ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Although lifestyle-related factors have separately been examined in relation to functional gastrointestinal disorders [FGIDs], there is no epidemiologic data on the combined association of lifestyle factors with these conditions. We aimed to examine how combinations of several lifestyle factors were associated with functional dyspepsia [FD], its symptoms and gastro-esophageal reflux disease [GERD] in a large group of Iranian adults
Methods: This descriptive -analytic study was conducted on 3363 Iranian adults [19-70 yr], whom were working in 50 health centers across Isfahan province in Iran during 2012. We used easy non-random sampling to select participants. The "healthy lifestyle score" for each participant was calculated by summing up the binary score given for five lifestyle factors, including dietary habits, dietary intakes, psychological distress, smoking and physical activity. A dish-based 106-item semi-quantitative validated food frequency questionnaire, General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire and other pre-tested questionnaires were used to assess the components of healthy lifestyle score. A validated Persian version of ROME III questionnaire was used, to assess functional gastrointestinal disorders
Results: The prevalence of FD and GERD among study participants was 14.5 and 23.6%, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounders, we found that individuals with the highest score of healthy lifestyle had 79 and 74% lower odds of FD [95% CI: 0.05-0.92, OR: 0.21, P=0.03] and GERD [95% CI: 0.09-0.69, OR: 0.26, P=0.01], respectively, compared with those with the lowest score. They were also less likely to have early satiation [95% CI: 0.11-0.73, OR: 0.28, P=0.001], postprandial fullness [95% CI: 0.09-0.50, OR: 0.22, P<0.001] and epigastric pain [95% CI: 0.21-0.92, OR: 0.44, P=0.03]. In addition to the combined healthy lifestyle score, low levels of psychological distress, a healthy diet, healthy dietary habits and non-smoking were separately associated with FGIDs [P<0.05]
Conclusion: This study showed that adherence to a healthy lifestyle was associated with lower odds of GERD, FD and its symptoms in this group of Iranian adults. Individual lifestyle-related factors were also associated with these conditions
ABSTRACT
Background and Objective: Modification of life style, nutrional regiment and insulin therapy is used for improvement of pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM]. This study was done to evaluate the effect of the dietary approaches to stop hypertension [DASH] eating plan on pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus
Methods: In this clinical trial study, 52 women with GDM were randomly divided into DASH and control groups for 4 weeks. The control diet contained 45-55% carbohydrates, 15-20% protein and 25- 30% total fat. The DASH was rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, and contained lower amounts of saturated fats, cholesterol and refined grains with a total of 2400 mg/day sodium. The numbers of women whom commenced insulin therapy after dietary intervention, the mode of delivery and prevalence of polyhydramnios were assessed. The length, weight and head circumference of infants were measured during the first 24 h after birth
Results: 46.2% of women in the DASH group needed to have a cesarean section, this rate for the control group was 80.8% [P<0.05]. The percentage of those who needed to commence insulin therapy after intervention was 23% for DASH group vs 73% for controls [P<0.05]. Infants born to mothers on the DASH group had significantly lower body weight [3222.7 vs 3818.8 g, P<0.05], head circumference [34.2 vs 35.1 cm, P<0.05] and ponderal index [2.50 vs 2.87 kg/m[3], P<0.05] compared to those born to mothers on the control diet
Conclusion: Consumption of dietary approaches to stop hypertension for 4 weeks among pregnant women with GDM resulted in improved pregnancy outcomes
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Diet , Hypertension , Pregnancy Outcome , Pregnant WomenABSTRACT
Due to low consumption of leguminous foods across populations, not much information is available on possible independent role of legumes in inflammation. The traditional Iranian diet provides an opportunity to investigate possible association between intake of legumes and health. This study was carried out to determine the association between legume consumption and the serum levels of adhesion molecules and inflammatory biomarkers in Iranian women. In this cross-sectional study, trained dietitians administered a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire [FFQ] for assessment of usual dietary intakes in a sample of 486 Tehranian female- teachers aged 40-60 years selected by a multistage cluster random sampling method. Legumes in the FFQ included lentils, peas, chickpeas, different kinds of beans [broad beans, etc.], and chickling vetch. Blood samples were taken to measure the plasma concentrations of adhesion molecules and inflammatory biomarkers. After controlling for potential confounders, including dietary variables, as compared to women with the lowest legume intake, those with the highest legume intake had lower circulating levels of Eselectin [percent difference from bottom quintile [-14.1%, p-trend=0.04], soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [sICAM-1] [-20.3%, p-trend<0.01], and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [sVCAM- 1] [-15.6%, p-trend=0.01]. Subjects in the top tertile of legume intake had lower serum levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], TNF- alpha and interleukin-6 [IL-6] as compared to those in the lowest tertile, even after controlling for potential confounders and dietary variables. No significant association was found between legume intake and serum amyloid A levels. High legume consumption is associated with low circulating levels of adhesion molecules and inflammatory biomarkers among Iranian women