Knowledge, attitude and practice of urban and ruarl households towards principles of nutrition in Iran: results of NUTRIKAP Survey.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of urban and rural households toward principles of nutrition in Iran. Methods: The study population was Iranian households who live in rural and urban areas in all provinces of the country. The sampling method at households’ level in each province was single stage cluster sampling with equal size clusters. The incumbent data was collected by a structured questionnaire and through the interview with the eligible subject in each household. Results: A total of 14,136 Iranian households were selected as total sample size, 9,149 urban households, and 4,987 rural households. Around 57.2% of urban and 49.5% of rural households was aware of food groups. Respectively in urban and rural households, about 35.1% and 39.7% had correct knowledge toward roles of food groups. Approximately 41.5% and 39.9% of households had accurate knowledge about reason of food eating in urban and rural areas, respectively. The results showed that 79.6% of them had favorable attitudes. The most of the households consumed red meat and poultry weekly whereas fish was eaten rarely. Fruits, vegetables and dairy were consumed daily in the most of households. Sugar intake was daily in the most of households and cream and butter intake was weekly. Conclusion: The most of households had moderate knowledge and good attitudes. Practice of families about food consumption was good. The results of this study can be used for proper intervention for improving of health society

Nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice of Iranian households and primary health care staff: NUTRIKAP survey

The aim of this study is to determine knowledge, attitude and practice of Iranian households and health staff on nutrition at province level. The sampling method in NUTRIKAP survey for households in each province is singlestage cluster sampling and the size of clusters is equal. The sampling method for health staff in each province is stratified random sampling. Samples are selected from physicians, health experts, health technicians, nutritionists and health assistants (Behvarz). Overall, 14136 people in 57 clusters in each province and 480 health staff over the country participate in this survey. The necessary data will be gathered by the structured questionnaire and the interview with the eligible person in each household. Data gathering from health staff will be carried out by selfadministered questionnaire. The results of this study can help the bureau of community nutrition to provide the proper interventions to improve nutritional health of households

The Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Serum Leptin

Objectives: The relation of metabolic syndrome components, insulin resistance and leptin has been studied in elderly women. Methods & Materials: In this cross sectional study, among 225 subjects&ge;60 year old who were residents of Kahrizak Charity Foundation, 133 (56 men & 77 women) were selected by cluster random sampling. Fasting serum TG, Total Cholesterol, HDL, and leptin levels were measured. Results: In healthy individuals, mean age of men and women were 76.88&plusmn;6.56 and 79.49&plusmn;7.96 years old and in metabolic syndrome ones were 71.00&plusmn;5.19 and 77.94&plusmn;7.24, respectively. A total of 133 subjects were studied. Fifteen men and thirty three women were diagnosed as metabolic syndrome. There was a strong significant correlation between serum leptin level and metabolic syndrome as well as body mass index (BMI) in both sexeses (P<0.001). Among metabolic syndrome components, waist circumference showed similar correlation in both sexes. In both sexes the association between metabolic syndrome (IDF) and serum leptin was significant even after adjustment for each metabolic syndrome component with significant correlation and these components collectively (P<0.005). The association was not significant after adjustment for waist circumference. Conclusion: The current study has found that the association between metabolic syndrome and leptin in elderly might be mediated through waist circumference

Is Mini Nutritional Assessment a Good Prognostic Tool of Activities of Daily Living in Ederly?

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the association of Mini-Nutritional Assessment and activities of daily living as well as examining Mini Nutritional Assessment as a good prognostic tool ofactivities of daily living in elderly residents of nursing home. Methods & Materials: In a cross-sectional study, among 1200 recorded files, 247 subjects completed Mini Nutritional Assessment and Barthel index questionnaire. The relations between studied variables were assessed using Pearson and spearman correlation. These relations were confirmed by adjusted regression model. Results: 130 elderly had Mini Nutritional Assessment&ge;24.5 and 102 had Mini Nutritional Assessment<23.5. Mini Nutritional Assessment and BI were positively correlated (r=0.26, P<0.001). In an age- and sex-adjusted model, Barthel index is associated significantly with age (P<0.006), Body Massive Index I (P<0.009), and MNA (P<0.001). Conclusion: Mini Nutritional Assessment can be a good predictor ofdaily living activities in elderly residents of Kahrizak Charity Foundation (KCF)

Effect of Fish Oil on Serum Levels of Lipid Profile, Lipoprotein (a), Apolipoprotein A-1 and B, Fasting Sugar and Insulin, and InsulinResistance in the Elderly Residents of Kahrizak Charity Foundation

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the effect of &omega;-3 fatty acids on lipid profiles, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein A-1 and apolipoprotein B, fasting glucose and insulin, and insulin resistance in a group of Iranian elderly subjects. Methods & Materials: In this clinical trial, 124 elderly residents of the KahrizakCharity Foundation, aged 65 and older were divided into two intervention (consumption of 1 gram per day of fish oil) and control (consumption of placebo) groups. Blood sampling was done at the baseline and at the end of the study. Results: After 6 months, TG and apo A-1 increased significantly (P=0.01 and P=0.02, respectively) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased significantly in the control group (P=0.009). Overall and comparative effects of fish oil were positively significant (P=0.02). Conclusion: fish oil intake can be effective in reduction of serumtriglycerides in elderly

Comparison of Waist Circumference and Metabolic Syndrome as a Prognostic Value of Insulin Resistance in Elderly Residents of Kahrizak

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare of waist circumference with metabolic syndrome ,as a predictor insulin resistance in agroup of elderly population. Methods & Materials: In a cross-sectional study among 225 elderlyaged 60 year old and more whose clinical data were complete, 94 subjects (42 males and 52 females) who were able to sign the consent form Mini Mental stat Examination>20 and wanted to participate in studyentered the study. Insulin sensitivity was determined by using Homeostasis Model Assessment index. Insulin resistance was defined as topquartile of Homeostasis Model Assessment. Results: Waist Circumference and Homeostasis Model assessment andHomeostasis Model Assessment index were highly positively correlated in both sexes. The optimal waist circumference was 94.5 cm for men and 90.5 cm for women. `The high sensitivity and specificity of Waist Circumference and Homeostasis Model assessment in males (0.80 & 0.84) indicates the proportion of Insulin Resistance which are correctlyidentified all non-IR males as such. Conclusion: In this study 94.5 cm determined as cut-off for insulin resistance index in males. It seems that optimal Waist Circumference andHomeostasis Model assessment determinination in Iran warrants further study in a larger sample of metabolic syndrome subjects

Prevalence of Hypertension and Diabetes in Elderly Residents of Kahrizak

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of hypertension and type II diabetes in elderly Iranianresidents of the Kahrizak Charity Foundation (KCF). Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, a total of two hundred sixty eight men and women &ge;60 years were studied. The data were collected during annual health examination of the elderly residents in KCF. Hypertension and diabetes were defined based on JNC VII andAmerican Diabetes Association, respectively. Results: Crude prevalence of hypertension was 55% in men and 67% in women. In hypertensives, mean age and Body Mass Index (BMI) were significantly higher than normotensives. Diabetes prevalence was 21% in men and 16% in women. Means of age, body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol in diabeticwere significantly more than normal ones. Conclusion: Body mass index and hypertension showed significant correlation and women were at higher risk for hypertension. Instead,men were at higher risk of diabetes and its related factors

Chronic Kidney Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome and Crp Level in The Elderly Residents of Kahrizak Charity Foundation

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the inter-relationships between C-reactive protein, metabolic syndrome, and chronic kidney disease among a group of Iranian elderly. Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 122 elderly among 1220 aged residents of Kahrizak Charity foundation with average age of 73.6&plusmn;9.71 were studied. Metabolic syndrome and chronic kidney diseasewere defined according to the criteria of National Cholesterol Education Program,Adult Treatment Panel III and an estimated glomerular filtration rate<60 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. C-reactive protein&ge;3mg/dl was considered as a high CRP. Results: Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease was 82.9(59.3%) in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome, respectively (P<0.006). Subjects with metabolic syndrome and high C-reactive protein had 1.71-fold greater odds of having Chronic Kidney Disease. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome was a risk factor for chronic kidney disease in elderly people of this study. The odds of chronic kidneydisease also increased significantly in presence of high C-reactive protein and metabolic syndrome

The association between high blood pressure and cognitive impairment in elderly: a brief report

Background: Epidemiological studies have reported positive, negative, U-shaped or J-shaped association between high blood pressure and cognitive function as well as dementia whereas other studies have not reported any significant association. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hypertension and cognitive impairment in the elderly residents of Kahrizak Charity Foundation (KCF). Methods: This cross sectional study was done in Kahrizak Charity Foundation in suburban areas of Tehran, Iran during 2008. The data were collected over one week. Among the 850 elderly residents of the Foundation who were ≥ 65 years old, 185 individuals were chosen randomly. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was completed for all. Mean of all blood pressure readings were recorded while anthropometric and biochemical measurements were performed. Results: The findings indicated that in participants with cognitive impairment, systolic blood pressure, diastolic and mean blood pressures were higher than people with normal cognitive function but the differences were not significant statistically. The odds ratio of cognitive impairment in patients with and without hypertension was 1.52 and 1.58, respectively (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study did not show any significant association between hypertension and cognitive impairment in the elderly residents of Kahrizak Charity Foundation

Overweight as a Protective Factor in Dementia Incident in Elderly Residents of Kahrizak Charity Foundation Aged 80 and Older

Objectives: In this study, the relation of late-life body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference with incident dementia risk was investigatedin a group of iranian elderly peopel. Methods & Materials: In cross-sectional present study 107 elderly residents of the Kahrizak Charity Foundation aged 80 and older were participated. Dementia was assessed using Mini-Mental State Examination questionnaire. Body mass index (BMI) was computed by weight (kg)/ height (m2). Results: In a multivariate logistic regression model, late-life overweight was indicated an independent and significant protective factor against developing dementia (Odd Ratio: 0.24, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.06-0.93), also there was no significant association between waistcircumference and risk of dementia incident. Conclusion: Overweight in late-life was shown as a protective factor against incident dementia risk incident