ABSTRACT
Due to the adverse effects of obesity and overweight on health status of people, organizations that provide daily food aim for a healthy Body Mass Index among their staff. The purpose of this applied randomized controlled trial [RCT] was to study the effect of modifications in the food service section and nutritional intervention on the BMI of staff in an industrial center. In this applied randomized controlled trial which lasted for 40 days, 116 overweight people [BMI >/= 26] were randomly selected and divided into control and test groups. Individual daily food plan was prepared by a dietitian and nutritional education sessions were held for test group. At the management level, food menu was modified reduce the calorie intake by at least 1000 Kcal per day for the test group and also cost less for the center. The kitchen staffs were trained to promote healthy cooking and improving the food taste. The satisfaction level of food service was also evaluated before and after the intervention, using a questionnaire. To analyze the findings, SPSS 16 software, independent t-test and paired t-test, and Macnemar test were used. The results showed that BMI in test group decreased from 27.5 +/- 2.36 to 26.8 +/- 2.15 [p<0.05], while in control group increased by 0.5 Kg/m[2]. Similar result was observed in weight change. The level of satisfaction of food service following changes in the menu increased significantly in both groups. Also, cost of food and use of fat were reduced by 15% and 8%, respectively. Dietary interventions and improving the nutritional knowledge along with modification in food service system could result in better weight management in organization staff using canteen food
ABSTRACT
Multiple Sclerosis [MS] is the most prevalent autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, and it has been suggested that nutrition might play a role in the etiology of MS. This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between MS risk and intake of some macro- and micro-nutrients in Tehran [Iran]. In this hospital based, case-control study, a total of 60 newly diagnosed patients with MS and 140 controls underwent face-to-face interviews. Information regarding the usual dietary intake of each individual in the past year was collected by using a valid and reliable 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Inverse significant associations were observed [P< 0.05] between the intake of protein [OR=0.19; 95% CI: 0.04- 0.76] and micro-nutrients such as vitamin B1 [OR=0.10; 95% CI: 0.02-0.53], vitamin B2 [OR=0.15; 95% CI: 0.04-0.50], cobalamin [OR=0.13; 95% CI: 0.04-0.38], vitamin C [OR=0.20; 95% CI: 0.07-0.58], vitamin A [OR=0.23; 95% CI: 0.09- 0.59], vitamin D [OR=0.28; 95% CI: 0.11-0.72], vitamin E [OR=0.15; 95% CI: 0.05-0.41], beta-carotene [OR=0.38; 95% CI: 0.15-0.97], zinc [OR=0.05; 95% CI: 0.01-0.27], magnesium [OR=0.12; 95% CI: 0.03-0.47] and calcium [OR=0.23; 95% CI: 0.08-0.67] and the risk of MS. The results suggest that intake of some macro- and micro-nutrients might be associated with reduced risk of MS. It seems promising that intake of nutrients at least in the dietary reference levels may decrease the risk of MS
ABSTRACT
This study was designed to investigate the association between parental behavior and the dietary intake of Tehranian preschool children aged 2-6 years. In a cross-sectional study conducted on 310 children aged 2-6 years from the kindergartens of 22 districts of Tehran, a qualitative validated 85-item food frequency questionnaire was completed by interviewing with their parents. Also the effect of parental behavior on the children's dietary intake was assessed using a validated comprehensive feeding practices questionnaire [CFPQ]. 47 and 53% of children were girls and boys, respectively. Among the parental behavior patterns, encouraging children to eat healthy foods, using food rewards, teaching and talking with children about the value of foods, encouraging the children to participate in food purchasing and preparation, making available the healthy foods, parental controlling behavior, child's control, restricted behaviors because of having weight loss diet, and role modeling were significantly associated with the dietary intake of food groups [P<0.05]. Any effort to promote children's dietary intake needs considering the role of parents in the development of feeding patterns, and interest in children to consume healthy foods
ABSTRACT
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 [all offices of the company]. The head of company provided a list of workers, and the proportion of 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 patterns were 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 workers
ABSTRACT
Strategies for weight reduction often promote lifestyle changes like encouraging participation in physical activity. Also there is some evidence suggesting an association between insomnia and physical activity level and probable beneficial effect of magnesium supplementation on insomnia. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of magnesium supplementation on physical activity level in insomniac elderly subjects. A double blind randomized clinical trial was conducted in 46 overweight or obese subjects, randomly allocated into the magnesium or the placebo group and received 500 mg magnesium or placebo daily for 8 weeks. Questionnaires of insomnia severity index [ISI], physical activity and sleep-log were completed and serum magnesium measured at baseline and after the intervention period. Anthropometric confounding factors, daily intake of magnesium, calcium, potassium, caffeine, calorie form carbohydrates, fat, protein and total calorie intake, were obtained using 24-hrs recall for 3- days. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS-19 software. No significant differences were observed in assessed variables between the two groups at the baseline. According to our research magnesium supplementation significantly increased sleep indices and physical activity level, also resulted in significantly decrease of total calorie intake in magnesium group. Although serum magnesium concentration and weight did not show any differences. In the present study magnesium supplementation resulted in improvement of sleep indices and physical activity level in elderly subjects. Although according to our short term intervention no significant beneficial effect was observed on subject's weight
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The present research aims to validate and discuss the reliability of Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire [CFPQ]. In this cross-sectional study, 150 mothers with 3-6 year old children in the city of Rasht were selected through cluster random sampling from the public and private kindergartens in 2010. After being confident about the translation validity, the degree of validation [content and structure] and validity [test-retest reliability and internal consistency] of the questionnaire was examined. The degree of validation of questionnaire content, except questions 2, 16 and 46, was at a high level and these three questions were omitted. The method of the consistency of factors and total scores of the questionnaire was used to study the validation of structure, which was satisfactory and varied between 0.30-0.72. The validity of questionnaire was examined through test-retest and Cronbach's alpha methods. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient [ICC] was between 0.80-0.91 and Cronbach's alpha was between 0.80-0.90. In general, the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire [CFPQ] was proved to be valid and with respect to the results obtained from the present research, it can be used in the research on child diet
ABSTRACT
Healthy Nutrition has an important role in childhood. Food habits of a child probably will continue to adulthood and increase the risk of many chronic diseases. Role of parents in child nutrition as a food producer and eating pattern has recognized to most important factor of child nutrition. Recent studies have shown that the methods used by parents to child feeding have an important role in the child's diet and BMI. This paper aimed to investigate which parents use which types of parenting control practices to manage their children's nutrition. A cross-sectional survey of 208 parents with children aged 3-6 years was carried out in 30 primary schools. Measures included demographic and social factors and aspects of child feeding practices. Results showed that stay at home mothers used more modeling practices. Mothers of sons used more pressure to eat than others. Older mothers used less pressure to eat. Mothers with higher BMI used more emotion regulation strategy and less modeling. And mothers with more education used more modeling. The results showed a significant relationship between demographic and social factors with aspects of the feeding practices
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The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of diet quality indices in predicting obesity and abdominal obesity in a population in nutrition transition. This study explored the association of the Mediterranean Diet Scale [MDS], Healthy Eating Index-2005 [HEI-2005], and Diet I Quality Index-International [DQI-I] with body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference [WC] in a cross-sectional study after 6.7 years of follow-up in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study [TLGS] population. Out of 192 subjects who had BMI < 25kg/m[2] and of 283 subjects who were free of abdominal obesity at baseline, 39.6% developed overweight and obesity and 43.1% developed abdominal obesity respectively during 6.7 years of follow-up in the study population. In cross-sectional analysis, after adjusting for age, sex, energy intake, physical activity and smoking status, multivariate analysis of covariance did not show any significant results regarding the relation of the diet quality indices, BMI and WC. According to follow-up analysis, none of the indices had significant associations with BMI and WC after adjustments for confounders and baseline values of BMI and WC. Adherence to MDS, HEI-2005, and DQI-I could not predict BMI and WC in Iranian participants after 6.7 years of follow-up
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Obesity , Body Mass Index , Obesity, Abdominal , OverweightABSTRACT
Considering the decrease of omega-3 fatty acids in spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic men, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of combined docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] and vitamin E supplements on spermatogram in asthenozoospermic males. In this randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, out of 275 men who referred to Avicenna infertility clinic, fifty asthenozoospermic males, defined as less than 50% sperm motility or less than 25% with rapid progressive motility, were randomly assigned to one of two groups according to the stratified blocked randomization. Participants in the intervention group took daily 465 mg of DHA and 600 IU of vitamin E; and those in the control group took daily two placebos for 12 weeks. Sperm characteristics, dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements and physical activity were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software, the statistical tests being analysis of covariance, Student's t-test, paired-samples t-test, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney. Out of 50 participants, 22 men in the intervention group and 20 men in the control group completed the protocol of the study. Number of sperms, sperm concentration, percentage of motile sperms and percentage of motile sperms with a straight direction increased in the intervention group, as compared with the control values [p<0.05]. According to this research, combined DHA and vitamin E supplements led to increasing sperm concentration and sperm motility; however no significant changes occurred in sperm morphology and vitality in asthenozoospermic men. DHA and vitamin E, as an antioxidant, may improve sperm motility
ABSTRACT
This study assesses the accuracy of energy intake [El] reporting and its relation to anthropometric characteristics and sociodemographic factors. In addition, we attempt to identify foods for which under- or over-reporting is more prevalent. El was assessed for 187 women using a semi-quantitative 168-item food frequency questionnaire [FFQ]. Resting metabolic ate [RMR] was measured with an indirect calorimeter. We calculated the EI/RMR ratio to assess the accuracy of El reporting. This study defined under-reporters as those with an El/RMR of /= 2.4. We measured anthropometric characteristics and collected sociodemographic information. The chi-square test, ANOVA and multiple linear regressions were used or statistical analyses. Among participants, the under-reporting rate was 35.5% and the over-reporting rate was 7.5%. The El/RMR ratio was significantly higher for younger women compared to older women [P < 0.04]. Under-reporters had higher weight, waist circumference [WC], body mass index [BMI] and resting metabolism compared to accurate reporters [P < 0.05]. Resting metabolism was significantly lower among over-reporters than accurate reporters. After adjusting for energy, the consumption of fish, high-fat dairy products, hydrogenated oil, sweets and coffee was lower, whereas consumption of unsaturated oils, tea, salt and yellow vegetables was higher among under-reporters compared to accurate reporters. Under-reporting of El is more frequent than over-reporting among Iranian women. Among various factors that may affect the accuracy of El reporting, age and anthropometric characteristics might have a significant effect
ABSTRACT
Nutrition transition is a global change in quality and quantity of dietary pattern and is the most important underlying cause of chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the trend of dietary pattern in Iran, Middle East and North African countries and comparing them using the nutritional data of Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations [FAO] between 1961 and 2005. Information relating to food availability in the studied countries was obtained by using food balance sheets of FAOSTAT. Per capita food consumption for each food group in each category was obtained by dividing the available per capita energy to total population. Regional differences and trends change were evaluated using SPSS software. During the 45 years of assessment, availability of energy and all food items [except for alcohol in Iran and North Africa and solid fat in Middle East] has increased significantly. In this periods in Iran, available energy from fruits, meat and oil has increased significantly, while energy from dairy and discretionary calorie has decreased [p<0.05]. In the Middle East region, grain and fruits contribution to energy intake has decreased and contribution of oil and meat to total diet has increased [p<0.05]. In North African countries, contribution of grain group to energy intake has decreased and contribution of meat, vegetables, milk and oils has increased significantly [p<0.05]. Iranian dietary habits has had some positive changes through increase in fruit intake and decrease in free sugar consumption; however, high energy intake and decreased in dairy consumption can predispose Iranians to increased risk of chronic diseases. High energy, free sugar, meat and dairy consumption in Middle East and North Africa show the shift in dietary pattern toward an unhealthy western diet. However, future investigations are suggested