Resveratrol and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D co-administration protects the heart against D-galactose-induced aging in rats: evaluation of serum and cardiac levels of klotho.

The current study investigates the cooperative cardioprotective effect of calcitriol (active form of vitamin D) combined with resveratrol in a rat model of D-galactose (D.gal)-induced aging. Male Wistar rats received resveratrol (D.gal + Res), calcitriol (D.gal + Cal), or a combination of them (D.gal + Res + Cal). Intact animals served as control (Ctl). Blood pressure (BP) was recorded by cannulation of the left carotid artery. Fibrosis and cell size were assessed by Masson's trichrome and hematoxylin-eosin staining, respectively. Cardiac and serum level of antiaging protein, klotho, was measured by ELISA assay method. Gene expression was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. Biochemical tests were performed according to the standardized method. In D.gal + Res + Cal group, BP, heart weight-to-body weight ratio, and cardiomyocytes size decreased significantly compared with D-gal group. The cardiac transcription levels of catalase and superoxide dismutase 1 and 2 were upregulated in D.gal + Res + Cal compared to the D.gal group (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, respectively). Increased level of malondialdehyde was observed in D.gal group (P < 0.01 vs. Ctl) which was normalized partially in D.gal + Res + Cal group (P < 0.05). Catalase and superoxide dismutase activity also increased in D.gal + Res + Cal group (P < 0.01 vs. D.gal). Cardiac Klotho, as the antiaging protein, remained unchanged at mRNA and protein levels among the experimental groups. The serum level of Klotho did not change significantly in D.gal group; however, in D.gal + Res + Cal group, serum klotho concentration was increased (P < 0.05 vs. D.gal). It could be concluded that co-administration of resveratrol and vitamin D protects the heart against aging-induced damage by the modulation of hemodynamic parameters and antioxidant status of the heart. Furthermore, increased serum level of klotho could be a novel mechanism for antiaging effects of resveratrol and vitamin D.

A nutritional status survey of older adults in long-term care in the Yazd province of Iran.

It is important to assess the nutritional status of older adults because of its role in ensuring health and quality of life and its association with functional status. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of an older adult population living in long-term care institutions in the Yazd province of Iran. Fifty elderly subjects were randomly selected from each of two long-term care institutions in Yazd. A 3-day food intake survey was conducted using the direct weighing method and anthropometric measurements for calculating body mass index (BMI) were also collected. Of the participants, 54% of women and 41% of men had a BMI less than 19.9 kg/m(2). The mean intakes of energy, protein, vitamins A and C, riboflavin, and niacin as well as the minerals calcium, phosphorus, and iron, were significantly less than Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for both genders. Thiamin intake was more than adequate in both women and men. In our study, the majority of elderly subjects displayed a poor reported nutritional intake according to the DRIs. Our findings support the development of national nutrition plans for older adults living in long-term care institutions as an important necessity.

The effect of a new mixture of sugar and sugar-alcohols compared to sucrose and glucose on blood glucose increase and the possible adverse reactions: A phase I double-blind, three-way randomized cross-over clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Several sweeteners are introduced to replace sucrose in the human diet. However, they had their own limitations and concerns, particularly in terms of their taste and their long-term health consequences. This study examined the effect of a new mixture of sugars and sugar alcohol on the postprandial blood glucose levels and its possible gastrointestinal (GI) adverse reactions in human adults. METHODS: In this double-blind three-way randomized clinical trial, adults (21 with type 2 diabetes and 20 healthy) received 300ml of three beverages containing 50g glucose, sucrose, and lacritose (a mixture of lactose, fructose, sucrose, and erythritol) when they were in the fasted state in a random order. Postprandial serum glucose was checked every 30min up to 2h and the gastrointestinal reactions were collected. RESULTS: The mean serum glucose was significantly lower in all time points after ingestion of the lacritose for participants with type 2 diabetes compared to glucose and sucrose (P<0.05). The blood glucose levels were significantly lower in the 30th and 60th min for healthy subjects (P<0.05). Adverse GI reactions were not significant between the test beverages. CONCLUSIONS: The ingestion of a 50g dose of lacritose containing lactose, fructose, sucrose, and erythritol, led to an improved blood glucose levels without any significant adverse effect compared to the same amount of glucose and sucrose. Studying the long-term effects of lacritose on appetite, metabolic markers and adverse reactions is recommended. The trial was registered in Iranian registry of clinical trials: IRCT2015050912571N2.

Relationship Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Markers of Metabolic Syndrome Among Overweight and Obese Adults.

In recent years, metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease has had a tremendous elevation growth. Many studies have demonstrated negative correlation between vitamin D deficiency and indexes of metabolic syndrome in obese patients. This study was designed to find the relation between vitamin D deficiency and markers of metabolic syndrome among overweight and obese adults referred to obesity center of Shahid Sadoughi hospital in 2014. Eighty-nine overweight and obese adults (79 women and 10 men), who 13 subjects were overweight and 76 subjects were obese were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, plasma glucose and vitamin D were measured. IDF criteria were used for identifying subjects with metabolic syndrome. Demographic questionnaire was completed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.0. Fisher exact test, logistic regression, and Spearman correlation coefficient were used. The frequency of vitamin D deficiency was 93.2%. According to IDF criteria, the frequency of metabolic syndrome was 36%. There was no significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and metabolic syndrome. Among metabolic syndrome indicators, there was a significant direct relationship between vitamin D level with FBS (P=0.013) and SBP (P=0.023). There was no significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and metabolic syndrome. Due to the lack of relationship between vitamin D deficiency and metabolic syndrome, small number of participants in this study and very low case of normal vitamin D level, further studies are needed.

Olive and sesame oil effect on lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic patients, which better?

BACKGROUND: The study on natural substances especially, dietary components such as liquid oils affecting cholesterol can be important for therapeutic propose. Sesame seeds with various biomedical actions can be control the hypercholesterolemia. On the other hand, olive oil has a wide range of therapeutic effect on lipid profile in human. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare lipid profile changes after olive and sesame oils consumption in hypercholesterolemia. METHODS: This study was a clinical randomized trial that was performed via parallel design on 48 patients. The patients were randomly allocated in to two groups: A: olive oil and B: sesame oil. After 1 month prescription of Step I National Cholesterol Education Program diet, patients consumed 4 table spoons aprox. 60 g) of refined olive or sesame oil daily as an exchange of other oils, for 1 month. Lipid profiles The P < 0.05 was considered as significant difference. RESULTS: Out of 48 patients, 24 (50%) were men. The mean age was 41.7 ± 8.3 years. The mean of total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, before oil consumption was 224.5 ± 22, 256 ± 132, 132.6 ± 9, and 44.5 ± 11 mg/dl. After olive oil consumption cholesterol, TG, LDL-C, weight, waist and BMI were decreased and HDL-C was increased. After sesame oil consumption cholesterol, TG, LDL-C were significantly decreased. Weight, waist were decreased and HDL-C was increased (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sesame oil had equivalent effect on lipid profile in comparison olive oil and lipid profile improvement was better in sesame oil in LDL-C and TG.