Effects of Satureja Khuzestanica supplementation on glycemic indices and lipid profile in type 2 diabetes patients: a randomized controlled clinical-trial.

BACKGROUND: Several studies showed the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Satureja Khuzestanica (SK) in animal models. This study aimed to determine the effect of SK supplementation on glycemic and lipid outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: The study was designed as a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial using block randomization. Seventy-eight T2DM patients were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 39) or placebo (n = 39) groups. They received SK or placebo in 500 mg capsules daily for 12 weeks. Anthropometric, blood pressure, liver enzymes, glycemic, and lipid outcomes were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: At baseline, there were no significant differences in age, sex, or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels between the groups. SK supplementation led to a significant decrease in FBS (-12.6 ± 20.7 mg/dl in the intervention group versus 3.5 ± 31.9 mg/dl; p = 0.007), HbA1c (-0.28 ± 0.45 in the intervention group versus 0.11 ± 0.54% in the placebo group; p = < 0.001), insulin (-1.65 ± 6.18 in the intervention group versus 2.09 ± 5.90 mIU/L in the placebo group; p = 0.03), total cholesterol (-14.6 ± 21.1 mg/dl in the intervention group versus 8.2 ± 30.9 mg/dl in the placebo group; p < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (-4.6 ± 15.2 mg/dl in the intervention group versus 5.8 ± 14.6 mg/dl in placebo group; p < 0.001) levels, and significant increase in HDL-cholesterol (3.9 ± 4.9 mg/dl in the intervention group versus 0.9 ± 5.2 mg/dl in placebo group; p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Based on the study results, SK supplementation may improve glycemic indices and lipid profile of patients with T2DM. Our findings may provide novel complementary treatments without adverse effects for diabetes complications. These results need to be further confirmed in clinical trials. REGISTRATION: This trial has been registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT ID: IRCT20190715044214N1, registration date: 21/02/2021).

Dietary amino acids and anthropometric indices: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

Objective: Recent studies investigated the role of amino acids (AAs) in weight management. We aimed to determine the association between AAs and three-year change of anthropometric indices and incident obesity. Materials and methods: Height, weight, hip, and waist circumference (WC) were collected at baseline and follow up. Three-year changes in anthropometric indices and obesity incident according to body mass index (BMI) (overweight & obesity) and WC cutoffs (obesity-WC) were ascertained. Dietary intakes of AAs were collected at baseline, using a food frequency questionnaire. Data analyses were conducted on 4976 adult participants and two subsamples, including 1,570 and 2,918 subjects, for assessing the AAs relationship with 3-year changes on anthropometric indices and obesity incident. Results: Lysine and aspartic acid were positively associated with higher weight change, whereas acidic AAs, cysteine, and glutamic acid showed a negative correlation with weight change. Furthermore, a weak positive correlation was shown for alkaline AAs, lysine, and valine with WC; however, acidic AAs, tryptophan, cysteine, and glutamic acid were negatively associated with WC. Aromatic and acidic AAs also demonstrated a weak negative relation with changes in BAI. Phenylalanine and Aromatic AAs showed a negative association with overweight &obesity incidence adjusting for potential confounders. Each quartile increases the dietary lysine, arginine, alanine, methionine, aspartic acid, and alkaline AAs related to a greater risk of obesity-WC, while tryptophan, glutamic acid, proline, and acidic AAs associated with lower obesity-WC risk. Conclusion: Our results suggested that certain dietary AAs may potentially change anthropometric indices and risk of obesity incident.

The Association Between Dietary Intake of Sodium, Potassium, and Na:K Ratio with the Risk of NAFLD: A Case-Control Study Among Iranian Adults.

Backgrounds: Dietary sodium (Na) and potassium (K) relationship with chronic disease has drawn more attention recently. Epidemiological studies reported controversial findings about high salt and Na diets with the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and studies about the association between K and NAFLD are scare. Present study aimed to examine the associations between dietary intake of Na, K, and Na:K ratio with the risk of NAFLD. Methods: We analyzed data from a case-control study of 225 patients with NAFLD cases and 450 controls. Dietary intake of Na and K measured using a validated 168 item food frequency questionnaire. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to report odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI) of NAFLD across tertiles of Na, K, and Na:K ratio. Results: The mean ± standard deviation of age and body mass index of participants (47% female) were 38.1 ± 8.8 years and 26.8 ± 4.3 Kg/m2. In the age- and sex-adjusted model, there was any significant association between Na, K, and Na: K ratio with the risk of NAFLD. In the final adjusted model, the OR (95%CI) of the highest vs the lowest tertiles of K, Na, and Na:K was 0.39 (0.19-0.80), 0.71 (0.40-1.25), and 1.10 (0.61-1.97), respectively. Conclusion: The present study indicates that higher dietary K was related to lower odds of NAFLD; however, there was no association between dietary Na and Na: K ratio with odds of NAFLD.

Assessment of Nutritional Status and Related Factors of Lactating Women in the Urban and Rural Areas of Southwestern Iran: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: During the lactation period, mothers are at an increased risk of nutritional deficiencies due to improper dietary patterns, physiological changes, and various socio-demographic factors. The present study aimed to examine the nutritional status, dietary intake, and related factors among lactating women in the urban and rural areas of Khorramabad, Lorestan province in the southwest of Iran. METHODS: The present population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Khorramabad (Iran) during April-July 2012. The study population included 708 lactating mothers who were referred to the health centers in Khorramabad (10 urban health centers and 30 rural health/community centers). A multi-stage sampling method was used to recruit the participants. The nutritional status and food intake of the participants were assessed over three days using the 24-hour dietary recall (24HDR) and dietary record (DR) questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16.0) with the Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, paired t test, independent t test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean age and body mass index (BMI) of the mothers were 29.78±6.24 years and 26.11±3.70 kg/m2, respectively. There was a significant difference in calorie intake between the different categories of age, BMI, education level, job status (P<0.001) and lactation stage (P=0.034). The energy and nutrient intakes, except iron and phosphor, were statistically lower (P<0.05) than the prescribed Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA). The intake of vitamins K, B1, B2, B3, and C; protein, magnesium, phosphor, zinc, copper, and iodine by mothers in the rural areas was significantly higher (P<0.05) than those in the rural areas. Higher intakes of energy and macronutrients by the lactating mothers had a significant negative correlation with an increase in age and had a significant positive correlation with a higher BMI (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Lactating women in the urban and rural areas of Khorramabad (Iran) had a poor nutritional status. Nutrition education and a modified dietary pattern during the lactation period are recommended.

Effect of vitamin D supplementation on anthropometric indices among overweight and obese women: A double blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate effect of vitamin D supplementation on anthropometric indices among women with overweight and obesity. METHODS: This double blind randomize clinical trial was conducted on 66 overweight and obese women. Those in intervention group received oral supplement of vitamin D 50,000 IU (1250 mcg) per 25 day and in control group participants received placebo for 3 months. Anthropometric indices were measured before and after 3 months intervention. Before the intervention a 24-h dietary recall (3 days) were used to assess dietary intake of individuals. Independent t test and multivariate repeated measure were used to data analysis. RESULTS: The mean difference of anthropometric indices, serum calcium, 25 (OH) D3 and serum PTH between the intervention and control groups were significant (P < 0/05). However, no significant differences in serum phosphorus between the intervention and control groups were seen. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with vitamin D 50 µg for each day for 3 months resulted in a significant reduction in anthropometric indices in women with obesity and overweight with normal primary 25(OH) D3 serum levels.

Dietary amino acids and anthropometric indices: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

ABSTRACT Objective: Recent studies investigated the role of amino acids (AAs) in weight management. We aimed to determine the association between AAs and three-year change of anthropometric indices and incident obesity. Materials and methods: Height, weight, hip, and waist circumference (WC) were collected at baseline and follow up. Three-year changes in anthropometric indices and obesity incident according to body mass index (BMI) (overweight & obesity) and WC cutoffs (obesity-WC) were ascertained. Dietary intakes of AAs were collected at baseline, using a food frequency questionnaire. Data analyses were conducted on 4976 adult participants and two subsamples, including 1,570 and 2,918 subjects, for assessing the AAs relationship with 3-year changes on anthropometric indices and obesity incident. Results: Lysine and aspartic acid were positively associated with higher weight change, whereas acidic AAs, cysteine, and glutamic acid showed a negative correlation with weight change. Furthermore, a weak positive correlation was shown for alkaline AAs, lysine, and valine with WC; however, acidic AAs, tryptophan, cysteine, and glutamic acid were negatively associated with WC. Aromatic and acidic AAs also demonstrated a weak negative relation with changes in BAI. Phenylalanine and Aromatic AAs showed a negative association with overweight &obesity incidence adjusting for potential confounders. Each quartile increases the dietary lysine, arginine, alanine, methionine, aspartic acid, and alkaline AAs related to a greater risk of obesity-WC, while tryptophan, glutamic acid, proline, and acidic AAs associated with lower obesity-WC risk. Conclusion: Our results suggested that certain dietary AAs may potentially change anthropometric indices and risk of obesity incident.

Prevalence of anemia and its risk factors among pregnant women in Khorramabad (Iran) 2010-2014.

PURPOSE: Anemia's adverse effects on physical and behavioral development and on the reduction of efficiency have been proven. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women referred to the health care centers of Khorramabad from 2010 to 2014. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 2821 prenatal care cases of pregnant women referred to health care centers of Khorramabad were studied. Studied variables included the following: hemoglobin, hematocrit, age, parity, trimester of pregnancy status, number of deliveries, number of abortions, number of children, weight, height, time gap from previous delivery, negative RH, history of eclampsia/preeclampsia, coagulation disorder and blood pressure. RESULTS: The mean age of the studied women was 26.7 ± 5.5. The mean levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit from the population was 12 ± 1.1 and 36.1 ± 9.2, respectively. The prevalence of anemia was 16.8%. Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women referred to health care centers of Khorramabad was found to be high. CONCLUSIONS: Staff working at different parts of health care centers were advised to pay more attention to this problem. They should also try to control and treat anemia by regular distribution of iron supplements among women referred to health care centers.

Dairy product consumption and the metabolic syndrome.

AIMS: To briefly summarize findings from epidemiological studies on the relationship between dairy product consumption and the metabolic syndrome(MetS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search for relevant literature was undertaken on Web of Science, Google scholar, Pubmed (2000 to July 2013), to identify observational studies which examined the association between dairy intake and MetS (prevalence or incidence), and for any randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of dairy intake on MetS. RESULTS: Here we review the physiological effects and possible mechanisms involved of three main dairy constituents (calcium (Ca), protein, fat) on important components of the MetS. Effects of Ca may be related to intestinal binding to fatty acids or bile acids, or to changes in intracellular Ca metabolism by suppressing calciotropic hormones. Dietary proteins may increase satiety in both the short and longer term, which may result in a reduced energy intake. Dairy proteins are precursors of angiotensin-I converting enzyme-inhibitory peptides, which may lower blood pressure. To reduce the intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA), the consumption of low-fat instead of high-fat dairy products is recommended. CONCLUSION: More research is warranted to better understand the physiological effects and the mechanisms involved of dairy products in the prevention and treatment of the MetS.

What is the best biomarker for metabolic syndrome diagnosis?

AIMS: There are three definitions belong to metabolic syndrome (MetS). These definitions have some differences that make some problem for MetS diagnosis criteria. So a new diagnosis marker can help to MetS diagnosis. The aim of this study was the assess of serum levels of leptin, total adiponectin, high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, and their ratio with MetS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched Science direct, Pubmed, and Google Scholar for related articles in English. Review studies excluded. RESULTS: Of 1827 articles found, 16 articles met our inclusion criteria. leptin is higher in MetS group but adiponectin is lower (<4 µg/ml) and it shows the paradoxical effect of them in MetS. Higher L/A ratio is a better biomarker for MetS diagnosis criteria than leptin and adiponectin separately. HMW adiponectin (<2.5 µg/ml) can be the most reliable biomarker for MetS diagnosis criteria. CONCLUSION: Our systematic review showed that HMW adiponectin and Leptin to adiponectin ratio should be the best biomarkers for MetS.