Changes of the body weight, fat mass and aerobic capacity and energy intake, following the skipped meal in young women

Young girls often intend to use food restricted diets to loose their body weight and to be fit. This study was carried out in order to determine the effect of food restriction on the changes of body weight, body fatness, aerobic capacity and energy intake in young women in Tehran. In a Quasi-experimental study, 40 volunteers were selected from girl students. Their weight, height, body fatness [by measuring Triceps Skin fold [TSF] Thickness], aerobic capacity [VO2max] and energy intake were measured at the beginning of the study. The students were asked to skip one of their meals per day for a period of four weeks. At the end of 4 weeks, all variables were measured again and compared with the previous data. Data were analyzed using paired t test. No significant differences were seen in weight, BMI, TSF and VO2max [P > 0.05]. We also did not find any significant difference in energy intake following the skipped meal in young women [P > 0.05]. The results of this study demonstrate that the food restriction for four weeks in young women has no significant effect in body weight and fatness. It seems that there is a physiological adaptation in energy intake and expenditure

Dermatitis caused by Simulium [Blackflies] bite

A 32-year-old man was attacked by flies while camping around Khorram Abad, Lorestan Province, western Iran. Pruritic dermatitis with marked edema and considerable discomfort appeared mainly on the lower legs. The flies were identified as Simulium. Simuliids are tiny bloodsucking flies, popularly known as blackflies or buffalo flies, belonging to the dipterous, family Simulidae. They are occurred worldwide, breed in fast-flowing streams, and are a major animal pest

effect of ascorbic acid on serum level of copper, zinc, ceruloplasmin enzyme activity and iron parameters in men

Undue use of vitamin C has resulted concerns over some the harmful effects of it. To examine the effect of vitamin C on serum level of copper, zinc, iron parameters, and the ceruloplasmin enzyme activity. This was a double-blind clinical trial carried out in 1999 in Iran Research Institute for Nutrition and Food Sciences in healthy men. Volunteers were divided into 3 groups. Ascorbic acid was given to first two groups at the concentrations of 500mg/day and 1000 mg/day, respectively. No ascorbic acid was delivered to the third group [control group]. Fastting blood samples were collected in the beginning and at the end of the study period [6th week]. Copper and zinc concentrations were determined by atomic absorption; ceruloplasmin enzyme activity and vitamin C levels by colorimetric method; iron, TIBC and hemoglobin by employing a kit from zist-chimi company; and the percent of transferring saturation was calculated using the formula: serum iron/TIBCx100. Dietary consumption pattern in the beginning and at the end of the study period were recorded using 24hr dietary recall questionnaire for one day. Mean Blood ascorbic acid concentration increased by 67% [p=0.001], 76% [p=0.001], and 23% [p=0.04] in groups marked as 500 mg/day, 1000 mg/day ascorbic acid and control groups, respectively. This was statistically significant at the end of study. Mean ceruloplasmin enzyme activity decreased [p=0.004] in group 1000 mg/day ascorbic acid at the 6th week which was statistically significant. In spite of changes in serum copper and iron levels, these changes were not significant, statistically. Vitamin C had no effect on zinc concentration. No significant change was present in food consumption pattern during the study period. Based on present data, vitamin supplementation at daily doses of 500 and 1000 mg cannot be recommended and further are needed in this regard

Composition and nutritional value of traditional rural Iranian foods

There are a limited number of studies available on the composition and nutritional value of traditional rural foods in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this study, an attempt was made to collect information on these foods through a questionnaire by health workers in rural areas of northern, southern, eastern, western and central regions of the country. A total of 24 traditional rural foods and composite dishes were identified. Eshkeneh-daneh and ab-baneh contained high energy and protein contents among plant and mixed [plant and animal] foods, respectively. Their energy density and protein-energy ratio were very high. The calcium content was relatively high in ab-baneh, but the iron content rather low in both. Melon seed in eshkeneh-daneh and local nuts in ab-baneh were the main ingredients in these composite dishes