Fenugreek: A therapeutic complement for patients with borderline hyperlipidemia: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial

Objective: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a medicinal plant from Fabaceae family. This clinical study was designed to evaluate the effects of Fenugreek seeds supplementation on serum biochemical parameters of patients with borderline hyperlipidemia. Materials and methods: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 56 patients with borderline hyperlipidemia that were divided in two groups: F group received 8 g Fenugreek seeds powder sachets and P group received placebo sachets daily for 8 weeks. After 2 months, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated and compared with the baseline. Results: After 2 months, TG, TC, LDL and FBG significantly decreased in F group in comparison with P group, but these changes were not significant in HDL and BMI. Conclusion: Our findings showed that Fenugreek seeds supplementation, as a phenolic-rich herb can be effective in the reduction of some lipid profile in patients with borderline hyperlipidemi

Assessment of Household Food Security and its Relationship with Some Pregnancy Complications

Background and purpose: Household food insecurity is defined as limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate and safe food or limited ability to obtain foods in socially acceptable ways. Household food insecurity is associated with weight especially in women, so, this study aimed at determining the relationship between household food security status and gestational weight gain and weight-related complications in pregnancy. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014 in 700 mothers attending health centers in Tehran. Questionnaires of household food security US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and general information were used for data collection. Chi-square, independent sample T-test and logistic regression were also applied for statistical analysis. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of food insecurity among mothers was 34.8%. There were 25.4% of mothers who were found with food insecurity without hunger. Among the subjects food insecurity with moderate hunger was observed in 8% and 1.4% were seen with food insecurity with severe hunger. Socio-economic survey showed that mothers with household food-insecurity were young housewives with lower education who had many children and low incomes. Based on the final logistic regression model and after adjusting the confounding variables, food insecurity was found associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (OR= 2.12, CI 1.36 - 3.33) and pregnancy induced hypertension (OR= 1.64, CI 1.01 to 2.67) but not associated with risk of proteinuria (P>0.05). Conclusion: According to findings living in food insecure households may increase the risk of pregnancy complications

Association between eating disorders and body image in athletes and non-athlete students in Qazvin University of Medical Sciences

Background: Body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders are of common problems in adolescence and adulthood especially among athletes. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association of eating disorders and body image in athletes and non-athlete students in Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 226 athlete students and 350 non-athlete students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences during 2013-2014. Students who followed a specific sport field and had participated in at least one sport event were considered as athlete students. All athlete students were entered the study by census method. Non-athlete students were selected among students who had not any exercise activity and by random sampling method. Data were collected through demographic questionnaire, Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), and Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ). Data were analyzed using T-test and Chi-square test. Results: Mean age was 21.92±3.19 years and mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.24±3.18 kg/m2. The frequency of eating disorders was 11.5% among the athlete students and 11.2% among the nonathlete students. Anorexia nervosa was found to be more prevalent than bulimia nervosa in both groups. The students with normal BMI had better body image perception and less eating disorders symptoms than other students. The association of age, educational level, and gender with eating disorders and body image was not statistically significant. The association of eating disorders and body image was not statistically significant. Eating disorders were more prevalent in males than females but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: With regards to the results, it seems that eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction are relatively prevalent among both athletes and non-athlete students and BMI is predictor of eating disorders. Keywords: Athletes, Body Image, Eating, Student

Association of Infant Exclusive Breast Feeding with Household Food Security and Maternal Mental Health

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is emphasized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most desirable way of infant feeding in the first 6 months. EBF has beneficial health effects on mothers and infants. The aim of this study was to examine factors influencing EBF, with emphasis on household food security status and maternal mental health. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 325 women referring to community health centers in west Tehran. Data were collected using questionnaires, including Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) 18-item questionnaire. The data was analyzed using both descriptive and analytical methods such as the chi-squared test, t test and logistic regression with SPSS 22. Results: The prevalence of EBF was 82.5% (CI = 0.70, 0.94), 63.9% (CI = 0.57, 0.70) and 72.3% (CI = 0.62, 0.82) in 3-month, 3-6-month and 6-8-month-old infants, respectively. The results of this study showed a significant association between EBF and infant gender satisfaction (P < 0.001, OR = 4.85, CI = 2.12, 11.12), economic satisfaction score (P = 0.028, OR = 0.82, CI = 0.69, 0.98), infant birth weight (P = 0.013, OR = 0.99, CI = 0.99, 1.00) and unwanted pregnancy (P = 0.098, OR = 1.82, CI = 0.89, 3.70). However, we did not find any significant association between EBF and other variables such as household food security status, mother’s postpartum depression, parents’ education and age, type of delivery and pregnancy numbers. Conclusion: Infant gender satisfaction, economic satisfaction, unwanted pregnancy and infant birth weight were the significant factors for predicting EBF in this study. Since EBF is important for infants and mothers’ health, policy-makers should devise strategies to promote and encourage EBF in the society. Keywords: Exclusive breast feeding, Food insecurity, Postpartum depression, Socio-economic, Unwanted pregnanc

Household food insecurity associations with pregnancy hypertension, diabetes mellitus and infant birth anthropometric measures: a cross-sectional study of Iranian mothers

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between food insecurity on pregnancy and its outcomes. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 700 Iranian mothers. Household socioeconomic status, prenatal information and household food security status were assessed using questionnaires. Data analysis was applied by SPSS version 22. Results: The results of the study showed a significant association between food insecurity with gestational diabetes mellitus. The results also showed a significant association between birth weight, and height with pregnancy-induced hypertension. Conclusion: food insecure women should be recognized, and receive appropriate training and assistance