relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and mental concentration in first and second grade primary school children of Mashhad

Background: Breastfeeding has long-term benefits, such as reducing obesity, allergies, asthma, wheezing, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and effecting on brain development. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and mental concentration in first and second grade primary school children

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 90 students [7-8 years old] were studied in Mashhad, Iran. The history and duration of breastfeeding were asked from children's mothers, and their mental concentration and short term memory were measured by Toulouse Pieron and Digit learning tests, respectively

Results: The mean of the breastfeeding period was 5.72 +/- 6.89 month and the mean of total scores was 51.2 +/- 32.44 for Toulouse Pieron test and 8.57 +/- 6.52 for Digit learning test in all participants. The correlation between the Toulouse Pieron and Digit learning test, and breastfeeding history indicated that exclusive breast-fed children showed higher test results and therefore, better mental concentration and short term memory [P < 0.001]

Conclusion: Based on the findings, exclusive breastfeeding has a positive effect on mental concentration and short term memory with respect to its duration

Food insecurity status in heart failure patients in Iranian Population

Background: We were conducted this study to assess the prevalence of food insecurity in heart failure patients households and the relationship between food security and some variables in this households

Methods: In this cross sectional study, a total of 300 heart failure patients' households were studied in Imam Reza hospital of Mashhad. The Iranian version of household food insecurity access scale was used to measure food security

Results: Among the participants in this study, 129 patients [43%] were secure, 42 patients [14%], 82 patients [27.3%] and 47 patients [15.7%] were mild, moderate and sever insecure, respectively. Chi-square test results show that there is a strong association between diabetes, hypertension, body mass index [BMI], and food security distribution [P < 0.01]

Conclusions: Based on our findings, food insecurity is mild to severe prevalent in heart failure patients households, meanwhile there is a strong relationship between diabetes, hypertension, BMI and food security status, so it is important to assess their food status and prevent from worsening their nutritional status