Initially, let us define what metabolic diseases are. They are diseases caused by a lack of some yeasts (enzymes) that have a fundamental role in the process of cellular metabolism, that is, the ability of cells in the body to digest some vital compounds. It is the metabolism that enables cells to extract the energy required for the life of these cells.
The metabolism includes a number of chemical reactions in the cells stimulated by these enzymes. So, in this chemical reaction there is a compound that is converted into another compound and the enzyme is the mediator that enables this reaction from work. So when one of these enzymes stops, the reaction stops, resulting in the accumulation of the basic compound that is digested and the boat that results from this digestion. As a result, a metabolism imbalance occurs. As a result, the concentration of the basic compound accumulates so that it exceeds the natural focus, and this may be harmful to the cell, and on the other hand, the scarcity of the resulting materials may stop the formation of basic compounds required to build the cell or affect the extraction of the energy required for the cell to follow life.
The number of congenital errors in metabolism (metabolic diseases in newborns) is more than 1,400, and is mostly hereditary. This is caused by DNA mutations, which successively lead to the production of affected enzymes that are unable to do their required action. Globally, the incidence of any of these diseases ranges between one in every 1,000 to 5,000 births. In addition, it is possible in some cases that the newborn get more than one type of these diseases at the same time.
The factors that lead to a high incidence of genetic diseases are small, somewhat isolated, and the high percentage of relatives. As in these circumstances, the mutations in society are settled. Since the newborn’s infection with these diseases requires that the mutation be inherited from both parents, the possibility of this occurring in a small and closed society becomes higher.
Given the small societies of the Arab Gulf states and the spread of relatives’ marriage, which was about 50% of marriages about 30 years ago, these genetic diseases were more common. Today, after the application of the pre -marriage examination system in Bahrain and societal awareness about the dangers of this, the percentage of marriage from relatives in Bahrain has been decreased to touch only 10%. But despite this, the percentage of people with newborns from births is still more high than most countries in the world. The Princess Al -Jawhara Al -Ibrahim Center for Molecular Medicine, Heritage Sciences and Genetic Diseases of the Arab Gulf University conducted a study on about 5,000 Bahraini newborns and 38 metabolic illnesses were analyzed and it was found that 19 children have a metabolic diseases, which gives one in every 262 newborns (i.e. about four per 1000 birth 20 times!
So what to do? Is it possible to protect our children from the dangers of these diseases? The answer is yes, as it is through early examination it is possible to know the diseases inherent in the modern newborn, and in most cases it is possible to avoid the consequences of these diseases and the resulting damages.
The examination method is simple as only one blood point is obtained from the heel of the newborn man within 24 to 48 hours of birth. This blood point is sufficient to perform all the necessary tests and can protect the newborn of complications if he has one of these metabolic diseases.
This examination is available at the Princess Al -Jawhara Al -Ibrahim Center for Molecular Medicine, Genetic Science and Genetic Diseases, as the center currently performs many of these tests weekly from samples that are received from many government and private hospitals. Parents can request this examination on their baby through hospitals, or at the Al -Jawhara center itself and the cost at a reasonable price, and within the reach of all families. It is possible to contact the Al -Jawhara Center for additional information. It is desirable that all families benefit from this opportunity to ensure the health of their births. God bless.
We move from personal efforts to determine newborns with these diseases to ask if the countries have a responsibility in this field, as children are the citizens of the future. Of course, the ministries of health in all countries of the world have an important role in protecting the rising generation. Therefore, a number of Arab Gulf states have begun to mandate a newborn examination of genetic diseases, including metabolic diseases at the state’s expense for citizens. The State of Qatar has begun since 2003, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 2005, the United Arab Emirates since 2011, and Kuwait since 2014, and the Sultanate of Oman announced its intention to start this program in 2026. The decision has not been taken in the Kingdom of Bahrain until now!
I hope that this article will inspire all the newlyweds to take the necessary action to protect their births and benefit them, their children and our beloved kingdom.
* Professor of Microbiological and Immunology – College of Medicine and Health Sciences – Arab Gulf University
