Weight associated factors in relation to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Iranian adolescents

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore body weight factors associated with HRQoL of Iranian adolescents.MethodsA total of 584 adolescents (12-18years) were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants were selected using a multi-stage sampling method from schools located in Isfahan city in Iran. Body weight, height and waist circumference of adolescents were measured according to standard protocol and body mass index-for-age was determined using Anthroplus software. Adolescents completed a set of self-administered questionnaires which included questions about perceptions of adolescents regarding their body weight status and adolescents' satisfaction regarding their body weight. To assess HRQoL, adolescents completed the Iranian version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0).ResultsThe mean age of participants was 15.11.3years. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity were higher in boys compared to girls (34.5 vs. 26.7% respectively). More boys (49.5%) had incorrect perceptions regarding their body weight status compared to girls (37.0%), and more girls (39.0%) were dissatisfied with their body weight compared to boys (28.8%). HRQoL scores were not significantly different among body weight status groups except for significantly lower physical functioning scores in underweight adolescents compared to their counterparts (p=0.049; power=64%). Based on perception of body weight status, only boys who perceived themselves as underweight or overweight reported lower scores in different subscales of HRQoL compared to those who perceived themselves as normal weight (p85%). In girls, body weight dissatisfaction was significantly associated with poorer HRQoL in psychosocial dimensions, while in boys, body weight dissatisfaction was significantly associated with poorer HRQoL in physical and socialfunctioning subscales(p85%).Conclusion In conclusion, impairment in HRQoL mainly depends on adolescents' perception and dissatisfaction regarding their body weight and less on their actual body weightstatus. These findings implying that more attention should be paid to body image as an important target for interventions aiming at promoting HRQoL during early years of life

Effects of probiotic soy milk on lipid panel in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy: A double-blind randomized clinical trial

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the most common complications of diabetes. Lipid abnormalities in diabetic patients are not only related to higher risk of CVD, but also accelerate the progression of diabetic nephropathy. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study that has assessed the effects of probiotic soy milk on lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy. Objective: The current study was designed to examine the effects of consumption of soy milk containing lactobacillus plantarum A7 compared with conventional soy milk on lipid panel in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy. Methods: A total of 44 type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy were randomly assigned to receive 200 ml/day of either probiotic soy milk (n=22) or conventional soy milk (n=22) for eight weeks, in this randomized double-blind clinical trial. Fasting blood samples were taken at the beginning and after eight weeks of the intervention for analysis of lipid profile and other relevant variables. P values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: Consumption of probiotic soy milk for 8 weeks led to an increase in serum genistein (17.6±15.3 vs. 4.5±2.3, p=0.002) and eGFR (15.9±10.8 vs. 3.2±8.4,

Evaluation of Dietary Intakes, Body Composition, and Cardiometabolic Parameters in Adolescent Team Sports Elite Athletes: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Nutritional intake is an important issue in adolescent athletes. Proper athletes' performance is a multifactorial outcome of good training, body composition, and nutritional status. The aim of the present study was to assess nutritional status, body composition, and cardiometabolic factors in adolescent elite athlete's province of Isfahan, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 adolescent elite athletes from volleyball, basketball, and soccer teams were selected for the study. Demographic, anthropometric, and cardiometabolic parameters were assessed. Nutritional intakes of participants were recorded using three 24-h recall questioners. Results: Thirty-four female athletes and 66 male athletes participated in this study. Body mass index had not significantly different between the sexes. Energy, protein, carbohydrate, iron, and fat intakes were significantly higher in male athletes (P = 0.02), but calcium and folic acid intakes were not significantly different between the sexes, and Vitamin D intake was significantly higher in females (P = 0.01). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in males (P = 0.04) and heart rate had not significantly different between the sexes (P = 0.09). Heart murmurs and heart sounds in the majority of participants were normal. Conclusion: All the evaluated anthropometric and cardiometabolic parameters were in normal range in the majority of participants. The results showed that dietary intake in these athletes is approximately normal but micronutrients intake status in these athletes needs to be investigated further and longer

The Effect of Magnesium Supplementation on Primary Insomnia in the Elderly

Background and Aim: Nearly 50% of the elderly have insomnia, with difficulty in going to sleep, oversleeping, or feeling unrefreshed on waking up. With aging, several changes can occur that place one at risk of insomnia. The objective of the present study was to determine the efficacy of magnesium supplementation -the natural NMDA antagonist and GABA agonist- to improve insomnia in the elderly. Materials and Methods: A double blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 46 elderly subjects, randomly allocated into the magnesium and the placebo group and received 500 mg magnesium and placebos daily for 8 weeks, respectively. Questionnaires of insomnia severity index, physical activity, and sleep-log were completed at baseline and after the intervention period. Anthropometric and dietary confounding factors were obtained using 24h recall for 3 days. Blood samples were taken at baseline and after the intervention period for analysis of serum magnesium, renin, melatonin, and cortisol. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (V. 19) and N4 software P-value<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: No significant differences were observed in assessed variables between the two groups at the baseline. According to the present research magnesium supplementation significantly increased sleep time (P=0.002), sleep efficiency (P=0.03), concentration of serum renin (P<0.001) and melatonin (P=0.007) besides, it significantly decreased ISI score (P=0.006), sleep onset latency (P=0.02), and serum cortisol concentration increase (P=0.008) in the magnesium group. Although total sleep time (P=0.37) , waking up length of time (P=0.08), and serum magnesium concentration P=0.06) did not reveal any significant difference. Conclusion: Supplementation of magnesium appears to improve different measures effective in insomnia in the elderly

The association between depression, socio-economic factors and dietary intake in mothers having primary school children living in Rey, south of Tehran, Iran

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>According to the WHO report released in 2000, about 121 million people worldwide suffer from depression. The present study aimed to explore factors influencing depression in mothers from Rey, South of Tehran, Iran; who had elementary school children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The cross-sectional survey was conducted in spring 2010. Four hundred thirty mothers who had elementary school children, were selected through a two stage cluster sampling. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression in the mothers and a 24-hour food recall was used to collect information regarding their dietary intake. General information regarding economic condition and socio-economic status were also gathered using a questionnaire. The data was analyzed using chi-square, one-way analysis of variance and simple regression tests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In our study, 51.4% of the mothers suffered from depression. There was an inverse correlation between the educational level of the mothers and the heads of household, their occupational status, their marital status, their socio-economic condition and depression. Conversely, any increase in the family size worsened the depression. The daily intake of different macronutrients, except for fat, was lower in individuals of depressed group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study emphasized the fact that more attention should be paid to the educational level and economic condition of the family in order to reduce maternal depression. Family size also plays an important role in this regard.</p