Effects of hazelnuts consumption on fasting blood sugar and lipoproteins in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that nuts consumption have beneficial effects on serum lipid profiles in hyperlipidemic or normolipidemic subjects. However, similar studies in diabetes field are quite rare. So, we aimed to investigate the effects of hazelnut consumption on fasting blood sugar (FBS) and lipid profiles in patients with type 2 Diabetes. Materials and Methods: An 8-week controlled randomized parallel study in patients with type 2 diabetes. Fifty eligible volunteers were assigned to either the control or intervention groups. 10% of total daily calorie intake was replaced with hazelnuts in intervention group. Blood samples were collected from fasting patients at the start and at the end of the study. Results: After 8 weeks, there were significant differences in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations between two groups, using analyses of covariance (P = 0.009), which was due to the larger HDL-C reduction in control group (P = 0.003). Although, Hazelnut group achieved greater reduction in triglyceride (TG) concentrations than control group, these changes were not statistically significant. Neither between-group changes nor within-group changes were significant for FBS, total cholesterol (TC), TG, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that incorporation of hazelnuts into diet can prevent reduction of HDL-C concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes, but had no effect on FBS or other lipid profile indices

Major Dietary patterns and related factors among workers of Oil Terminal Company in Kharg Island, Iran

This study was conducted to identify the dietary patterns among workers of Oil Terminals Company and to assess their association with socio-demographic and lifestyle factors.The sample size (392) was estimated by considering minimum correlation (r=0.2) between variables. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a representative sample of workers selected by a stratified random-sampling method (alloffices of the company). The head of company provided a list of workers, and the proportionof each center was specified via ni=ki/N × n [ni=number of participants from each center, ki=number of each center workers, N=number company workers, n= sample size (392)].Dietary pattern was identified by valid food frequency questionnaire containing 168 food items with specific serving size consumed by Iranians. Major dietary patterns analyzed by factor analysis. General characteristics across tertiles were compared by ANOVA and chi-square tests were used where appropriate. In addition, we used multivariate logestic regression tests to assess the relationship between demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle variables and the adherence to the dietary patterns. Two major dietary patternswere extracted: "Healthy pattern" characterized by high consumption of fruits, fish, yellow vegetables, potato, garlic, whole cereals, yogurt drink, and salt. The second one named "unhealthy pattern" characterized by high consumption of soft drinks, sugar, mayonnaise, sweets, eggs, butter, and processed meat, high- fat dairy products, organ meat, French fries, refined cereals, snacks and artificial juice. Work hours were positively correlated (b=0.14; p<0.01) and being single (b=-0.4, p<0.05) and full time work in comparison with part-time work (b=-0.5, p<0.01) was negatively correlated with healthy dietary pattern, whereas age (b=-0.3, p<0.05), dieting (b=-0.4, p<0.01)  and history of hyperlipidemia had negative correlation (b=-0.41, p<0.01) with unhealthy dietary pattern.Our findings show the association between socio-demographic, lifestyle factors and dietary patterns of the worker

High-cocoa polyphenol-rich chocolate improves blood pressure in patients with diabetes and hypertension

BACKGROUND: The aim was to examine the effects of high-cocoa polyphenol-rich chocolate on lipid profiles, weight, blood pressure, glycemic control, and inflammation in individuals with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. METHODS: Sixty individuals [32 in dark chocolate group (DCG) and 28 in white chocolate group (WCG)] with Type 2 diabetes on stable medication were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind study. Subjects were randomized to consume 25 g DCG or WCG for 8 weeks. Changes in weight, blood pressure, glycemic control, lipid profile, and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured at the beginning and end of the intervention. This clinical trial was registered at the Iranian registry of clinical trials. RESULTS: In DCC group, compared with baseline, serum levels of Apo A-1 (P = 0.045) was increased and fasting blood sugar (FBS) (P = 0.027), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (P = 0.025), Apo B (P = 0.012) and Log of hsCRP (P = 0.043) levels were decreased at the end of study. No changes were seen within the WCG in studied parameters. High polyphenol chocolate consumption compared to white chocolate resulted in significant decrease in of systolic (&minus;5.93 &plusmn; 6.25 vs. &minus;1.07 &plusmn; 7.97 mmHg, P = 0.004) and diastolic blood pressure (&minus;6.4 &plusmn; 6.25 vs. 0.17 &plusmn; 7.9 mmHg, P = 0.002), FBS (&minus;7.84 &plusmn; 19.15 vs. 4.00 &plusmn; 20.58 mg/dl, P = 0.019) over the course of 8 weeks of daily chocolate consumption neither weight nor body mass index and TG levels altered from baseline. CONCLUSION: High polyphenol chocolate is effective in improving TG levels in hypertensive patients with diabetes and decreasing blood pressure and FBS without affecting weight, inflammatory markers, insulin resistance or glycemic control. &nbsp;&nbsp; Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE FA <!--[endif] --

EFFECT OF SOY LECITHIN ON SERUM LIPID PARAMETERS OF HYPERLIPIDEMIC POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN REFERRING TO SHAHID FAGHIHEE HOSPITAL OF SHIRAZ UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

Abstract &nbsp;&nbsp; BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Hyperlipidemia, as one of the main causes of CVD, has been diagnosed in nearly one third of Iranian middle aged women. Menopause manifests wide range of physiologic changes in women, most important of which is hyperlipidemia. Appropriate nutritional interventions can prevent or postpone some cardiovascular events in postmenopausal women. This randomized double blind clinical trial aimed to examine the effect of soy lecithin on serum lipid parameters of hyperlipidemic postmenopausal women. &nbsp;&nbsp; METHOD AND MATERIALS: Sixty free living postmenopausal women, aged 50-60 years, with mild to moderate hyperlipidemia entered the study. Subjects were randomly assigned in one of three treatments: yogurt; or: yogurt with 16g soy lecithin granules; or: yogurt with 10g sunflower oil, containing equal amount of linoleic acid and energy as the administered lecithin. Strawberry syrup was added to ensure blindness. To assess the effects of confounding factors, BMI and waist circumference were measured. Intake of some dietary factors (energy, macronutrients, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol, calcium and fiber) were assessed using 24 hr-food recall and 3-day food record questionnaires. Changes in physical activity level were assessed by seven day-physical activity recall questionnaire. Serum lipid parameters (TC, Non-HDL.C, LDL.C, HDL.C and TG) were measured twice at baseline and 4 weeks of treatment. &nbsp;&nbsp; RESULTS: There was no significant difference between treatment groups, but a significant decrease was found within the intervention group (lecithin) in the average level of TC (252.33 &plusmn; 24.02 vs. 255.22 &plusmn; 24.82 mg/dl and P = 0.02), LDL.C/HDL.C (3.99 &plusmn; 0.50 vs. 4.17 &plusmn; 0.56 mg/dl and P = 0.001) and Non.HDL.C (211.94 &plusmn; 23.94 vs. 216.00 &plusmn; 23.73 mg/dl and P = 0.005) and accompanying significant increase in serum HDL.C level (40.39 &plusmn; 5.21 vs. 39.22 &plusmn; 5.58 mg/dl and P = 0.04). Likewise, no significant change was found in serum lipid profile within the control group І (sunflower oil). Decreasing LDL.C/HDL.C level (4.18 &plusmn; 0.40 vs. 4.24 &plusmn; 0.43 mg/dl and P = 0.03) was the only significant change in serum lipid profile of control group ІІ (yogurt).&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; CONCLUSION: Soy lecithin treatment had no significant hypocholesterolemic effect on serum lipid profile, in a way that we can not claim any independent effect for lecithin's linoleic acid content. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Keywords: soy lecithin, hyperlipidemic, menopause, linoleic acid, lipid profile. &nbsp;</p

The effect of quercetin on plasma oxidative status, C-reactive protein and blood pressure in women with rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Considering the increased production of free radicals and inflammatory factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the effects of bioflavonoid quercetin on reducing oxidative stress, inflammation and blood pressure, the present study examined the effects of bioflavonoid quercetin on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of plasma, lipid peroxidation and blood pressure in women with RA. Methods: The current study was a randomized double-blind clinical trial in which 51 women with RA aged 19-70 years, were participated. Patients were assigned into quercetin (500 mg/day) or placebo groups for 8 weeks. Dietary intake was recorded using 24-h dietary recall questionnaire and the physical activity was assessed through an international short questionnaire of physical activity at the beginning and end of the study. Plasma TAC and malondialdehyde (MDA) using colorimetric method, oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method and also blood pressure were measured at the beginning and end of intervention. Results: After 8 weeks there were no significant differences in TAC of plasma, ox-LDL, MDA, hs-CRP, systolic and diastolic blood pressure between quercetin and placebo groups and in each group comparing before and after. Conclusions: In this study, quercetin had no effect on oxidative and inflammatory status of plasma and blood pressure in patients with RA. Further studies are needed to ensure the effect of quercetin on oxidative stress and inflammation in human