Effects of Spirulina supplementation in patients with ulcerative colitis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.

AIM: We conducted a randomized placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of Spirulina (SP) supplementation on disease activity, health-related quality of life, antioxidant status, and serum pentraxin 3 (PTX-3) levels in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Eighty patients with UC were randomly assigned to consume either 1 g/day (two 500 mg capsules/day) of SP (n = 40) or control (n = 40) for 8 weeks. Dietary intakes, physical activity, disease activity, health-related quality of life, antioxidant status, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and serum PTX-3 levels were assessed and compared between groups at baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients (91.3%) completed the trial. We observed increases in serum total antioxidant capacity levels in the SP supplementation group compared to the control group after 8 weeks of intervention (p ≤ 0.001). A within-group comparison indicated a trend towards a higher health-related quality of life score after 8 weeks of taking two different supplements, SP (p < 0.001) and PL (p = 0.012), respectively. However, there were no significant changes in participant's disease activity score in response to SP administration (p > 0.05). Similarly, changes in ESR and PTX-3 levels were comparable between groups post-intervention (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SP improved antioxidant capacity status and health-related quality of life in patients with UC. Our findings suggest that SP supplementation may be effective as an adjuvant treatment for managing patients with UC. Larger trials with longer interventions periods are required to confirm our findings.

Graphite/carbon-doped TiO2 nanocomposite synthesized by ultrasound for the degradation of diclofenac.

Graphite/C-doped TiO2 nanocomposite was synthesized at room temperature using a simple, impressive, and indirect sonication (20 kHz) by the cup horn system. Tetrabutyltitanate as the precursor of titanium and graphite (G) as the carbon source was used in the preparation of nanocomposite as a photocatalyst. The molar ratio of G/TiO2 as a key parameter was investigated in the synthesis of G/C-doped TiO2. The obtained materials were widely characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, XPS, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance techniques. The UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy results showed that the edge of light absorption of nanocomposite was distinctly red-shifted to the visible area via carbon doping. The XPS outcomes acknowledged the existence of the C, Ti, and O in the photocatalyst. The composite showed an enhancement in the dissociation efficiency of photoinduced charge carriers through the doping process. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized nanocomposite was checked with diclofenac (DCF) as a pharmaceutical contaminant. The results displayed that G/C-doped TiO2 represented better photocatalytic performance for DCF than TiO2. This was due to the excellent crystallization, intense absorption of visible light, and the impressive separation of photoinduced charge carriers. Various active species such as •OH, •O2¯, h+, and H2O2 play a role in the degradation of DFC. Therefore, different scavengers were used and the role of each one in degradation was investigated. According to the obtained results, •O2¯ radical showed a major role in the photocatalytic process. This work not only proposes a deep insight into the photosensitization-like mechanism by using G-based materials but also develops new photocatalysts for the removal of emerging organic pollutants from waters using sunlight as available cheap energy.

Ultra-processed food consumption and adult obesity risk: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate observational studies assessing the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and the risk of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity in the general population. We searched the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and ISI Web of Science from inception until December 2020. Data were extracted from 12 studies (nine cross-sectional and three cohort studies). Odds ratio (OR) were pooled using a random-effects model. UPF consumption was associated with an increased risk of obesity (OR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.36, 1.77; I2 = 55%), overweight (OR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.63; I2 = 73%), and abdominal obesity (OR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.68; I2 = 62%). Furthermore, every 10% increase of UPF consumption in daily calorie intake was associated with a 7%, a 6%, and a 5% higher risk of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, respectively. Dose-response meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies showed a positive linear association between UPF consumption and abdominal obesity. There was also a positive linear association between UPF consumption and risk of overweight/obesity in the analysis of cross-sectional studies and a positive monotonic association in the analysis of cohort studies. Our study suggests that UPF consumption is associated with an increased risk of excess weight or abdominal obesity.

Effects of synbiotic supplementation on anthropometric indices and body composition in overweight or obese children and adolescents: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Recently, beneficial effects of probiotics and/or prebiotics on cardio-metabolic risk factors in adults have been shown. However, existing evidence has not been fully established for pediatric age groups. This study aimed to assess the effect of synbiotic on anthropometric indices and body composition in overweight or obese children and adolescents. METHODS: This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 60 participants aged 8-18 years with a body mass index (BMI) equal to or higher than the 85th percentile. Participants were randomly divided into two groups that received either a synbiotic capsule containing 6 × 109 colony forming units (CFU) Lactobacillus coagulans SC-208, 6 × 109 CFU Lactobacillus indicus HU36 and fructooligosaccharide as a prebiotic (n = 30) or a placebo (n = 30) twice a day for eight weeks. Anthropometric indices and body composition were measured at baseline and after the intervention. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation, SD) age was 11.07 (2.00) years and 11.23 (2.37) years for the placebo and synbiotic groups, respectively (P = 0.770). The waist-height ratio (WHtR) decreased significantly at the end of the intervention in comparison with baseline in the synbiotic group (0.54 ± 0.05 vs. 0.55 ± 0.05, P = 0.05). No significant changes were demonstrated in other anthropometric indices or body composition between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Synbiotic supplementation might be associated with a reduction in WHtR. There were no significant changes in other anthropometric indices or body composition.

The effect of sesame oil consumption compared to sunflower oil on lipid profile, blood pressure, and anthropometric indices in women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized double-blind controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases in the world. There is strong evidence that dyslipidemia and other cardio-metabolic disorders are highly prevalent in patients with NAFLD. This trial aimed at examining the effect of sesame oil (SO) in the context of a weight loss program on lipid profile, blood pressure, and anthropometric indices in women with NAFLD. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was carried out on 60 women with NAFLD. Subjects were randomly assigned to the SO group (n = 30) and sunflower oil (SFO) group (n = 30), each person consuming 30 g of oil per day for 12 weeks. All the participants received a hypocaloric diet (- 500 kcal/day) during the study. Lipid profile, blood pressure, and anthropometric indices were assessed at pre- and post-intervention phases. RESULTS: In total, 53 participants completed the study. Following 12 weeks of intervention, anthropometric indices (p < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased in both groups and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was significantly decreased in So group (p = 0.03). There was no significant change in lipid profile in both groups (p > 0.05). After adjusting for confounders, DBP (p = 0.031) and total cholesterol (TC) divided by high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p = 0.039) in the SO group were significantly reduced compared to the SFO group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present clinical trial revealed that SO and SFO may not differently affect anthropometric indices, SBP, and lipid profile except for TC/HDL-C. In addition, SO may be effective in improvement of DBP and TC/HDL-C compared to the SFO group. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Ethical approval of this trial was obtained at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences with the reference number of IR.MUI. RESEARCH: REC.1399.548 ( https://ethics. RESEARCH: ac.ir/ProposalCertificateEn.php?id=158942&Print=true&NoPrintHeader=true&NoPrintFooter=true&NoPrintPageBorder=true&LetterPrint=true ), and it was registered before the start of the patient recruitment on December 12th, 2020 in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with the registration number of IRCT20140208016529N6 .

The effects of sesame oil on metabolic biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Background: Clinical evidences showing the effects of sesame oil on metabolic biomarkers led to inconsistent results. Propose: This meta-analysis was designed to examine the effects of sesame oil on metabolic biomarkers in adults, including the maximum number of clinical trials. Methods: Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were systematically searched to date up to July 2021 to identify eligible clinical trial studies. We obtained the pooled estimates of weighted mean differences (WMDs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects meta-analysis. Result: Meta-analysis showed that sesame oil consumption significantly lowered the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) (WMD: -3.268 mg/dl; 95% CI: -4.677, -1.86; P < 0.001), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (WMD: -4.847 nmol/dL; 95% CI: -7.051, -2.698; P < 0.001) between the intervention and control groups. Also, this study showed sesame oil consumption significantly decreased HbA1C (WMD: -2.057%; 95% CI: -3.467, -0.646; P = 0.004), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (WMD: -2.679 mmHg; 95% CI: -5.257, -0.101; P < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (WMD: -1.981 mmHg; 95% CI: -3.916, -0.046; P = 0.045), body weight (WMD: -0.346 kg; 95% CI: -0.641, -0.051; P = 0.021), and body mass index (BMI) (WMD: -0.385 kg/m2; 95% CI:-0.721, -0.049; P = 0.025) after intervention. No significant effect was seen in serum insulin levels (p > .05). Conclusions: The current study provided some evidence regarding the beneficial effects of sesame oil on metabolic biomarkers. Further studies are still required to confirm our results. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-022-00997-2.

Sesame Oil Ameliorates Alanine Aminotransferase, Aspartate Aminotransferase, and Fatty Liver Grade in Women with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Undergoing Low-Calorie Diet: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial.

Background: The type and amount of dietary fats play an important role in fat accumulation in the liver. Sesame oil (SO) is a good source of monounsaturated acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Objective: This trial aimed at examining the effect of SO consumption on the levels of liver enzymes and the severity of fatty liver in women with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) undergoing a weight loss diet. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was carried out on 60 women with NAFLD. Subjects were randomly assigned to the SO group (n = 30) and sunflower oil (SFO) group (n = 30), each person consuming 30 grams of oil per day for 12 weeks. All the participants received a hypocaloric diet (-500 kcal/day) during the study. Fatty liver grade and liver enzymes were assessed at pre- and postintervention phases. Results: 53 patients completed the study. Significant reductions in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and fatty liver grade were observed in both groups (P < 0.05). Following SO, significant decreases in serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (AST and ALT) were observed. After adjusting for confounders, ALT, AST, and fatty liver grade of the SO group were significantly reduced compared to the SFO group (P < 0.05). However, the changes in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were not significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The desired effects of weight loss were reinforced by the consumption of SO through improving fatty liver severity and serum ALT and AST levels in NAFLD patients. Moreover, low-calorie diets may lead to favorable outcomes for NAFLD patients through mitigation of obesity and fatty liver grade.

Is any association between alternate healthy eating index (AHEI) with lipid profile and liver enzymes? A cross-sectional Study.

PURPOSE: Based on evidence, there is a significant relationship between diet quality and the chronic conditions such as dyslipidemia and liver disorders. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between alternative healthy eating index (AHEI) and some biochemical measurements (lipid profile and liver enzymes). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 127 hospital employees were randomly selected (of 250 screened volunteers). AHEI was estimated based on a 168 items food frequency questionnaire. The laboratory data [triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST)] were extracted from periodic examinations. The physical activity was also estimated with international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). RESULTS: Among 127 completed data, the mean AHEI score was 47.1. There was a direct relationship between AHEI score and HDL (P = 0.02). Among the AHEI components, the score of nuts and soybeans was directly associated with HDL level (P = 0.007). There was no association between the other AHEI components and selected biomarkers. CONCLUSION: Nuts and soybeans consumption-one unit per day-may increase HDL levels. More studies are needed to evaluate the diet quality with the other dietary indices. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-021-00898-w.

A Systematic Review of the Clinical Use of Curcumin for the Management of Gastrointestinal Diseases.

Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are highly prevalent worldwide, with considerable morbidity and mortality. Curcumin has been used for many years as a plant-derived product for the management of various conditions such as abdominal pain and poor digestion. This systematic review was undertaken with the aim of investigating the effect of curcumin or turmeric supplementation on GI diseases. A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar up to March 2020 to identify clinical trials assessing the effect of curcumin/turmeric alone or in combination with other herbs or nutrients on GI diseases. Twenty-one studies comprising 1478 GI patients were included in the study. Four out of seven studies showed a beneficial effect of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and six out of seven showed positive effects of these herbs on ulcerative colitis. Two out of four studies highlighted the potential role of curcumin/turmeric in eradication of H. pylori infection. Both studies conducted on peptic ulcer disease and two out of four studies performed on Crohn's disease demonstrated positive effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation. One study showed curcumin supplementation had no effect on familial adenomatous polyposis. However, in another study, curcumin had favorable effects on proctosigmoiditis. Nine studies reported some minor adverse effects. The results of this systematic review suggest a beneficial effect of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on the management of GI diseases. More randomized clinical controlled trials are needed to confirm these results.

The effects of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) supplementation on anthropometric indices, blood pressure, sleep quality, mental health, fatigue status and quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis: A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: An emerging body of evidence has highlighted the protective role of spirulina in human health. Thus, we conducted a randomised controlled trial to discern the effects of spirulina supplementation on anthropometric indices, blood pressure, sleep quality, mood, fatigue status and quality of life among ulcerative colitis patients. METHODS: Eighty participants with ulcerative colitis were randomly allocated to receive, either, 1 g/day (two 500 mg capsules) spirulina (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40), in a clinical trial for eight weeks. Dietary intake, physical activity, sleep quality, mental health, fatigue status and quality of life were assessed for each participant at baseline and trial cessation. Anthropometric indices and blood pressure were also assessed. RESULTS: Seventy-three participants completed the intervention. Our results revealed that spirulina supplementation significantly reduced sleep disturbances (P = .03), while no significant changes occurred in the sleep quality score or other sleep parameters, vs the placebo group (P > .05). Furthermore, a significant reduction in stress score (P = .04) and increase in quality of life (P = .03) was detected; but not anxiety, depression or fatigue scores (P > .05). Additionally, anthropometric indices and blood pressure did not significantly change (P > .05). CONCLUSION: An improved quality of life was observed among ulcerative colitis patients following spirulina supplementation, which could be attributed to improved sleep disturbance and stress status. Further clinical studies, with longer duration interventions and suitably powered sample sizes, are necessary to elucidate the veracity of our findings.

Effect of sour tea supplementation on liver enzymes, lipid profile, blood pressure, and antioxidant status in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of sour tea supplementation in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Seventy NAFLD patients were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participants received sour tea in the form of a 450 mg capsule or a placebo capsule daily for 8 weeks. Anthropometric indices, liver enzymes, lipid profile, blood pressure, and antioxidant status were evaluated at the baseline and at the end of the study. Sixty-one participants completed the study. After 8 weeks, sour tea administration significantly decreased serum triglyceride (TG) (p = .03), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p = .01), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p = .004) levels compared with the placebo. In addition, sour tea supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p = .03) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p = .04), and a significant increase in serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels (p ˂ .001) compared with the placebo. However, no significant changes in anthropometric measures, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) levels were observed after sour tea supplementation compared with the placebo (p > .05). Sour tea supplementation may be effective in improving serum TG, liver enzymes, and blood pressure in patients diagnosed with NAFLD. Further studies are needed to address the exact mechanism of action of these effects.

Dietary Inflammatory Index and the Risk of Frailty Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to comprehensively examine the association between Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) score and risk of frailty. Frailty risk were available from five studies comprising 13,908 older adults. Furthermore, frailty related parameters were extacted from two studies with 7,539 individuals. A pooled adjusted odds ratio analysis indicated that there was an association between DII® score and frailty risk (OR = 1.24, 95%CI: 1.6-1.33, P < 0.001, I2 = 0.0%). The results of frailty related parameters demonstrated that DII® score was associated with weakness risk (OR = 1.12, 95%CI: 1.05-1.19, P = 0.014, I2 = 0.0%), but not other frailty-related parameters including exhaustion, low BMI or low physical activity. The results of this meta-analysis suggest that older adults who exhibit higher DII® scores have an increased frailty risk. Further prospective cohort studies with longer follow-up periods, are needed to support this possible association between DII® score and frailty risk.

Effects of synbiotic supplementation on microbiota-derived protein-bound uremic toxins, systemic inflammation, and biochemical parameters in patients on hemodialysis: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The generation of key nephrovascular protein-bound uremic toxins, indoxyl sulfate and phenol, in hemodialysis (HD) patients is attributed to the dysbiotic gut microbiota. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of synbiotic supplementation on serum levels of indoxyl sulfate, phenol, inflammation, and biochemical parameters in HD patients. METHODS: Forty-two HD patients (synbiotic group: n = 21; placebo group: n = 21) were analyzed in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. During a 2-mo intervention, the synbiotic group received two synbiotic capsules daily, between the main meals, whereas the placebo group received maltodextrin as the placebo. Blood pressure, uremic factors, and biochemical parameters were assessed before the start and after the end of the study. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders, there was no significant effect of synbiotic on serum levels of urea, creatinine, liver enzymes, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, blood pressure, or albumin in the treatment group compared with the placebo group. A significant increase in indoxyl sulfate and parathyroid hormone levels were observed only in the treatment group. However, between-group analyses were not significant. Compared with baseline values, phenol levels were decreased in both groups (P≤001), with no significant between-group difference. CONCLUSIONS: Synbiotic supplementation might increase indoxyl sulfate and parathyroid hormone levels in HD patients.

Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Weight Loss, Glycemic Indices, and Lipid Profile in Obese and Overweight Women: A Clinical Trial Study.

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D (vit D) deficiency has defined as a health problem worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that obesity is an epidemic of the 21st century. Previous studies have shown that obesity may increase the risk of Vit D deficiency. Furthermore, other studies have demonstrated that vit D insufficiency was accompanied with higher risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and obesity. The aim of this study was to survey the effect of vit D supplementation on weight loss among overweight and obese women aged 20-40 years in Isfahan. METHODS: This double-blind clinical trial was done on 50 overweight and obese women who were divided into two groups, in which one group received vit D supplements and the other group received placebo. Intervention group received vit D with dozes 50,000 IU/w for 6 weeks. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin (ins), homeostasis model assessment of ins resistance (IR), C-reactive protein (CRP), height, weight (WT), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and blood pressure (BP) were measured before and after intervention. RESULTS: After using vit D supplementation for 6 weeks, WT, WC, and body mass index (BMI) were decreased significantly and serum vit D increased significantly compared to control group (P < 0.001). Other factors including TC, TG, LDL-c, HDL-c, FBS, CRP, ins, IR, and waist to hip ratio (WHR) did not change significantly (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: After 6 weeks of intervention, the means of WT, BMI, WC, and HC decreased significantly. Previous studies have shown that vit D deficiency was more prevalence in obese people and there was an inverse association among vit D with BMI and WC. The relationship between vit D and lipid profiles such as glycemic indexes, anthropometric indexes, CRP, and BP is not clear and needs more study in the future.

The effect of honey consumption compared with sucrose on lipid profile in young healthy subjects (randomized clinical trial).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Several studies have demonstrated that honey consumption has beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease indicators. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of honey consumption compared with sucrose on lipid profile among young healthy subjects. METHODS: Sixty healthy subjects, aged 18-30 years, were randomly recruited into this double blind randomized trial and assigned into two groups: honey (received 70 g honey per day) and sucrose (received 70 g sucrose per day) groups. Total cholesterol, TG, LDL and HDL were measured in the control and intervention groups at the beginning and end of study. RESULTS: In this trial, the baseline FBS, SBP and DBP were not different between honey and sucrose groups (P > 0.3). We found evidence indicating consumption of honey can decrease total cholesterol, TG and LDL and increase HDL in healthy young subjects, but intake of sucrose increase total cholesterol, TG and LDL and decreased HDL. In all of these analyses, confounding variable including age, physical activity and some nutrient intake were adjusted. CONCLUSIONS: Honey consumption can improve the lipid profile such as; total cholesterol, TG and LDL and increase HDL, but consumption of sucrose increases total cholesterol, TG and LDL and decreases HDL. Further clinical trial studies are required to confirm our findings.

The effect of supplementary calcium on blood pressure in healthy adult women aged 18-30 years in Tehran, Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality in developed countries and has an increasing trend in developing countries. There are some evidences that calcium supplementation may decrease blood pressure and consequently cardiovascular disease, but they are not conclusive and there is no agreement in this respect. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of supplementary calcium on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in healthy adult women aged 18-30 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five normotensive volunteers were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group received 1000 mg/day calcium (four doses of 625 mg calcium carbonate) for 1 month and the control group received placebo (dextrose). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was determined before and after intervention in supine position after 10 min of rest. RESULTS: The mean daily calcium intake from food was 773.9 mg in treatment and 721 mg in control group (no significant difference) but in both the groups dietary calcium intake was less than the recommended dietary allowance: After calcium supplementation, the mean change of systolic blood pressure was not significant in the two groups, but diastolic blood pressure reduced in treatment group and increased in control group (-4.9 vs 2.6 mmHg) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that, calcium supplementation does not have any effect on systolic blood pressure of our volunteers but can decrease diastolic blood pressure significantly and therefore it seems that calcium supplementation may be useful for people with increased diastolic blood pressure, especially for those who receive less calcium than recommended dietary allowance.

Effect of flaxseed on blood lipid level in hyperlipidemic patients.

INTRODUCTION: Hyperlipidemia is one of the most important risk factors of ischemic heart disease. Previous studies showed that flaxseed has the potential to improve lipid profiles. In this study we investigated the effects of flaxseed powder intake on lipid profiles of patients with hyperlipidemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial. Seventy patients with hyperlipidemia participated in the research. After detailed diet and lifestyle education, blood samples were collected from the participants. Patients with hyperlipidemia were randomly divided in to two intervention and control groups. The intervention group received 30 g of raw flaxseed powder every day for 40 days. Serum lipids were measured again in two groups after that time. Activity and food intakes of two groups were recorded. RESULTS: In the intervention group, weight and body mass index were considerably reduced. Total cholesterol was reduced in the intervention group and increased in the control group, both of which were significant. Low density lipoprotein significantly increased in the control group and reduced in intervention group; also, triglyceride was increased in the control group and reduced in the intervention group, which were significant Table 1. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings obtained in this research, flaxseed powder intake desirably reduced serum lipids. The differences between two groups on the basis of analysis of covariance test were significant. In all cases except for the HDL-c, this is an effective intervention. Therefore, flaxseed may be regarded as a useful therapeutic food for reducing hyperlipidemia.

Maternal self-efficacy and feeding practices in children aged 3-6 years.

OBJECTIVE: Nutrition in childhood has an important role in current and adulthood health. Recent studies have shown that the mother's lifestyle has an important role in the methods used by mother to feed child. This paper aimed to investigate the association between mother's weight efficacy lifestyle with feeding practices in children aged 3- 6 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study which was carried out in 30 primary schools of Rasht (Iran) in 2012, 165 mothers with children aged 3-6 years were participated. Mothers reported their own and their child's demographics. Aspects of mother's weight efficacy lifestyle and mother's control practices were assessed using Weight Efficacy Lifestyle (WEL) questionnaire and Comprehensive Feeding Practices questionnaire (CFPQ) respectively. Height and weight of mothers participated in the study were measured. The role of mother's weight efficacy in predicting child's feeding practices was assessed using linear regression. RESULTS: RESULTS showed that mother's weight efficacy was related to child feeding practices. The mothers with similar weight efficacy lifestyle applied similar methods in child nutrition. Mothers with better weight efficacy used more encourage balance and variety, environmental control, child involvement and less emotion regulation using foods. CONCLUSION: The result of the study showed that maternal lifestyle was associated with child feeding practices. .

The effects of soy bean flour enriched bread intake on anthropometric indices and blood pressure in type 2 diabetic women: a crossover randomized controlled clinical trial.

Previous studies showed that soy bean has the potential to improve many aspects of diabetes state and provide metabolic benefits that aid in weight management. We aimed to determine the effects of soy bean flour enriched bread on anthropometric indices and blood pressure among type 2 diabetic patients. This randomized, crossover, clinical trial was performed in 30 type 2 diabetic women. There were two trial periods for 6 weeks and a wash-out period for 4 weeks. In the soy bread diet period, 120 g of soy bean flour enriched bread was consumed each day instead of the same amount of their usual bread or other cereal products. After a 4-week wash-out period, participants were crossed over for another 6 weeks. Mean (±SD) age of study participants was 45.7 ± 3.8 years. The results of our study showed no significant effects of soy bean flour enriched bread on anthropometric indices and blood pressure among diabetic patients. Despite the slight reduction in BMI, waist circumference, and percent of body fat, there were no significant differences in changes of these values between two groups. No significant changes in waist to hip ratio and blood pressure were seen.

The effect of educational intervention on girl's behavior regarding nutrition: Applying the beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, and enabling factors.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an educational program based on the Belief, Attitude, Subjective Norm, and Enabling Factors (BASNEF) Model on the nutritional behavior among second-grade, middle school, female students in Isfahan city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 72 students. The samples were randomly divided in two groups (36 in the intervention group and 36 in the control group). The data collection tools were validated and had reliable questionnaires. For the intervention group, a 75-minute educational session was held thrice. The control group had no education. The BASNEF model constructs guided the development of the questionnaires and content of the educational sessions. The independent t-test and paired t-test were used to analyze the data. A two-tailed P value lower than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULT: According to the results, the mean scores of knowledge and model variables (Belief, Attitude, Subjective Norm, and Enabling Factors) had a significant difference in the two groups after intervention (P < 0.001). On the basis of the findings, after educational intervention, 36.1% of the students had unfavorable nutritional behavior. In the control group, 88.9% of the students had unfavorable nutritional behavior, before and one month after intervention. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that nutrition education intervention based on the BASNEF model could promote the nutritional behavior in girl students.