Insulin resistance and related factors in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]: an analytic cross-sectional study

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] is characterized by fatty change of liver without inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate presence of clinical and metabolic components in non-diabetic patients with NAFLD and to assess the relationship between insulin resistance and these factors. In this study, a group of 50 sonographically confirmed patients with NAFLD was studied. Following an overnight fasting, blood samples were obtained to measure serum levels of Triglyceride, Cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein [LDL-C], High Density Lipoprotein [HDL-C], SGOT and SGPT, haemoglobin A1C, Fasting Blood Sugar [FBS] and peripheral blood insulin level. Based on homeostatic model assessment [HOMA] score, patients were divided into four quartiles. Other variables including BMI, waist and hip circumference were also measured. The mean age was 42 +/- 10.3 years [range, 22-65], 33 cases [66%] were men, and 17 cases [34%] were women. Mean insulin level was higher in females [female=15.3 +/- 6.7, males=12.9 +/- 5.7]. Variables including waist [P=0.38] and LDL-C [P =0.49] were significantly different among defined study groups. The higher the HOMA index, the lower the HDL-C level [P <0.05]. Patients with insulin resistance showed significant higher values of LDL and Waist circumference. Values of HDL were significantly lower in these patients. Body mass index, Weight, Triglyceride, Cholesterol, AST and ALT values showed no relation with insulin resistance

Correlation between life style and general health in university students

Health promotion and its maintenance are considered important elements in social development. Evidence implies that there is relationship between lifestyle and general health. Approximately 53% of the reasons of mortality rates is related to people's lifestyle. The impotence of lifestyle and related reasons have made the researchers to explore the issues of life style and health. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between lifestyle and general health in university students. The study was a correlational descriptive design. One thousand and three hundred students consisted of 864 females and 436 males with 18-44 years old [486 subjects were living in dormitory] participanted in this study. The sampling method was stratified based on the school, gender and residency situation. The data were collected by questionnaires including a demographic deta sheet, lifestyle questionnaire [physical activity, nutrition, smoking, safety measures, stress management] and general health-questionnaire with 28 items. The Chi square revealed significant relationships between general health and physical activity [P=0.000], nutrition [P=0.000], smoking [P=0.027], safety measure [P=0.000], stress management [P=0.000], and gender [P=0.01]. No significant relationships were found between general health and age, school, and residency situation of the students. Also there were significant negative relatioships between general health and lifestyle dimensions. According to the findings, the students had not an optimal level of physical activity. Therefore providing facilities related to physical activity and body fitness programs in the students and encorraging them to use these facilities are recommended