[ association of diet and anthropometric indices with high-sensitive C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], among depressed and healthy female nurses]

Depression is related to an increase acute phase protein, C-reactive protein [CRP], followed by systemic inflammation. Inflammation is a problem mechanism through which diet can affect the development of chronic diseases. This study was aimed to evaluate the association of diet and anthropometric indices with high-sensitive C - reactive protein [hs-CRP], among depressed and healthy female nurses in Ahvaz city. In this descriptive-analytical study 98 women [45 depressed and 53 healthy subjects] were randomly chosen from Jondishapoor University of medical sciences, Ahvaz. [I.R. Iran]. We assessed dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements and hs-CRP serum levels. Data were analyzed using, ANOVA and linear regression model test. There was not significant difference between the two healthy and depressed groups in the mean of hs-CRP. BMI [Body Mass Index], weight, body fat percent and fat/W [fat to weight ratio] had significant positive association with serum hs-CRP level in depressed subjects [P<0.05]. The depressed subjects in fourth quartile had higher dietary vitamin E, A and B12 intake than second one [P<0.05]. No significant differences were found between the depression score in healthy participants in different quartile. The result of this study showed that the more anthropometric measurements, dietary intake of iron and vitamin E, and the less dietary intake of calcium are associated with an increased acute phase response in depressed and healthy subjects

Evaluation of vitamin b-complex efficacy add on citalopram in outpatient with major depressive disorder

Major depression disorder [MDD] is most common psychiatric disorder in community. MDD is one of the important disorders because of its prevalence and serious complication such as suicide, substance abuse, loss of well being and function, this study was investigated to determine the efficacy of vitamin B- complex add on citalopram, [its cofactor role in serotonin synthesis] in treatment of MDD. This study is a double-blinded placebo-control cinical trial on 40 MDD patients [18-45 years old] referred to psychiatric clinic in 2009. Duration of study was 6 weeks. Depressive symptoms were assessed with Beck Depression Inventory at 0, 3 and 6 weeks after intervention. Data was analized by using SPSS, ANOVA, Chi- square and Fisher tests. In both groups [B-complex and placebo], symptoms were significantly improved at the end of study respectively [P=0.002, P=0.04]. Beck's rating scale score between two groups was not significantly different [P=0.99]. The main finding of this study was that efficacy of either vitamin B-complex on citalopram or citalopram alone was not differed in reduction of depression symptoms. Because of low sample size, short duration of study and basic effect of vitamins in behavior, further future works to be considered

Comparison of serum levels of vitamins e and c and dietary antioxidants intakes between patients with inflammatory bowel disease and healthy subjects

Inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] is a chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Nutrition has been proposed as an important factor in etiology of IBD. The aim of this study was to compare dietary intake of antioxidants and serum levels of alpha -tocopherol and vitamin C in IBD patients with that of healthy subjects. Twenty-six IBD and twenty-eight sex and age matched healthy subjects were selected as the case and control groups from gastroenterology and other wards respectively, during the fall and winter of 2005. Subjects' serum vitamin C and alpha-tocopherol levels were analyzed using the HPLC method. Semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires were completed by all subjects during interviews. There was no significant difference in serum levels of vitamin C and alpha -tocopherol between the two study groups. Intakes of whole grain bread and fresh vegetables in healthy subjects were 2.5 and 1.5 times higher than those of patients, respectively [p<0.05]. Although patients consumed fewer cups of tea daily [p<0.05], no significant difference was seen in the intakes of other dietary antioxidant sources between the two groups. Results of this study indicated that although there was no significant difference between vitamin C and alpha -tocopherol serum levels in the both groups, dietary intake of the main antioxidant sources in IBD patients was lower than healthy matched subjects. More advanced studies with higher number of subjects are needed to explore the antioxidant status in such patients

[Effect of breakfast composition on memory of primary school children in Ahwaz]

While missing breakfast has been known to result in declines in cognitive function, not all studies show positive effects of breakfast consumption on cognitive function. Differences in breakfast composition may account for some of the contradictory results across studies. However, since we could not find any published study from Iran investigating the effect of breakfast composition on cognitive performance, this study designed to assess the effect of 2 common Iranian breakfast foods [high carbohydrate, high protein] on the cognitive performance of elementary school children. Fifty-one well-nourished children [27 girls] aged 9-11 years took part in the present study. Children consumed one of 2 breakfasts [subjects] or took no breakfast [controls] in a randomized cross-over design with one week in between for a wash-out period. The two breakfasts were high carbohydrate [60%] and high protein [25%], similar in energy and fat, but differing in carbohydrate and protein composition. Cognitive performance was assessed prior to and 30 and 120 minutes after breakfasts, using a selection of tests from the CDR standard computerized assessment system. Statistical analysis was conducted by using SPSS [version 15] and P<0.05 was considered as the level of significance. Results indicated that all 3 treatments [high carbohydrate, high protein, fasted state] were followed by decline in cognitive performance in both sexes, with no significant differences between the 2 groups, in most of the tasks. Our results did not show the effect of breakfast composition on the memories of well-nourished children and further research should address the extent to which different types of breakfast influence different domains of cognitive function. Also quality and quantity of breakfast should be assessed besides cognition, because of their effect on mood

[Prevalence of obesity and its related lifestyle pattern in male personnel of Jundi-Shapour University of Medical Sciences - 2005]

Obesity and overweight are major underlying factors for many chronic diseases. Considering the increasing obesity among people with low levels of physical activity especially administrative personnel, assessing obesity prevalence and its relationship to lifestyle patterns in sedentary jobs plays a key role in finding appropriate solutions for this problem. All male personnel working in administrative posts at Jondi-Shapour University of Medical Sciences filled out questionnaires on some aspects of their lifestyles; their anthropometric data were also obtained. Study variables were body mass index [BMI], body fat percent [BFP], physical activity patterns, smoking and drug usage. Body fat percentage was measured by the BIA method using on Omron BF-300 analyzer. Statistical data were analyzed by ANOVA, t-and Pearson coefficient tests using SPSS version 11.5. Prevalences of overweight and obesity among male personnel were 26 and 52 percent, respectively. Seventy-one percent reported no exercise in their daily activity. A significant reverse relationship was found between physical activity and BMI, BFP and waist circumference [r = -0.31, -0.32, -0.34, respectively, P<0.001]. Ninety-five percent used to go to work driving their own vehicles or using public transportation. There was a significant relationship between the ways they attend their work, BMI, and BFP. BMI and BFP were significantly higher among older subjects. No significant relationship was found between subjects' BMI and their ethnicity, education levels, smoking habits, drinking tea and coffee, working period, having breakfast and drug usage. Considering the association between low physical activities and high BMI and BFP, it is suggested that university personnel should be made aware of their daily calorie intakes and need to arrange a regular plan for their physical activity

Effects of soy protein isoflavones on serum lipids, lipoprotein profile and serum glucose of hypercholesterolemic rabbits

The main objective of this research was to determine the effects of soy protein isoflavones on serum lipids, lipoproteins and fasting blood sugar levels in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Twenty-four male New Zealand rabbits received the basic pellet diet for two weeks and were then placed on a hypercholesterolemic diet [pellets plus 1% cholesterol] for three weeks. After elevation of total cholesterol, the rabbits were randomly allocated into four experimental groups. Groups 1 to 3 received 100g soy protein containing 200mg [SPI+], 100mg [SPI50%] soy protein diet and without isoflavones [SPI-], respectively, for six weeks. The fourth group was kept on the hypercholesterolemic diet [HC]. Findings showed that cholesterol rich diet produced significant increase in total, LDLand HDL-cholesterol concentrations. In SPI+ group these parameters remained unchanged, compared with SPI- and SPI50% groups [P<0.0001]. HDL-cholesterol was significantly elevated after administration of HC diet and remained high [almost three fold] in all soy diets relative to baseline. However, its level was significantly lower in SPI50% compared with SPI-group [p<0.01]. Triglycerides and VLDL concentrations were significantly increased in SPI50% compared with baseline and HC groups [P<0.03]. Fasting blood sugar levels were not changed in all soy treatment groups. These results suggest that intact soy protein isoflavones ameliorate the lipid profile in spite of high-cholesterol intake, but has no obvious effect on blood sugar levels and can therefore be useful in hyperlipidemias especially when cholesterol intake is simultaneously decreased. Moreover, there is no direct doseresponse relationship between soy isoflavone content and its lipid-lowering effect