Animal based low carbohydrate diet is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes in Tehranian adults

Background: To investigate the association of low carbohydrate diet (LCD) score with the risk of type 2 diabetes among adults. Methods: This cohort study was conducted on 4356 healthy participants aged � 19 years old, who were followed-up for a mean duration of 3 years within the framework of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. LCD score was calculated using a food frequency questionnaire according to intake of carbohydrate, protein, and fat at baseline. Diabetes was defined according to the criteria of the American Diabetes Association. Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, were used to estimate risk of diabetes across quartiles of LCD score. Results: Mean ± SD age of the study participants (44.4 men) was 40.5 ± 13.0 years. The median (25-75 interquartile range) of LCD score was 17.0 (12.0-21.0) and after a 3 year follow-up period, 123 (2.8) incident cases of diabetes were ascertained. After adjustment for confounding variables, including age, sex, smoking status, physical activity, total calorie intake, saturated fatty acid, waist circumference, educational level, and family history of diabetes, the multivariable-adjusted ORs (95 CIs) of type 2 diabetes, comparing the highest with the lowest quartiles, were 2.16 (1.16-4.04) for total LCD score (P-value = 0.015), 1.81 (1.06-3.11) for animal-based LCD score (P-value = 0.029), and 1.47 (0.85-2.52) for plant-based LCD score (P-value = 0.160). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a higher adherence to LCD, mostly with higher intakes of protein and fat from animal-source foods, can increase the incidence of diabetes; however, a plant-based low-carbohydrate dietary pattern is not significantly associated with risk of type 2 diabetes. © 2020 The Author(s)

Vitamin D supplementation restores suppressed synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer's disease

Objectives: Hippocampus, an appropriate area of brain for assessment of long-term potentiation (LTP), has been found to be susceptible to neural damages caused by Alzheimer's disease. Evidence indicates that vitamin D supports nerve transmission and synaptic plasticity. Vitamin D receptors are expressed in the hippocampus. Methods: The present study evaluates occurrence of LTP in the control (CON) group fed with normal regimen and, three groups of Aβ-treated rats taking normal (ALZ), vitamin D-free (ALZ - D), or 1, 25(OH)2D3 supplemented (ALZ + D) food regimens. In in vivo experiments pre- and post-tetanus field extracellular postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) were recorded in the CA3-CA1 pathway. Results: We found that the amplitude of baseline fEPSPs was significantly lower in the ALZ group compared with the CON one, lack of vitamin D further declined the amplitude of responses in the ALZ - D animals. While the tetanic stimulation elicited a considerable LTP in the CON rats it was failed to induce LTP in the ALZ animals. Furthermore, the tetanus considerably depressed the amplitude of recordings in the ALZ - D group. 1, 25(OH)2D3 supplementation restored post-tetanus potentiation of fEPSPs amplitude in the ALZ + D groups. Discussion: The present findings signify the crucial role of vitamin D on the basic synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity. © W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2014

The effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) hydroalcoholic extract on metabolic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A triple-blinded randomized clinical trial

Background: Metabolic control is a major concern in preventing diabetic complications. Saffron as a natural source of antioxidants could play a role in alleviating diabetes insults. The aim of this study was to investigate effect of saffron hydroalcoholic extract on metabolic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D) mellitus. Materials and Methods: This randomized triple blind study was included 54 T2D patients which randomly received either saffron (Group 1) or placebo (Group 2) twice daily other than routine antidiabetic treatments for 8 weeks. Serum concentration of fasting blood sugar (FBS), 2-h plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein were measured as the markers of metabolic control. Anthropometric measures and blood pressure were also measured at the baseline, every 2 weeks during the intervention and the end of the study. Data analyzed using repeated measure analysis of variance test. Results: The baseline metabolic parameters were the same in two group (P > 0.01). FBS serum level significantly decreased within 8 weeks in the saffron group (128.84 ± 31.86) as compared to the placebo (153.76 ± 41.23), (P 0.01). Conclusion: Saffron hydroalcoholic extract may improve blood glucose control by reducing FBS in T2D patients. However, saffron extract has no significant effect on other aspects of diabetic control in diabetic patients. © 2018 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences

Vitamin D status and its association with antioxidant profiles in diabetic patients: A cross-sectional study in Iran

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are increasing evidences about the relationship between vitamin D status and the control of diabetes. Several studies showed that vitamin D has an antioxidant property. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH-D) and glycemic, antioxidant profile in diabetes compared to healthy groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 100 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 100 healthy controls. Fasting serum levels of 25-OH-D, calcium, phosphorous, parathyroid hormone, glucose, HbA1C, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) were measured. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent of type 2 diabetic patients and 75 of healthy subjects were suffering from vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. The activities of GR and GSH-PX were higher in diabetic patients compared to control. There was a negative relationship between 25-OH-D and activity of GR, GSH-PX. Also, 25-OH-D had a positive association with activity of SOD in diabetic patients. In the control group, 25-OH-D had an inverse relationship with SOD, GSH-PX, and positively with GR activities. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency has a high prevalence among Iranian adult population with and without type 2 diabetes. Our results showed that vitamin D may have a beneficial effect on the control of glycemic profiles and oxidative stress in T2DM patients

The effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) hydroalcoholic extract on metabolic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A triple-blinded randomized clinical trial

Background: Metabolic control is a major concern in preventing diabetic complications. Saffron as a natural source of antioxidants could play a role in alleviating diabetes insults. The aim of this study was to investigate effect of saffron hydroalcoholic extract on metabolic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D) mellitus. Materials and Methods: This randomized triple blind study was included 54 T2D patients which randomly received either saffron (Group 1) or placebo (Group 2) twice daily other than routine antidiabetic treatments for 8 weeks. Serum concentration of fasting blood sugar (FBS), 2-h plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein were measured as the markers of metabolic control. Anthropometric measures and blood pressure were also measured at the baseline, every 2 weeks during the intervention and the end of the study. Data analyzed using repeated measure analysis of variance test. Results: The baseline metabolic parameters were the same in two group (P > 0.01). FBS serum level significantly decreased within 8 weeks in the saffron group (128.84 ± 31.86) as compared to the placebo (153.76 ± 41.23), (P 0.01). Conclusion: Saffron hydroalcoholic extract may improve blood glucose control by reducing FBS in T2D patients. However, saffron extract has no significant effect on other aspects of diabetic control in diabetic patients. © 2018 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences

Obesity and food security in Yazd primary school students

Background: Food security is defined as access, for all people at all times, to enough food for an active and healthy life. Food security includes: 1) the ready availability of nutritionally-adequate and safe food, and 2) an assured ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways. The increase in childhood as well as adulthood obesity and food insecurity has caused many recent investigations on obesity, food insecurity and some associated factors. However, there appears to be a lack of published information regarding some factors affecting obesity and food insecurity. This study aimed to determine the prevalence obesity and food insecurity and some associated factors among Yazd province primary school students in Iran.Methods: Using two-stage cluster sampling, a total of 3245 students (1587 boys and 1658 girls), aged 9-11 years, were randomly selected from primary school pupils in Yazd, Iran. From these, 187 students having BMIs ≥95th percentile, as defined by Hosseini et al. (1999), were identified as obese and 187 pupils of the same age and gender having BMIs between the 15th and 85th percentiles were selected as controls. Data were collected using 24-hour food-recall and USDA food insecurity questionnaires.Results: We found that the prevalence of obesity among students aged 9-11 years was 13.3%, and the prevalence of food insecurity was 30.5%. Daily energy intakes, compared to those recommended by the RDA, carbohydrate intake and energy percentages from proteins and carbohydrates were higher in obese children, and all macronutrient intakes per kilogram of body weight were significantly higher. An association between obesity and food insecurity was observed with adjusted fat intake.Conclusion: In conclusion, the prevalence of obesity and food insecurity is high among Yazd primary school students, and high-level intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate are associated with obesity. Furthermore, variation in the rate of fat intake is a relative factor for food insecurity

Factors influencing fast-food consumption among adolescents in Tehran: A qualitative study

Background: The consumption of different types of fast food is increasingly growing in all parts of the world, both in developed and developing countries. Because of the changes and transitions in the lifestyle and dietary habits of people, an increasing number of people from different age groups, particularly adolescents and young adults, are inclined toward consuming fast food. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the factors influencing fast-food consumption among adolescents in Tehran, Iran. Patients and Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted in 2012 - 2013 in Tehran, the capital of Iran. To achieve the objective of this study, 42 adolescents were enrolled in this study through a purposive sampling method, and the required data was collected via individual semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data collection and analysis were carried out simultaneously, and the collected data was analyzed via a thematic content analysis and using MAXQDA 10 software. Results: In this study after coding the transcribed interviews, the findings were categorized into three main themes as follows: personal views, social factors, and family factors. Each theme included several categories and subcategories, and the coded sentences and phrases were placed under each category and subcategory. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the number of factors promoting fast-food consumption appeared to be more than the inhibiting factors and that the diverse factors at the individual and social level influenced fast-food consumption among adolescents. © 2016, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

RELATIONSHIP OF BREAST MILK LEPTIN WITH MATERNAL AND INFANT ADIPOSITY

AbstractINTRODUCTION: Leptin, the product of the obese gene (ob), is synthesized by adiposetissue and contributes to the regulation of energy homeostasis and food intake. Recently,immunoreactive leptin was reported to be present in human milk. The aim of this studywas to determine any possible link between breast milk leptin concentrations andadiposity in exclusively breast-fed infants.METHODS: 130 healthy, exclusively breast-fed infants beyond neonatal period andtheir mothers were included in the study. Infants whose weight for age was above the75th, and between 25th and 75th percentiles were defined as obese (n=65) and non-obese(n=65), respectively. Anthropometric measur ements of infants and mothers were alsomade and breast milk samples were analyzed for leptin.RESULTS: There was no significant difference between breast milk leptinconcentrations of mothers of obese and non-obese infants. Breast milk leptinconcentrations significantly correlated with mothers' body mass index (r=0.54, P<0.001)and weight (r=0.46, P<0.001). There was no significant correlation between breast milkleptin concentrations and weight of infants.CONCLUSIONS: Leptin concentrations of human milk are not different in the mothers ofobese and non-obese infants. Our findings suggest that milk-borne leptin has nosignificant effect on adiposity during infancy.Key Words: Breast milk, leptin, infant, adiposity

Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria ameliorate memory and learning deficits and oxidative stress in β-amyloid (1�42) injected rats

The gastrointestinal microbiota affects brain function, including memory and learning. In this study we investigated the effects of probiotics on memory and oxidative stress biomarkers in an experimental model of Alzheimer�s disease. Sixty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control; control-probiotics, which received probiotics for 8 weeks; sham operation, which received an intrahippocampal injection of phosphate-buffered saline; Alzheimer, which received an intrahippocampal injection of β-amyloid (Aβ1�42); and Alzheimer-probiotics, which in addition to being injected with Aβ1�42, received 2 g (1 � 1010 CFU/g) of probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. fermentum, Bifidobacterium lactis, and B. longum) for 8 weeks. Memory and learning were measured using the Morris water maze, and oxidative stress biomarkers in the hippocampus were measured using ELISA kits. Morris water maze results indicated that compared with the Alzheimer group, the Alzheimer-probiotics group had significantly improved spatial memory, including shorter escape latency and travelled distance and greater time spent in the target quadrant. There was also improvement in oxidative stress biomarkers such as increased malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase activity following the β-amyloid injection. Overall, it seems that probiotics play a role in improving memory deficit and inhibiting the pathological mechanisms of Alzheimer�s disease by modifying microbiota. © 2018, Canadian Science Publishing. All rights reserved