Assessment of Medical Science Students‘ Knowledge Regarding the Role of Nutrition in Prevention or Incidence of Cancer in Tabriz University

Background: Cancer is chronic disease that its prevalence is growing in recent years. Genetics and environmental factors such as energy balance and nutritional habits are involved in its incidence. The nutrition plays an important role in prevention and incidence of cancer due to protective and harmful factors, respectively. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of medical sciences students regarding the role of nutrition in prevention or incidence of cancer in Tabriz University. Methods: This Cross- sectional study conducted on 565 (219 male and 346 Female) senior students of medical sciences. A self-administered questionnaire with two part completed by students. the one was about the demographic characteristics (age, gender, course, level of education, passing nutrition unit through the school and source of nutritional information) and the other one with 22 closed and open questions was about nutritional knowledge. Data analyzed by using descriptive statistics and presented as frequency and percent. Assessment of relationship between nutritional knowledge and demographic variable were used the Pearson correlation and ANOVA. Results: About 13% of students had low level of nutritional knowledge and 41% and 45.6% had acceptable and high level of knowledge, respectively. Relationship between course, level of education, passing nutrition unit through the school and source of nutritional information of students with nutritional knowledge were statistically significant and with age and gender were no statistically significant relationship. Conclusion: Nutritional factors had important role in incidence of cancer and individual knowledge in this regard is important. In our study, medical knowledge of students, as future provider of health information hadn´t adequate level, so using of efficient co-educational materials for increasing their knowledge may be beneficial

Determine the Effects of Zinc Supplementation on Insulin Resistance, Lipid Profiles and Blood Glucose in Obese People

Background: Obesity as one of the most important health problems in the world, involved in the incidence of many chronic disorders. Obese individuals have lower level of vitamins and minerals such as zinc. Zinc is one of trace elements involved in synthesis, storage, release and action of insulin and in pathway of fat and carbohydrate metabolism. This study conducted to assay the effects of zinc supplementation on the insulin resistance, lipid profiles and blood sugar in obese people. Methods: This randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed on 60 obese people (BMI >30 kg/m2). Duration of intervention was one month. The eligible participants divided in two equal groups: intervention and placebo, randomly. Intervention group received a 30mg/d zinc pill and placebo group received 30mg/d starch. The concentration of serum insulin, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), lipid profiles and fasting blood glucose were determined in onset and at the end of study. Results: Zinc supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in serum insulin concentration, insulin resistance index and serum triglyceride at the end of intervention (p<0.05). However, these results were not significant in placebo group. In contrast, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and fasting blood, sugar (FBS) did not change significantly. Conclusion: Zinc supplement had positive effect on the reduction of insulin concentration and insulin resistance index. More studies with longer period of intervention suggested for disclose more mechanisms in this field