Effect of raw and heated flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) on blood lipid profiles in rats.

Flaxseed is a nutrient rich seed and lipid profiles improving effect of it has long been studied. Effect of heating as a part of food processing on its beneficial characteristics is not clarified in literature. This study aims to provide complementary information on effect of different dosages of raw and heated flaxseed on lipid profiles. Sprague Dawley rats were fed with 10%, 20% or 30% of either raw or heated flaxseed in the basal diet for 30 days. Total cholesterol significantly reduced in all flaxseed groups and high density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly increased in 20% raw and 30% raw and heated flaxseed groups. Significant reduction of low density lipoprotein cholesterol only observed in 30% raw flaxseed groups. It is concluded that 30 days consumption of flaxseed may significantly reduce total cholesterol and increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol in blood. Oven heating may not have significant effect on lipid profile improving effect of flaxseed

The effect of dietary sodium modification on blood pressure in adults with systolic blood pressure less than 140 mmHg: A systematic review

TYPES OF INTERVENTIONS: Interventions that quantitatively evaluated dietary sodium intake for equal to or greater than four weeks duration were considered. Only studies that included two study arms comprising different levels of sodium intake were included

Reduction of aflatoxin level in aflatoxin-induced rats by the activity of probiotic Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota.

Aims: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is considered as the most toxic food contaminant, and microorganisms, especially bacteria, have been studied for their potential to reduce the bioavailability of mycotoxins including aflatoxins. Therefore, this research investigated the efficacy of oral administration of Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) in aflatoxin-induced rats. Methods and Results: Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups of untreated control, the group induced with AFB1 only, and the group given probiotic in addition to AFB1. In the group induced with AFB1 only, food intake and body weight were reduced significantly. The liver and kidney enzymes were significantly enhanced in both groups induced with AFB1, but they were lower in the group given LcS. AFB1 was detected from all serum samples except for untreated control group's samples. Blood serum level of AFB1 in the group induced with AFB1 only was significantly higher than the group which received probiotic as a treatment (P < 0·05), and there was no significant difference between the control group and the group treated with probiotic. Conclusions: LcS supplementation could improve the adverse effect of AFB1 induction on rats' body weight, plasma biochemical parameters and also could reduce the level of AFB1 in blood serum. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study's outcomes contribute to better understanding of the potential of probiotic to reduce the bioavailability ofAFB1. Moreover, it can open an opportunity for future investigations to study the efficacy of oral supplementation of probiotic LcS in reducing aflatoxin level in human

Cheese consumption in relation to cardiovascular risk factors among Iranian adults- IHHP Study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: It is expected that dairy products such as cheeses, which are the main source of cholesterol and saturated fat, may lead to the development or increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases; however, the results of different studies are inconsistent. This study was conducted to assess the association between cheese consumption and cardiovascular risk factors in an Iranian adult population. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Information from the Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP) was used for this cross-sectional study with a total of 1,752 participants (782 men and 970 women). Weight, height, waist and hip circumference measurement, as well as fasting blood samples were gathered and biochemical assessments were done. To evaluate the dietary intakes of participants a validated food frequency questionnaire, consists of 49 items, was completed by expert technicians. Consumption of cheese was classified as less than 7 times per week and 7-14 times per week. RESULTS: Higher consumption of cheese was associated with higher C-Reactive Protein (CRP), apolipoprotein A and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level but not with fasting blood sugar (FBS), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG) and apolipoprotein B. Higher consumption of cheese was positively associated with consumption of liquid and solid oil, grain, pulses, fruit, vegetable, meat and dairy, and negatively associated with Global Dietary Index. After control for other potential confounders the association between cheese intake and metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.81; 96%CI: 0.71-0.94), low HDL-C level (OR: 0.87; 96%CI: 0.79-0.96) and dyslipidemia (OR: 0.88; 96%CI: 0.79-0.98) became negatively significant. CONCLUSION: This study found an inverse association between the frequency of cheese intake and cardiovascular risk factors; however, further prospective studies are required to confirm the present results and to illustrate its mechanisms

Oral administration of Lactobacillus casei Shirota can ameliorate the adverse effect of an acute aflatoxin exposure in sprague dawley rats

Aflatoxin B₁(AFB₁) is a toxic compound commonly found in some crops with an adverse health effect on human and animals. Some beneficial microorganisms (or probiotics) such as lactic acid bacteria have shown the ability to reduce the bioavailability of aflatoxins and its intestinal absorption. However, the dose and duration of aflatoxins exposure and probiotic treatment can influence the ability of probiotics to remove aflatoxins. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the efficacy of oral probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain (LcS) induction in an acute exposure to AFB₁ in rats. Experimentally, Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: AFB₁ only (n = 9); AFB₁ treated with LcS (n = 9); and control (no AFB₁ exposure) (n = 6) groups. The blood AFB₁ level of rats treated with LcS was slightly lower than the untreated AFB₁ induced rats (11.12 ± 0.71 vs 10.93 ± 0.69 ng g-1). Also, LcS treatment slightly moderated the liver and kidney biomarkers in AFB₁ induced rats. However, a trend for a significant difference was only observed in ALT of AFB₁ induced rats treated with LcS compared to their counterparts (126.11 ± 36.90 vs 157.36 ± 15.46, p = 0.06). Rats' body weight decreased in all animals force-fed with AFB₁ with no significant difference between LcS treatment compared to the counterpart. In conclusion, this experiment indicated that probiotic LsC was able to slightly ameliorate the adverse effect of an acute exposure to AFB₁ in rats. However, future studies with longer probiotics treatment or higher probiotics dose is required to confirm these findings

Effect of raw and heated flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) on blood lipid profiles in rats

Flaxseed is a nutrient rich seed and lipid profiles improving effect of it has long been studied. Effect of heating as a part of food processing on its beneficial characteristics is not clarified in literature. This study aims to provide complementary information on effect of different dosages of raw and heated flaxseed on lipid profiles. Sprague Dawley rats were fed with 10%, 20% or 30% of either raw or heated flaxseed in the basal diet for 30 days. Total cholesterol significantly reduced in all flaxseed groups and high density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly increased in 20% raw and 30% raw and heated flaxseed groups. Significant reduction of low density lipoprotein cholesterol only observed in 30% raw flaxseed groups. It is concluded that 30 days consumption of flaxseed may significantly reduce total cholesterol and increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol in blood. Oven heating may not have significant effect on lipid profile improving effect of flaxseed

Lifestyle and self-management determinants of hypertension control in a sample of Australian adults

© 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Background: Poor hypertension control can increase the risk of cardiovascular, renal and kidney diseases, and increase the social and economic burden of the disease. Methods: This study aimed to explore the lifestyle and self-management skills (medication adherence, self-monitoring, self-efficacy) determinants of hypertension control in a sample of hypertensive Australians. In a cross-sectional design, a total of 233 hypertensive adults completed a survey. Hypertension control was categorised as good control if hypertensive individuals managed to reduce their blood pressure (BP) < 140/90 mmHg, otherwise it was categorised as poor control. Data were analysed using bivariate analysis and hierarchical logistic regression. Results: 55% of the participants had poor BP control. A significantly higher frequency of poor BP self-monitoring was observed in individuals with poor control compared to their counterparts. Poor self-monitoring and a sedentary lifestyle were associated with higher odds of poor control (OR: 5.33, 95% CI: 1.78–15.93; p < 0.01, and OR: 4.69, 95% CI: 1.00–22.25; p < 0.05, respectively). No significant association was observed between other variables and hypertension control. Conclusion: Successful BP control for hypertensive individuals may require interventions and strategies that assist with improving BP self-monitoring skills and increasing physical activity. Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therap

Dietary patterns, nutrition knowledge, lifestyle, and health-related quality of life: Associations with anti-hypertension medication adherence in a sample of Australian adults

© 2017, Springer International Publishing AG. Introduction: Poor anti-hypertension medication (AHT) adherence can increase disease costs and adverse outcomes. Hypertensive individuals who have a better nutrition knowledge may lead a healthier lifestyle, have a better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and greater confidence to change behaviour. On this basis, they may have better treatment adherence. Aim: To explore the association between the above-mentioned variables and AHT adherence in a group of Australian adults with high blood pressure (BP) in a cross-sectional clinical and community-based study. Methods: Adults with high BP (n = 270) completed a questionnaire including: food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), nutrition knowledge, HRQoL, self-efficacy of diet and exercise, lifestyle and AHT adherence sections. Bivariate analysis and hierarchical logistic regression were used to explore the data. Results: Three dietary patterns were identified from the FFQ, using factor and cluster analyses (Western, Snack and Alcohol, and Balanced). We observed that following a Western dietary pattern, having lower exercise self-efficacy and shorter sleep duration were more dominant in the poor AHT adherence individuals compared to their counterparts. A positive association was observed between self-efficacy and sleep duration with AHT adherence. A Western dietary pattern was prevalent in high BP participants which slightly reduced the likelihood of good adherence. Conclusion: A healthier dietary pattern, better exercise self-efficacy and adequate sleep (more than six hours a night) may increase the likelihood of AHT adherence in individuals with high BP. Interventions focusing on improving these variables are required to confirm the findings of this study

Health check: should healthy people take probiotic supplements?

A visit to the supermarket these days can feel more like walking through a pharmacy, with an ever-expanding range of milks, yoghurts, pills, powders and speciality foods promoting their “probiotic” prowess. Advocates of probiotics have hailed them as the answer to all sorts of health issues and conditions. But what exactly are probiotics? And, more importantly, should you be taking them