The Contents of Sesamol in Iranian Sesame Seeds

Abstract Sesamol is a sesame lignan. Sesame lignans have multiple functions, including antioxidant activity and also seem to have potential as a source of phytostrogens. This study was condncted to evaluate sesamol contents of 7 brands of Iranian sesame seeds (Sesamum indicume L.). The brands were named Karaj 29, Darab 14, Ultan, Dezful, Varamin, Branching Naz, and Nonbranching Naz. After method validation, the methanolic extracts of seeds were investigated by HPLC. Their mean of total sesamol was found to be 4.67±0.92 mg/g (ranging between 2.75 and 6.13 mg/g). The brands Karaj 29 with 5.84±0.25 mg/g, Dezful with 5.48±0.08 mg/g, and Varamin with 5.4±0.1mg/g had the highest content, and Darab 14 with the content of 3.30±0.57mg/g had the lowest (p<0.05). Iranian sesame can be considered to be a good source of natural antioxidants for medicinal and commercial uses

Antioxidant Capacity of Plasma after Pomegranate Intake in Human Volunteers

Dietary antioxidants including phenolic compounds are believed to be effective nutrients in the prevention of oxidative stress related disease. Pomegranate has been used for centuries in ancient cultures for its medicinal purpose and is widely acknowledged for antioxidant properties. The present study was designed to assess the effect of pomegranate fresh fruit consumption on the plasma antioxidant capacity. Thirty healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. Volunteers were randomly divided into three groups (pomegranate, vitamin E and water consumption). Blood samples were collected, after at least 12 hours overnight fast, the day before beginning supplementation period and the day after supplementation had finished. Total antioxidant capacity measurement by FRAP method and clinical laboratory test were performed for all volunteers in two selected times. The obtained data revealed that consumption of 100 grams pomegranate and vitamin E per day for ten days resulted in a significant rise (14.05%, 8.28%) plasma antioxidant capacity respectively, but this difference was not significant for water group

Evaluation of Antioxidants in Bone Mineral Density of Iranian

AbstractObjective(s) Bone is a dynamic tissue that is continuously renewed throughout life by the process of bone remodeling. Antioxidant system might be involved in the pathogenesis of bone loss, so the aim of this study was to evaluate the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), vitamin C and vitamin E levels of plasma besides measuring enzymatic antioxidants, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) enzymes activity in Iranian osteoporotic women comparing to the control group.Materials and MethodsBone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck and lumbar spine was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry. The participants were divided into groups: a) total participants (-3.9 ≤ T–score ≤ 3.6) including 192 women, b) the control group (T-score ≥ -1) including 76 women, c) the total patients (T-score < -1) including 76 women. Then, plasma TAC, vitamin C levels, SOD and GR activities, erythrocyte CAT were measured using spectrophotometrical methods separately, and for vitamin E by HPLC analysis.ResultsComparing the control group and osteoporotic women showed that: a) plasma levels for vitamin C and erythrocyte CAT were markedly lower in the patients than in the controls, but plasma activity of TAC, SOD and GR were significantly higher, respectively. b) the differences were higher between control and patients with severe disease (T-score <-1.7) comparing to patients in the group with milder disease (-1.7 ≤ T-score <-1). c) Femoral neck BMD adjusted with age and BMI showed a positive and significant correlation with plasma levels of vitamin C in all subjects, but this relation was reverse or negative for TAC, SOD and GR.ConclusionIt seems that a physiologic increase in the amount of some antioxidants occurs in osteoporosis; even though this amount may not be sufficient for the human body requirements

Shelf Life Prediction of Infant Formula by Using Rancidity Test

Abstract Infant formula has a fatty acid composition that meets the needs of the neonates for unsaturated fatty acids.These fatty acids are of major importance during this period of life in which the brain and retina are developing, and will therefore have an influence upon visual acuity and learning abilities. Oxygen reacts readily with unsaturated fatty acids, so that every time these compounds are handled there is a danger of contaminated with oxidative products. Oxidative stability is an important parameter in characterization of fats and oils. The purpose of this study was to predict the shelf life of an infant formula using accelerated stability test (rancimat), to save time. The Rancimat method is based on conductometric determination of volatile degradation products and features automatic plotting of the conductivity against time. The evaluation was performed graphically after completion of the experiments. The stability of a commercially available infant formula in Tehran, Iran was measured using rancimat method at temperatures of 60, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 °C. Equations have been derived by which the shelf life can be predicted on the basis of the Rancimat method, thus avoiding the time-consuming long-term studies. The shelf life of the commercial infant formula studied was estimated as 534 days (approximately 18 months)

Is supplementation efficacious in maintaining adequate plasma levels of vitamin A and E for thalassemic patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation? A cross-sectional study

Objective: Thalassemia along with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can lead to major oxidative stress. Vitamins A and E are antioxidants which protect membrane from lipid peroxidation. We sought to determine for the first time, whether vitamins A and E supplementation is efficacious in maintaining or increasing plasma level of these vitamins in thalassemic children undergoing HSCT. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 50 children with β-thalassemia major hospitalized for HSCT. Patients took a daily multivitamin. Plasma vitamins A and E levels were measured at four different times: on admission, HSCT day (day 0), day 7 and day 14 after HSCT. Findings: Plasma vitamin A and E were abnormal on admission in most patients (62.0% and 60.0% respectively). Ratio of patient with normal to abnormal plasma level of the vitamins improved from baseline to a peak on day 7 then deteriorated afterward until day 14. There was an increasingly positive correlation between daily oral intake and plasma vitamin A at different times, but plasma vitamin E showed inverse correlation at first which tended towards no correlation subsequently. In multivariate analysis, supplementation significantly changed plasma level of vitamin A at different measurement time (P=0.001) within study subjects. But, plasma level of vitamin E showed no significant difference (P=0.2). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that oral supplementation could have beneficial effects due to increasing plasma vitamin A level and preventing plasma vitamin E depletion

Where to prick the apple for skin testing?

Mal d 1 is not equally distributed over the apple. We aimed to examine the influence of the location of pricking in the apple on prick-to-prick skin prick test (PTP) results. PTPs were performed in autumn 2007 and spring 2008, before the birch pollen season, in 32 Dutch adults with symptoms of oral allergy to fresh apple, using apples harvested in autumn 2007. PTPs with fresh intact and unpeeled Pink Lady, Golden Delicious, Elise, Santana and Modi apples were performed using material obtained from approximately 2cm near the stalk (top), and the middle region. All PTP responses were greater when performed with apple material near the stalk than from the middle region. In 2007, these differences were statistically significant for Pink Lady, Golden Delicious and Elise, and in 2008, for Pink Lady and Modi. When performing PTPs, the apple should be pricked near the stalk rather than in the middle

Simultaneous Measurement of Zinc, Copper, Lead and Cadmium in Baby Weaning Food and Powder Milk by DPASV

Abstract Apart from the breast milk, infant formula and baby weaning food have a special role in infant diet. Infants and young children are very susceptible to amount of trace elements. Copper and zinc are two elements that add in infant food. Lead and cadmium are heavy metals that enter to food chain unavoidably. DPASV is a benefit and applicable method for measurement of trace elements in food products. In this study, concentration of zinc, copper, lead and cadmium in four brands of baby food (rice and wheat based) and powder milk was analyzed with DPASV and polarograph set. Total Mean ± SE of zinc, copper, lead and cadmium in baby foods (n = 240) were 11.86 ± 1.474 mg/100g, 508.197 ± 83.154 µg/100g, 0.445 ± 0.006, 0.050 ± 0.005 mg/Kg respectively. Also these amount in powder milk (n = 240) were 3.621± 0.529 mg/100g, 403.822 ± 133.953 µg/100g, 0.007 ± 0.003, 0.060 ± 0.040 mg/Kg respectively. Zinc level in baby food type I was higher than lablled value (P = 0.030), but in other brands was not difference. Concentration of copper in all of samples was in labeled range (P &gt; 0.05). In each four products, level of lead and cadmium were lower than the standard limit (P &lt; 0.05). Amount of zinc and lead in baby food I, had difference versus other products. Concentration of zinc, camium in baby food type I, was higher than type II (P = 0.043, 0.001 respectively). Concentration of lead and cadmium in baby food type II, was higher than infant formulas, but are in standard limit

The Relation of the Plasma Ascorbic Acid to Bone MineralDensity in Women Referring to Jami Clinic 2006 Tehran, Iran: Ascorbic acid and bone mineral density

Osteoporosis is a silent epidemy of today's world, and is also a prevalent problem of health in Iran. The role of nutrients such as ascorbic acid, a key antioxidant vitamin,in this disease has recently attracted researchers' attention. In this study, we studied the relation between plasma ascorbic acid concentration and bone mineral density (BMD) in women referring to Jami clinic, Tehran, Iran. The study was performed in 200 participants who underwent a fasting blood withdrawal. The control group(n=76; 39.6%) were normal in both lumbar spine (L1-L4) and femoral neck (T-score ≥-1).Femur T-score was considered as criterion in selection of the patient group. Seventy six subjects (39.6%) with T-score&gt;-1 were known as total patient group (TP). TPwere divided into mild patients (M; -1&gt;T-score -1.7), and severe patients (S; -1.7&gt;T-score). Plasma ascorbic acid levels were analyzed by ferric reducing ascorbic acidconcentration, a spectrophotometric assay. Mean SD plasma level of ascorbic acidwas 74.55±67.60 µM in control group, 54.73±46.65 M in TP(T-score&lt;-1),47.31±36.07 M in S patient group (T-score -1.7), and 70.28±61.58 M in M patients(-1&gt;T-score &gt; -1.7), resectively. Our results support an association between plasmalevels of ascorbic acid and BMD. The results showed that: 1) plasma levels of ascorbicacid were lower in patients with osteoporosis than in control; 2) the difference washigher between control and group S (T-score ≤-1.7) who had more acute diseasethan group M (-1.7&lt;T-score &lt;-1) who had milder disease; and finally 3) femoral neckT-score showed a positive and significant correlation with plasma levels of ascorbic acid in all participants

Trans Fatty Acid Content of Iranian Edible Oils *

ABSTRACT Clinical and epidemiologic studies showed that among dietary factors the type of fatty acids (FAs) in the diet plays an important role in determining risk of chronic disease. The aim of our study was to determine the levels of Trans FA (TFA) in edible oil samples consumed in Tehran, Iran analyzed by gas chromatograph (GC). The mean of total TFA was 0.45% ranging from (0.11% -1.61%) for liquid frying oils and 2.92% ranging from (0.46% -5.40%) for solid oils. The major TFA observed in these two groups was elaidic acid in solid oils. The highest content of total saturated fatty acid (SFA) was detected in solid oils with average of 32.07 and palmitic acid was the major SFA in these four groups. Linoleic and linolenic acid are the most important poly unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). The variance in the percentage of TFA in the edible oils probably resulted from differences in the type of oils, quality, heating, processing technique and storage condition of the edible oils. The results indicated that, edible oils contain considerable proportions of trans fatty acids. Therefore, it is important to assess the content of TFA in edible oils in Iran