Impact of a Nordic diet on psychological function in young students

Background: There has been a rapid increase in the prevalence of psychiatric and psychological disease, and this has attracted interest in identifying modifiable lifestyle factors that may affect an individual’s mood. Diet is one potential lifestyle factor that may affect psychological function. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between adherence to the health-promoting Nordic diet (ND) with neuropsychological function in young women. Methods: The study comprised 181 female students aged between 18 and 25 years. Psychological function was evaluated using a series of standardized questionnaires, including the Cognitive Ability Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, Epworth Sleep Scale and Quality of Life Questionnaire. A validated food frequency questionnaire, which included 65 types of foods, was used to evaluate the amount of different foods consumed. Results: Evaluation of the dietary composition of the participants showed that the rate of adherence to the ND was positively associated with total energy, carbohydrates, protein, fibre, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, folate, phosphorus, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, carotene, whole grain, legumes, cabbage/vegetables, vegetables and fruit (p<0.05). Linear regression showed cabbage/vegetable consumption was inversely related to scores of stress (β=–0.04; p=0.038) and anxiety (β=–0.02; p=0.049) and directly associated with the quality-of-life score (0.02; p=0.036). Conclusions: Adherence to a ND with a high intake of cabbage/vegetables was inversely associated with stress and anxiety scores and directly associated with health-related quality of life

A study of the association between cognitive abilities and dietary intake in young women

Background: Cognitive abilities comprise activities that relate to receiving and responding to information from the environment, internal processing, making complex decisions, and then responding to this in the context of behavior. Aim: The current study investigated the association between dietary intake and seven aspects of cognitive abilities among healthy young women. Methods: The study was carried out among 182 women aged 18–25 years. A valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire containing 65 food items was used to estimate dietary intake. Neuropsychological function and cognitive abilities of participants were determined using standard questionnaires. Results: Significant differences were found in depression, anxiety, stress, physical, and mental health-related quality of life as well as daytime sleepiness for the participants in different quartiles of cognitive abilities score (p<0.05). Participants in the fourth quartile of cognitive abilities score consumed significantly higher energy, carbohydrate, protein, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, thiamin, and riboflavin compared to those in the lowest quartile (p<0.05). There were strong correlations between total cognitive abilities score and dietary sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and thiamin (p<0.05). Using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, iron and thiamin were statistically significant factors for the prediction of cognitive abilities. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that neurocognitive function is related to dietary macro and micronutrients including energy, carbohydrate, protein, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, thiamin, and riboflavin on cognitive performance among young women without memory deficit

A study of the association of cognitive abilities and emotional function with allergic disorders in young women

Background Allergic disorders may have a bidirectional causal relationship with mental disorders. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess the associations between cognitive abilities and emotional function tests and quality of life with the presence of allergic disease in young women. Methods A diagnosis of allergic disorders, comprising allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD), was confirmed by a specialist in allergy. The presence and severity of depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia and sleepiness were evaluated using validated questionnaires. Cognitive abilities and quality of life were assessed using standard instruments. Results Among 181 female young participants, the prevalence of AR, asthma and AD were 26.5%, 2.8%, and 14.9% respectively. The AR group had higher scores than the non-AR group for depression, anxiety, insomnia, and lower scores for physical and mental health-related quality of life. Moreover, the AD cases had higher scores on the depression and stress scale compared to those without it (p < 0.05). Asthmatic patients also had significantly higher insomnia severity and lower physical health-related quality of life than non-asthmatic. Conclusion There was a high prevalence of psychological/psychiatric disorders that included: anxiety, and sleep problems among allergic women, and a reduced quality of life that may be associated with it

Analiza uczuleń na pyłki lokalnych roślin wśród studentów medycyny we Wschodnim Iranie z użyciem testów nakłucia naskórka

Background: Allergic disorders are among the most common health problems, have a high impact on patients’ quality of life and constitute a significant economic burden. Pollen grains are the most significant trigger of allergic symptoms. Knowing pollen allergy potency of common plants in each area is essential for preventing allergic symptoms. Objective: This study aims to evaluate allergic sensitivity to local plant pollen among medical students in East of Iran using skin prick test Methods: Types of allergenic pollen grains were determined based on geoclimatic factors. Ten different pollen grains from common regional plants, including Eucalyptus tree, Helianthus trees, Rosa damascene flowers, Jasminum sp flowers, Chinaberry trees (Melia azedarach), pomegranate trees, black olive trees, pistachio trees, Palm trees, and Crambe cordifolia flowers, as well as seven standard commercial extracts including grass mixture, tree mixture, Fraxinus, Amaranthus retroflexus, Cypress, Betula, and Prosopis pollens were collected. After purification, the aqueous extract was prepared from each pollen. Skin prick test with ten domestic extracts and some commercial extracts was performed on the participants. The ethics committee of Birjand University of Medical Sciences approved the study and all participants signed consent form. Results: One hundred and twelve volunteer medical students (mean age: 22.29 range: 19 to 34 years, M/F ratio:1.1) enrolled in this study. The overall frequency of sensitivity to any allergenic extracts was reported at 80.59%. In domestic pollen, the highest skin sensitivity rate was for Eucalyptus pollen, Rosa damascene flowers pollen, and Jasminum sp pollen (59.3%, 53.1%, and 50.0%, respectively). In the case of commercial extract, Amaranthus retroflexus and the tree mixture pollens were the most common (66.6% and 45.7%, respectively). Conclusion: This study showed high allergic potency of some common regional plants, including Rose flower, Eucalyptus tree, and Jasminum sp flower.Wprowadzenie: Choroby alergiczne stanowią jeden z najbardziej powszechnych problemów zdrowotnych, wpływają na jakość życia pacjenta i stanowią poważne obciążenie ekonomiczne. Ziarna pyłków roślin są najistotniejszym czynnikiem wywołującym objawy alergii. Znajomość siły alergizacji pyłków roślin występujących na danym obszarze ma zasadnicze znaczenie dla zapobiegania objawom alergii. Cel pracy: Celem badania była ocena występowania uczuleń na pyłki lokalnych roślin wśród studentów medycyny we wschodnim Iranie za pomocą testów nakłucia naskórka (prick test). Materiał i metody: Typy uczulających pyłków dobrane zostały w oparciu o analizę danych geoklimatycznych. Do badań użyto dziesięć ziaren pyłków roślin typowych dla regionu, w tym drzewa Eucalyptus, drzewa Helianthus, kwiatów Rosa damascene i Jasminum sp, drzewa Chinaberry (Melia azedarach), drzewa granatu, czarnych oliwek, drzewa pistacjowego, palm i kwiatów Crambe cordifolia, a także siedem standardowych, komercyjne dostępnych zestawów ekstraktów, w tym mieszanek traw, drzew i pyłków Fraxinus, Amaranthus retroflexus, Cypress, Betula i Prosopis. Po oczyszczeniu preparatów, przygotowywano wodne roztwory ekstraktów pyłków. Badania przeprowadzano u ochotników metodą nakłucia naskórka (prick test) ze wszystkimi dziesięcioma ekstraktami lokalnych roślin oraz kilkoma ekstraktami komercyjnymi. Badanie zostało zatwierdzone przez komisję ds. etyki Uniwersytetu Medycznego Birjand, a wszyscy uczestnicy podpisali formularz zgody. Wyniki: W badaniu wzięło udział 112 studentów medycyny (średni wiek: 22,29, zakres: 19–34 lata, stosunek M / K: 1,1). Ogólna częstość występowania uczulenia na pyłki co najmniej jednego z ekstraktów wynosiła 80,59%. W przypadku pyłków roślin lokalnych największe odczyny skórne stwierdzono dla pyłków drzewa Eucalyptus, kwiatów Rosa damascene i Jasminum sp (odpowiednio 59,3%, 53,1% i 50,0%). W odniesieniu do ekstraktów dostępnych komercyjnie najczęściej stwierdzano uczulenia na Amaranthus retroflexus i mieszaninę pyłków drzew (odpowiednio 66,6% i 45,7%). Wnioski: Wyniki badań wskazują na wysoką siłę alergizującą niektórych pospolitych roślin regionalnych, w tym kwiatu róży, drzewa eukaliptusa i kwiatu jaśminu

Effects of curcumin on menstrual pattern, premenstrual syndrome, and dysmenorrhea: a triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and primary dysmenorrhea are common complaints among young women. This study evaluated the effects of curcumin supplements on symptoms of pain in young women with PMS and dysmenorrhea. A randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was undertaken. Women who suffered from both PMS and dysmenorrhea were enrolled, and were randomly allocated to the curcumin (n = 62), or placebo (n = 62) groups. Each subject received one capsule (500 mg of curcuminoid, or placebo) daily, from 7 days pre- until 3 days post-menstruation for three successive menstrual cycles. Participants recorded the severity of PMS, or dysmenorrhea using a Premenstrual Syndrome Screening Tool (PSST) and the visual analog scale, respectively. Baseline characteristics of participants did not differ between the curcumin and placebo groups. At the end of the trial, the PSST scores were significantly lower in both the curcumin (32.5 ± 9.8 vs. 21.6 ± 9.8); and placebo groups (31.7 ± 9.4 vs. 23.4 ± 12.8). There was a significant reduction of dysmenorrhea pain in both the curcumin and placebo groups (by 64% and 53.3%, respectively). Hence, curcumin had comparable effects as placebo, regarding the amelioration of symptoms of PMS and dysmenorrhea. Further studies are required with larger samples, using higher doses curcumin for longer durations, and perhaps in combination therapy

Effect of curcumin on inflammatory biomarkers and iron profile in patients with premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and primary dysmenorrhea are common gynecological problems and inflammation may have a role in their etiology. Curcumin is a polyphenolic natural product for which there is increasing evidence of anti‐inflammatory and iron chelation effects. This study assessed the effects of curcumin on inflammatory biomarkers and iron profile in young women with PMS and dysmenorrhea. A sample of 76 patients was included in this triple‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial. Participants were randomly allocated to curcumin (n = 38) and control groups (n = 38). Each participant received one capsule (500 mg of curcuminoid+ piperine, or placebo) daily, from 7 days before until 3 days after menstruation for three consecutive menstrual cycles. Serum iron, ferritin, total iron‐binding capacity (TIBC) and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), as well as white blood cell, lymphocyte, neutrophil, platelet counts, mean platelet volume (MPV) and red blood cell distribution width (RDW), were quantified. Neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet: lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and RDW: platelet ratio (RPR) were also calculated. Curcumin significantly decreased the median (interquartile range) serum levels of hsCRP [from 0.30 mg/L (0.0–1.10) to 0.20 mg/L (0.0–1.3); p = 0.041] compared with placebo, but did not show any difference for neutrophil, RDW, MPV, NLR, PLR and RPR values (p > 0.05). The treatment schedule was well‐tolerated, and none of markers of iron metabolism statistically changed after the intervention in the curcumin group (p > 0.05). Curcumin supplementation may have positive effects on serum hsCRP, a marker of inflammation, with no any changes on iron homeostasis in healthy women with PMS and dysmenorrhea

Anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2018

: Anemia is a globally widespread condition in women and is associated with reduced economic productivity and increased mortality worldwide. Here we map annual 2000-2018 geospatial estimates of anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age (15-49 years) across 82 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), stratify anemia by severity and aggregate results to policy-relevant administrative and national levels. Additionally, we provide subnational disparity analyses to provide a comprehensive overview of anemia prevalence inequalities within these countries and predict progress toward the World Health Organization's Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) to reduce anemia by half by 2030. Our results demonstrate widespread moderate improvements in overall anemia prevalence but identify only three LMICs with a high probability of achieving the WHO GNT by 2030 at a national scale, and no LMIC is expected to achieve the target in all their subnational administrative units. Our maps show where large within-country disparities occur, as well as areas likely to fall short of the WHO GNT, offering precision public health tools so that adequate resource allocation and subsequent interventions can be targeted to the most vulnerable populations