Effect of iron repletion and correction of iron deficiency on thyroid function in iron-deficient Iranian adolescent girls

The aim of this study was to determine whether iron supplementation in iron-deficient adolescent girls would improve thyroid function. A double-blind clinical trial was performed in a region in southern I.R. Iran. A total of 103 iron deficient participants were chosen. In all, 94 participants successfully completed this study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups and treated with a 300 mg ferrous sulfate 5 times/week (n = 47) and placebo 5 times/week (n = 47) for 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected and assayed for hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum ferritin, iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxine (TT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), free thyroid hormones (FT4 and FT3), triiodothyronine resin uptake (T3RU), reverse triiodothyronine (rT3), selenium and albumin concentrations. Statistical analysis was performed with parametric and non-parametric methods as appropriate. Data analysis revealed a significant increase in TT4, TT3, T3RU and a significant decrease in rT3 concentration in comparison to initial values in iron treated group (12, p<0.001; 3.5, p<0.001; 16, p<0.05 and 47, p<0.001, respectively). At 12 week there were significant differences between control and placebo in TT4, TT3, T3RU and rT3 concentrations (9.9 vs 8.4 μg dL-1, 145.2 vs 130.4 μg dL-1, 32.5 vs 28.4 and 23 vs 41 μg dL-1, respectively, all p<0.001). Alterations in FT3 and TSH concentration were not significant, but concentration of FT4 revealed a significant difference between the beginning and the end of the study in iron treated group (10.3 vs 11.4, p<0.001). Iron supplementation improves some indices of thyroid function in iron-deficient adolescent girls. © 2007 Asian Network For Scientific Information

Dietary habits are associated with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes: a study among a middle eastern population

Worldwide type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevalence is increasing dramatically. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between dietary habits and T2D in an Iranian adult population using a cross-sectional analysis of the Shahedieh cohort study. Participants were adults aged 35–70 years (n9261) from Zarch and Shahedieh, Yazd, Iran, who attended the baseline phase of the Shahedieh cohort study. Dietary habits including meal frequency, fried-food consumption, adding salt to prepared meals and grilled-food consumption were assessed by a standard questionnaire. T2D was defined as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥126 mg/dl according to the American Diabetes Association. Multiple logistic regression assessed the association between dietary habits and T2D. Individuals who consumed a meal more than six times per day compared to three times per day had greater odds for T2D (OR 2⋅503, 95 % CI 1⋅651, 3⋅793). These associations remained significant in a fully adjusted model. There was a significant association between greater intakes of fried foods and prevalence of T2D (OR 1⋅294, 95 % CI 1⋅004, 1⋅668) in the adjusted model. No significant associations were observed between other dietary habits (adding salt to prepared meals and grilled-food consumption) and odds of T2D in all crude and adjusted models. In conclusion, we have highlighted the association between meal and fried-food consumption frequencies with risk of T2D. Large longitudinal studies in different ethnicities are needed to confirm these associations

Vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of depression and poor physical function in older persons: the D-Vitaal study, a randomized clinical trial

Background: Depressive symptoms and impaired physical functioning are prevalent among older adults. Supplementation with vitamin D might improve both conditions, particularly in persons with low vitamin D status. Objective: The D-Vitaal study primarily aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on depressive symptoms, functional limitations and physical performance in a high-risk older population with low vitamin D status. Secondary aims included examining the effect of vitamin D supplementation on anxiety symptoms, cognitive functioning, mobility, hand grip strength and health-related quality of life. Design: This study was a randomized placebo-controlled trial with 155 participants aged 60-80 years who had clinically relevant depressive symptoms, ≥1 functional limitation and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations of 15-50/70 nmol/L (depending on season). Participants received 1200 IU/day vitamin D3 (n=76) or placebo tablets (n=77) for 12 months. Serum 25(OH)D was measured at baseline and 6 months; outcomes were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Linear mixed models analyses were conducted according to the intention-to-treat principle to assess the effect of the intervention. Results: The supplementation increased serum 25(OH)D concentrations in the intervention group to a mean of 85 nmol/L (SD: 16) against 43 nmol/L (SD: 18) in the placebo group after 6 months (P<0.001). No relevant differences between the treatment groups were observed regarding depressive symptoms, functional limitations, physical performance, or any of the secondary outcomes. Conclusions: Supplementation with 1200 IU/day vitamin D for 12 months had no effect on depressive symptoms and physical functioning in older persons with relatively low vitamin D status, clinically relevant depressive symptoms and poor physical functioning. KEYWORDS Vitamin D, 25(OH)D, Depressive symptoms, Physical functioning, Functional limitations, Physical performance, Older adults, Randomized Clinical Trial, Prevention, Supplementation

Alternative medicine and herbal remedies in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: A systematic review

Objectives: To systematically review and discuss the current evidence from placebo-controlled clinical trials that investigated the use of alternative medicines and herbal remedies in the management of erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods: A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)- based systematic review using specific keyword combinations was conducted on the PubMed and Scopus databases. Randomised controlled trials investigating herbal medicine in at least one group and using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) as an outcome in patients primarily diagnosed with ED were included for review. Results: Following the literature search, screening and eligibility analysis, a total of 42 articles were included. The 42 articles were categorised as single herb extractions (n = 14), combination herbal formula (n = 5), combination of herbal formula and non-herbal nutraceuticals (n = 7), non-herbal nutraceuticals (n = 5), acupuncture and moxibustion (n = 2), diet and nutrition (n = 3), exercise (n = 5), and topical treatments (n = 1). Based on the results, Korean ginseng, Pygnogenol and Prelox, Tribulus terrestris, Lepidium meyenii, L-arginine, acupuncture and lifestyle interventions were the more predominantly investigated treatments interventions for ED. Conclusions: Panax ginseng, Pygnogenol, Prelox and Tribulus terrestris have promising evidence as herbal products, alongside L-arginine as a nutritional supplement, for ED based on IIEF outcomes, and warrant further clinical investigation. The mechanisms of action remain unclear, but each of these appears to in part increase nitric oxide synthesis. Importantly, improved diet and exercise should be considered, particularly in patients with obesity or diabetes mellitus

The Effect of Garlic Tablet on Blood Glucose, and Lipid Profile in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial

Introduction: Diabetes, as one of the most common endocrine disorders, has many different complications and outcomes. Some pieces of evidence proposed that garlic can be useful for diabetic patients due to its various compounds. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of garlic tablet supplement on fasting blood sugar (FBS), Glycated hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) and lipid profile levels in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: This double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial was carried out at Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran. The study sample consisted of 50 diabetic patients, who were randomly divided into two groups of 25 participants: placebo (PG) and garlic group (GG). The GG took three 400mg-garlic tablets and the PG group took 3 tablets similar to the garlic tablets per day after every main meal for 3 months. Lipid profile, HbA1c and FBS concentrations were measured before and after the intervention. Results: There were not any significant differences in regard with age, gender and disease history between the two groups. After 3 months, the mean of FBS (from 155.23±36.47 to 140.57±44.18 mg/dl,pv=0.05) and HbA1c(from 8.6 %±1.04 to 7.27%±1.21,pv<0.001) decreased significantly in GG in comparison with PG. The mean of HDLc change in GG revealed a significant increase compared to PG (-2.03 vs. 1.76±6.96 mg/dl). Moreover, no other significant differences were observed in regard with other studied variables between the two groups. Conclusion: The findings of the present study revealed that daily consumption of three 400mg-garlic tablets in diabetic patients can lead to a decrease of FBS and HbA1c, in contrary to an increase of HDLc. As a result, garlic tablet supplement seems to be beneficial to complications control as well as treatment of diabetes

An Evaluation of Graduates\' Theses at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in Yazd

Introduction : Writing the thesis is one of the first experiences of university students. It is usually conducted satisfactorily under the advice an advisor. Yet, there are some problems in this regard. Objectives : The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the quality of the medical and dental theses at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. Methods and Materials : This was a qualitative observational study conducted on 30% of medical theses and all the dental theses at Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences during 1992-2002. The characteristics and features of the different parts of the theses were recorded in a questionnaire. Then, the quality score was calculated for each thesis. Results : In this study, 215 (76.2%) volumes of theses of medical students and 67 (23.8%) volumes of theses of dentistry students were studied and reviewed. Most of the theses studied (13.8%) related to internal medicine, and least of them (1.8%) related to pathology. The majority of the theses (92.7%) were of experimental research type, and 2.5% included case studies.95.7% of the theses were appropriate regarding title characteristics. Almost 19% of them lacked the part "Statement of the Problem" and 43.2% were deficient in this part. 40.7% of the theses (52% of medical theses and 6% of dental theses) lacked "Review of Literature". Only 51.6% of them (40.7% of medical theses and 86.4% of dental theses) possessed a "Review of Literature" that was quite related to the thesis topic. In approximately 5.8% of the theses, there was no direct reference to the objectives. For 12.4% of theses, the objectives have been stated accurately while for 81.8% of them this was not the case. Regarding objectives, the medical theses were in a better state and showed a statistically significant correlation with the dental theses. Regarding the part "Results", in 6.9% of the theses, specific objectives have not been stated clearly. 82.6% reached completely to the preset goals, 9.1% achieved some of the objectives, and 1.4% of results were irrelevant to the objectives. Regarding the presentation of thesis results as an article in magazines or in national or international gatherings, summits, conferences, or a congress, 1.1% were presented in conferences abroad, 9.6% in national seminars, and 28.8% as an article. Also, 46.3% were not published at all. For 14.2% of the theses, no information was available regarding their publication. The average mean of the number of references was 21.8. Also, 6.6% of the references were 3 years older than the thesis. Four references were 4-5 years older than the thesis and twelve references were more than 5 years older than the thesis. Totally, the average mean of time interval between the thesis and the references publication date was 5.8 years. Generally speaking, 14.9% of the theses had a poor quality, 44.35 had a moderate quality, and 4.8 % possessed a high quality. In this regard, the dental theses had a better status. There was no statistically significant correlation between thesis quality and the obtained score on the thesis. Conclusion : Considerable percent of theses had weak quality, but dentistry students' theses had the better quality than the medical students' theses. Therefore, to improvement of thesis quality, it's necessary to carry out various workshops on the research methodology, scientific article writing and writing reports