[Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of chevil [ferulago angulata] on glucose and lipid in diabetic male rats]

Introduction: Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterised by chronic hyperglycemia. Considering the properties antioxidant of the Chevil plant compounds, this study performed to determine the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Chevil on serum glucose and lipid in diabetic male rats

Materials and Methods: In this study, 54 male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were divided into 6 groups [n=9 each] and studied for 4 weeks. The groups were as follows: Control, diabetic, diabetic groups treated 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight of the Chevil extract, respectively and the diabetic rats treated with 150 mg/kg body weight of metformin. At the end of study, FBS, Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels were measured. Results were analyzed by oneway ANOVA

Results: Findings showed a significant reduction [P<0.05] of FBS in all groups with three doses of the extract, 26%, 59.3%, 69.4% respectively], Triglycerides [at 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract respectively 16.1% and 34.1%], Cholesterol [800 mg/kg of the extract, 20.9%], LDL-C in all three doses of the extract, 25.9%, 49.1% and 53% respectively and a significant increase [P<0.05] in HDL-C in all three doses of the extract, 32.6%, 36.4% and 37.1% respectively compared to the control group was observed in diabetic rats treated with Chevil

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Chevil extract reduces blood sugar and improves blood lipid profiles in diabetic rats

[Relationship between maternal serum copper level and birth weight neonate]

Low birth weight [LBW] is a major public health problem. LBW is associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. There is no consensus in the literature as to whether maternal copper nutrition is associated with pregnancy outcome or fetal growth. This case-control study was carried out at Alavi Hospital in Ardabil between August 2008 and August 2009. 56 women who had delivered low-birth- weight infants [<2500gr] were taken as the case group, and from the mothers who had delivered normal birth weight infants [>/= 2500gr], 56 were selected at random as the control group. Venous blood samples were obtained from the mothers. Serum zinc level was determined by the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer method. Mean of birth weight in infants, maternal age, body mass index in mothers and socioeconomic or demographic factors did not differ between cases and control groups. Maternal copper concentration [micro g/dl] differed between Cases and Controls; 231.75 +/- 38.12 micro g/dl vs. 204.42 +/- 31.30 micro g/dl respectively. There is a significant difference [p<0.001] in the serum copper concentration between the two groups. There is a negative relation between low infant birth weight and maternal copper concentration

[ relation between maternal serum zinc level and infant birth weight]

Trace elements have been documented to play an important role in the determination of fetal outcome. It has been reported that the pregnant women in developing countries consume diets with a lower amounts of minerals and vitamins. Zinc is an essential trace element and its deficiency can lead to a variety of disorders. This case-control study was carried out at Alavi hospital in Ardabil [Iran] from August 2008- August 2009. Fifty six women who had delivered low- birth- weight infants [<2500gr] were taken as the case group and 56 women with infants with normal birth weight [=2500gr] were selected as the control group. Venous blood sample were obtained from the mothers. Serum zinc level was determined by the atomic absorption spectrophotometer method. Mean of birth weight in infants, maternal age, body mass index in mothers and socioeconomic or demographic factors did not differ between case and control groups. Maternal zinc concentration did not differ between Cases and Controls 55.84 +/- 14.40 micro g/dl vs.52.16 +/- 8.84 micro g/dl respectively. Results of this study showed that maternal zinc concentration has no impact on neonatal birth weight deliveries

effect of zinc supplementation on taste acuity in chronic hemodialysis patients

Zinc deficiency is a cause of taste disturbances. The purpose of the present investigation is to examine the effect of zinc supplementation on improvement of taste acuity in chronic hemodialysis patients. 65 chronic hemodialysis patients were studied in two groups, group one consist of 35 patients and group two consist of 30 patients. Group one received placebo and group two received 100 mg elemental zinc daily for 2 months. Then the placebo and supplement disrupted in next 2 months and afterwards, this study continued as a crossover design 2 months. Taste acuity for the four primary tastes was determined by asking patients to identify them at varying concentration. Taste acuity, body mass index [BMI] and the levels of serum zinc at the 0[th], 60[th], 120[th], 180[th] days in fasting, predialysis samples were determined. Patients completed 1-day food record at nondialysis mentioned day and their dietary zinc were analyzed. Basal serum zinc levels in both groups were below than 80 microg/dl. The zinc supplementation lead to significant increase the levels of serum zinc in both groups. Taste thresholds for the primary tastes significantly increased during the placebo period in both groups. Zinc supplementation lead to decrease taste thresholds for the four tastes in both groups. This decrease was significant, except for salty tastant in group two. BMI values significantly didn't change during study. It can be conclude that in chronic hemodialysis patients: 1] Taste thresholds increased in the absence of zinc supplementation. 2] Zinc supplementation lead to improved of taste acuity. 3] Low serum zinc levels are improved by zinc adminstration