The relationship between maternal vitamin D status during third trimester of pregnancy and maternal and neonatal outcomes: A longitudinal study

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a common nutritional concern and leads to several problems among some population groups. Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between maternal vitamin D status and gestational weight gain, maternal biochemical parameters, mode of delivery, and infants’ growth indices at birth. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study between March and June 2017 was carried on 82 mothers in Ahvaz. Blood samples of each mother were obtained at the mean of the third trimester to assay lipid indices (total cholesterol, triglycerides, lowdensity lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), fasting blood sugar, and 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Anthropometric assessment of newborns was recorded from neonatal health card at birth. Results: Mean maternal 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was 22.52 nmol/L; 7.33% of mothers had vitamin D deficiency, 76.6% had vitamin D insufficiency, and 15.9% were normal. The mean neonate birth weight, length, and head circumference of mothers who were  on the third tercile of 25-hydroxy vitamin D serum level was significantly higher than  those in the first tercile (p < 0.001, p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively). Maternal vitamin D serum level had an adverse relationship with fasting blood sugar. Conclusion: Low levels of serum vitamin D may cause adverse pregnancy outcomesand delivery of infants with insufficient growth at birth. Key words: Vitamin D, Pregnancy, Infant, Growth, Delivery, Blood glucose

Relationship of constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with food intake, anthropometric measurements and eating behaviors in male students

Background and Objectives: Gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation can affect the quality of life and various factors play a role in these disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the environmental factors related to these problems among Iranian male university students. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 186 male students at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Rome Criteria III (to identify gastrointestinal disorders), Dutch eating behavior, food pattern brief instrument and international physical activity questionnaires were completed by all participants moreover, their anthropometric measurements were taken. Results: The results showed a significant difference in weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist to hip ratio in the students suffering from constipation compared with the healthy ones. The students with constipation had more significant milk intake and those with IBS had less intake of vegetables. No significant differences were observed in the eating behavior of students with constipation and IBS, and the healthy ones. Conclusions: Weight and other anthropometric indices could be considered as factors related to constipation. According to the results, an appropriate and balanced intake of different food groups with emphasis on vegetables, milk and dairy products could be recommended. Keywords: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Constipation, Diet, Anthropometr

A fuzzy based dietary clinical decision support system for patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs)

Abstract Due to the multifaceted nature of Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCCs), setting a diet for these patients is complicated and time-consuming. In this study, a clinical decision support system based on fuzzy logic was modeled and evaluated to aid dietitians in adjusting the diet for patients with MCCs. Mamdani fuzzy logic with 1144 rules was applied to design the model for MCCs patients over 18 years who suffer from one or more chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and kidney disease. One hundred nutrition records from three nutrition clinics were employed to measure the system's performance. The findings showed that the diet set by nutritionists had no statistically significant difference from the diet recommended by the fuzzy model (p > 0.05), and there was a strong correlation close to one between them. In addition, the results indicated a suitable model performance with an accuracy of about 97%. This system could adjust the diet with high accuracy as well as humans. In addition, it could increase dietitians' confidence, precision, and speed in setting the diet for MCCs patients

Update on riboflavin and multiple sclerosis : a systematic review

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Riboflavin plays an important role in myelin formation, and its deficiency is implicated as a risk factor for multiple sclerosis. Here, we systematically reviewed the literature concerning the health benefits of riboflavin on MS. The literature recorded within four main databases, including relevant clinical trials, experimental, and case-control studies from 1976 to 2017 were considered. Both human and animal studies were included for review, with no restrictions on age, gender, or ethnicity. Experimental studies demonstrated that riboflavin deficiency triggers neurologic abnormalities related to peripheral neuropathies such as demyelinating neuropathy. Moreover, randomized controlled trials (RCT) and case-control studies in which MS patients received riboflavin supplementation or had higher dietary riboflavin intake showed improvements in neurological motor disability. Riboflavin is a cofactor of xanthine oxidase and its deficiency exacerbates low uric acid caused by high copper levels, leading to myelin degeneration. The vitamin additionally plays a significant role in the normal functioning of glutathione reductase (GR) as an antioxidant enzyme, and conditions of riboflavin deficiency lead to oxidative damage. Riboflavin promotes the gene and protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the CNS of an animal model of MS, suggesting that BDNF mediates the beneficial effect of riboflavin on neurological motor disability. Research to date generally supports the role of riboflavin in MS outcomes. However, further observational and interventional studies on human populations are warranted to validate the effects of riboflavin

Co-exposure to endocrine disruptors: effect of bisphenol A and soy extract on glucose homeostasis and related metabolic disorders in male mice

Objectives. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a xenoestrogen, which is commonly used as a monomer of polycarbonate plastics food containers and epoxy resins. Little is known about the interaction effects between xeno- and phyto- estrogens on glucose homeostasis or other metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to examine effects of individual or combined exposure to low doses of BPA and soy extract on glucose metabolism in mice with the goal to establish its potential mechanisms

An evaluation of the effects of saffron supplementation on the asthma clinical symptoms and asthma severity in patients with mild and moderate persistent allergic asthma: a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial

Abstract Background Asthma is a heterogeneous disease which is usually associated with chronic airway inflammation. Saffron has anti-inflammatory effects and may has beneficial effects on asthma. Hypothesis The present study was intended to survey the effects of saffron supplementation on blood pressure, lipid profiles, basophils, eosinophils and clinical symptoms in patients with allergic asthma. Study design Our study was a clinical trial. Methods Subjects (N = 80, 32 women and 48 men, 41.25 ± 9.87 years old) with mild and moderate allergic asthma were randomized into two groups: the intervention group who received two capsules of saffron (100 mg/d), and the control group who received two capsules of placebo for 8 weeks. SPSS software (version 16.0) was used for the data analysis. Results Saffron improved the frequency of clinical symptoms of the patients (i.e., frequency of the shortness of breath during the day and night time, use of salbutamol spray, waking up due to asthma symptoms and activity limitation) in comparison to the placebo (p < 0.001). Besides, asthma severity decreased almost significantly in the saffron group (p = 0.07). It was also found that saffron, in comparison with the placebo, significantly reduced the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Moreover, eosinophils and basophils concentration reduced in the saffron group (p = 0.06 and 0.05 respectively). Conclusion Saffron seems to be an effective and safe option (in 8 weeks supplementation) to improve clinical symptoms of patients with allergic asthma but the toxicity and/or long-term effects of saffron intake are not known. Registration ID in IRCT (IRCT2017012132081N2)

Brain-derived neurotrophic and immunologic factors: beneficial effects of riboflavin on motor disability in murine model of multiple sclerosis

Objective(s): In the present study, C57BL/6 female mice (n=56) were used to explore the neuroprotective effects of riboflavin in motor disability of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a model of multiple sclerosis. Materials and Methods: The animals were assigned into 7 groups: sham-operated 1 (SO1), healthy mice receiving PBS (phosphate buffer saline); sham-operated 2 (SO2), healthy mice receiving PBS and riboflavin; sham treatment 1 (ST1), EAE mice receiving water; sham treatment 2 (ST2), EAE mice receiving sodium acetate buffer; treatment 1 (T1), EAE mice receiving interferon beta-1a (INFβ-1a); treatment 2 (T2), EAE mice receiving riboflavin; treatment 3 (T3), EAE mice receiving INFβ-1a and riboflavin. After EAE induction, scoring was performed based on clinical signs. Upon detecting score 0.5, riboflavin at 10 mg/kg of body weight and/or INFβ-1a at 150 IU/g of body weight administration was started for two weeks. The brain and spinal cord levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) were studied using real-time PCR and ELISA methods. Results: BDNF expression and protein levels were increased in the brain and spinal cord of the T3 group compared with the other groups (

Riboflavin may ameliorate neurological motor disability but not spatial learning and memory impairments in murine model of multiple sclerosis

Summary: Background & aims: Riboflavin has an important role in myelin formation. This experimental study assesses the interactions between the effects of riboflavin and interferon beta-1a (INF-β1a) on motor disability, spatial learning and memory, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Methods: In the present research C57BL/6 mice (n = 56) were divided into sham and treatment groups. Riboflavin was administrated (10 mg/kg/day) orally for two weeks alone and/or combined with INF-β1a at 150 IU/g of body weight. After the induction of EAE, the animals were investigated for the clinical signs. Spatial learning and memory were assessed through the standard Morris water maze (MWM). The brain and spinal cord levels of BDNF were studied using real-time polymerase chain reactions and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, repeated measures, and generalized estimating equations model. Results: The results in the brain revealed that BDNF mRNA expression (P < 0.01) and protein levels (P < 0.05) increased in the EAE mice treated with the combination of riboflavin and INF-β1a compared to the treated groups with riboflavin or INF-β1a. Clinical scores were reduced in groups treated with riboflavin compared to other groups. EAE mice treated with riboflavin swam significantly faster in MWM compared to other groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between EAE and healthy mice in other spatial learning and memory evaluating variables. Conclusion: The data highlighted the synergistic role of riboflavin and INF-β1a in improving the disability but not spatial learning and memory mediated by BDNF in EAE. Keywords: Riboflavin, Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Memor