consumption of plant-based foods may reduce blood sugar levels, the impact of consuming plant-based foods on fasting blood sugar levels has not been well defined. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Health-Promoting Hospital in Pak Phun Municipality, Thailand. It included 61 patients with T2DM and 74 controls matched for age and gender. Dietary intake levels among T2DM and controls were assessed by a validated food-frequency questionnaire from which plant-based-food scores were calculated. This study found significant differences between specific plant foods and fasting blood sugar levels in patients with T2DM. Adherence to a plant-based diet appeared to influence fasting blood sugar levels. Patients who consumed higher amounts of certain vegetables and fruits showed lower fasting blood sugar levels. Diabetic patients consumed more legumes than controls, but the consumption of cereals and nuts/seeds in the two groups were similar. Consumption of nuts and seeds was also associated with a 76.3% reduction in the risk of a T2DM diagnosis. These findings suggest the potential efficacy of glycemic control in T2DM patients. More work is required to explore strategies for preventing and treating metabolic disorders through dietary modification.

The present study explored environmental and behavioral factors associated with elevated blood lead (Pb) levels in 311 children (151 girls and 160 boys), aged 3–7 years, who lived in a coastal fishing community of the Pakpoon Municipality, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. The geometric mean for blood Pb was 2.81 µg/dL, ranging between 0.03 and 26.40 µg/dL. The percentage of high blood Pb levels, defined as blood Pb ≥ 5 µg/dL, was 10.0% in boys and 13.9% in girls. Parental occupation in producing fishing nets with lead weights was associated with a marked increase in the prevalence odds ratio (POR) for high blood Pb (POR 17.54, 95%; CI: 7.093, 43.390; p < 0.001), while milk consumption was associated with 61% reduction in the POR for high blood Pb (POR 0.393, 95%; CI: 0.166, 0.931; p = 0.034). High blood Pb was associated with an increased risk for abnormal growth (POR 2.042, 95%; CI: 0.999, 4.174; p = 0.050). In contrast, milk consumption was associated with a 43% reduction in POR for abnormal growth (POR 0.573, 95%; CI: 0.337, 0.976; p = 0.040). After adjustment for age, the mean (standard error of mean, SE) values for blood Pb were 6.22 (0.50) μg/dL in boys and 6.72 (0.49) μg/dL in girls of parents with an occupation in making fishing nets with lead weights. These mean blood Pb values were respectively 2.3 and 2.5 times higher than similarly aged boys and girls of parents with other occupations. These data are essential for setting surveillance and programmes to prevent toxic Pb exposure, especially in children of coastal fishing communities in southern Thailand.

Rubberwood manufacturing has a wide range of occupational safety hazards. Workers’ safety behaviors are substandard. This quasi-experimental study aimed to (1) determine the factors affecting safet...

Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal that is toxic to humans, especially children and pregnant women. In Thailand, guidelines exist to minimize lead exposure in pregnant women working in lead-related occupations. However, no guidelines exist for pregnant women who are not employed in these economic sectors. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine blood lead levels (BLLs) and related risk factors among 80 non-occupationally exposed pregnant women from the general population living in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Southern Thailand. BLLs were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A validated questionnaire was adopted to interview participants which included demographic, consumer goods, supplement intake, and health factors. The mean BLL was 4.68 ± 1.55 µg/dL (95% CI 4.33–5.02) and 42.50% had BLLs ≥ 5 µg/dL. Higher education was the only demographic factor associated with BLLs ≥ 5 µg/dL (aOR 0.16, 95% CI 0.03–0.80, p = 0.027). Systolic blood pressure was also associated with BLLs ≥ 5 µg/dL (aOR 5.00, 95% CI 1.23–17.16, p = 0.023). However, consumer goods and supplement intake were not associated with BLLs. Our results indicate that pregnant women from the general population who were not in the risk exposure group had lead in their bodies. Except for education, demographics were not associated with pregnant women with BLLs. However, with health factors, even low BLLs had a small effect on systolic blood pressure. These data suggest a need for promoting health education and health interventions to prevent the dangers of lead exposure, especially for pregnant women and children.

To construct, validate, and implement a new screening tool for lead exposure in Thai pregnant women. A cross-sectional study that included three processes: screening tool development, validation, and implementation. The participants were pregnant women who had received antenatal care at district health promotion hospitals. There were 100 pregnant women in Nakhon Si Thammarat province during the validation process, and 30 pregnant women in Phang Nga province during the implementation process. Blood lead levels (BLLs) were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The sensitivity and specificity of the screening instrument, as well as the Area Under the Curve (AUC), demonstrate its validity. There were 80 BLL-related items found through the collection of primary and secondary data and examined for validity and inter-rater reliability by five experts. Six items were excluded because the values were less than the criteria set. Seventy-four items remained with the Item Content Validity Index (I-CVI) = 0.80-1.00, the Content Validity Index Average (S-CVI/Ave) = 0.91, and Kappa scores = 0.76-1.00. After using 74 items collected on pregnant women, only 31 items were included in the validation process. Following that, the pooled eight items with cut-off point scores of 1 had the highest validity, which included systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, urine sugar, haemoglobin level, occupation, drinking coffee, using chemical products, and education level (ThaiL8Is). The ThaiL8Is in the validation process yielded sensitivity = 80.9%, specificity = 69.8%, and an AUC (95%CI) = 0.78 (0.69-0.87). The implementation process has confirmed the validity of the screening tool; sensitivity = 78.9%, specificity = 81.8%, and the AUC (95%CI) = 0.80 (0.63-0.97). The ThaiL8Is a valid screening tool for Thai pregnant women. ThaiL8Is' sensitivity in detecting the risk groups for lead exposure can be enhanced by a combination of biochemical markers used in routine prenatal screening. It can be used to screen pregnant women for early indicators of lead exposure prior to a blood lead test.

This study investigates the levels of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, As) and trace elements (Zn, Cu, Fe) in pregnant women and examines their associations with adverse pregnancy-related clinical parameters. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 pregnant women at Thasala Hospital, Thailand, from January to July 2023. Blood samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), and correlations were assessed using Spearman's rank-order correlation and coefficient tests. Iron showed the highest concentration among trace elements (751.78 ± 120.45 mg/L), followed by zinc (11.89 ± 2.12 mg/L) and copper (2.91 ± 0.68 mg/L). Among heavy metals, lead had the highest concentration (0.06 ± 0.02 mg/L), followed by chromium (0.03 ± 0.01 mg/L), with arsenic and cadmium being lowest. Significant associations were identified between metal exposure and key clinical parameters including hematocrit, blood plasma glucose, and urine glucose levels (p < 0.05). The findings suggest that environmental exposure to both essential and toxic elements during pregnancy, even at low to moderate levels, may influence maternal health and highlight the need for preventive public health strategies within prenatal care programs.