[Prevalence of eating disorders and obesity in high school girl students in Yazd, 2010-2011]

Eating disorders are the result of behavioral disorders associated with many complications. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of these problems in high school girls in Yazd city. This cross-sectional study was commenced in 2010 and ended in 2011. The population studied were 1400 high school girl students in Yazd city who were study by cluster sampling method. Eat-26 questionnaire was used for diagnosing eating disorders and for identifying those at risk. Variables such as age, parents education, menstrual status, birth order and family size were also recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS software package and chi-square, Fisher's exact test and pearson correlation coefficient test. For the definition of obesity and overweight BMI and CDC BMI charts were used. Of the subjects,16.7% were suffering from overweight or obesity;169 students [12%] were at the risk of eating disorders. Between BMI status and risk of eating disorders a significant relationship was detected, so that 51.7% of those at risk, were suffering from obesity or overweight. In this study, 7 students [0.5%] had anorexia nervosa and 74 students [5.3%] were diagnosed with bulimia nervosa showing no significant relationship with the variables mentioned. Totally 689 students [51.3%] were dissatisfied with their current weight out of which the 21.4% wanted to gain weight while 78.6% were willing to lose their weight. Satisfaction with weight status and BMI found to be were significantly correlated. This study, like many other similar studies, showed that the epidemiological transition, cultural interaction and changing of values has increased incidence of eating disorders and has been considerably high compared with the past decades, thus reguiring speculation and employment of effective measures in dealing with these disorders

study of iron-drop supplementation status on 6-24 month infants in Yazd health centers

Iron deficiency [ID] and iron deficiency anemia [IDA] are among the most common public health problems worldwide especially in the developing countries. There are approximately two billion people in the world suffering from IDA. One of the problems of iron supplementation, including iron drop, is failing or noncompliance with consuming supplementary products. The aim of this survey was to determine the consumption status of iron-drop supplementation by 6-24 month infants in Yazd. Totally 770 mothers having 6-24 months infants participated in this survey. At first they were randomly selected from 8 health centers among all health centers of the city and then the sample size was selected regarding the covered population of each center. Sampling method was systematic random sampling. Each mother was invited to center and completed the questionnaire by interview. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software. In general, 84.8% of the mothers used iron drop supplement for their infants so that this rate was significantly higher in rural areas than urban areas. The mean point of starting with supplementary iron drop was 5.9 +/- 1 months and 78.4% of mothers started giving iron-drop from 6- month infants. The main causes of failing to use drop were forgetting [33.3%], teeth blackened [27.9%], constipation [8.2%] and unavailability [6.8%].Compared with other regions, compliance with and using iron drop is appropriate but because of health importance and logistic costs of supplementation, there is much higher expectation. Mothers' education and reducing their concerns about transient supplementation side effects, more availability of supplementary products and supplying low side- effect products are the main issues for increasing the effectiveness of this preventive approach for ID and IDA

[Effect of soybeans on hot flashes in postmenopausal women]

Hot flashes are common and discomfortable signs of menopause that present with blazing sweatiness, sense of hotness, tachycardia and agitation. Hot flashes cause disturbances in daily activity and quality of night sleep. In spite of the effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy [HRT] on hot flashes, nowadays, there are diverse opinions about HRT and the reason is that it has chronic complications. In addition, the acceptance of HRT by Iranian women is very low. Study of numerous texts has shown that isofliavone in soybean is a phytoestrogen that could be effective in control of hot flashes. The purpose of the study is to examine the changes in time periods of hot flashes in response to consumption of 74 mg Isoflavone/day present in 60 grams soybeans in menopausal women. This study was a clinical trial with before and after design that included 31 postmenopausal women. The participants were assessed with respect to daily hot flashes at baseline and after one, two and three months of intervention. Participants consumed daily 60 grams soybeans for 3 months. Blood samples were taken at the start and end of intervention for determining levels of gonadotropins and estradiol. Data was analyzed by SPSS software. There was a decrease in time period of hot flashes from baseline of 5.88 +/- 2.61 to 3.45 +/- 1.82 after one month, 2.73 +/- 1.57 after two months and 2.16 +/- 1.48 after three months of consumption of soybeans [P<0.001]. There was decrease in levels of FSH, LH and estradiol after 3 months, but this decrease was not significant, except in the case of estradiol. In line with various studies proposing the use of soybeans in the form of concentrate, drink or capsule, this study suggests that consumption of soybeans [60 gr daily] as snacks may be a safe and effective method for controlling hot flashes in postmenopausal women

[Effect of sour tea [Hibiscus sabdariffa] on blood glucose, lipid profile and lipoproteins in diabetics]

Hibiscus Sabdariffa is widely cultivated in tropical areas and its red persistent calyx is the major component possessing a sour taste that is used in beverages and food colorants. As a traditional medicine, it is claimed to be effective against kidney stones and urinary bladder stones, and is also used for its antibacterial, antifungal, hypocholesterolemic, antispasmodic and antihypertensive actions. We conducted this study to evaluate the effects of sour tea on blood sugar, lipids and lipoproteins. This sequential double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 60 diabetic patients in the Yazd Diabetic Research Center. Patients were assigned randomly into two groups, the sour tea [ST] and the ordinary tea [OT] group. Sachets containing one spoonful of sour or ordinary tea were given to the patients, based on random numbers. They were instructed to consume one glass of boiled water, boiled for 20-30 min, 2 times daily between their meals in the morning and afternoon, for 30 days. Fasting blood samples were taken at the beginning and at the end of the study for measuring blood glucose, hemoglobin A1C, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, Apo AI, Apo B100 and Lp[a]. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical package. A total 60 patients were recruited, 53 of whom completed the study [27 in ST and 26 in OT]. Except for Lp[a] and Apo AI, means of all lipids and lipoproteins at the beginning, were significantly decreased or increased [HDL-C] compared with the related means at of the end of the study in the sourtea [ST] group however, only the mean for HDL-C was significantly increased [approximately 16.7%] at the end of intervention in in the ordinary tea [OT] group. The mean for fasting blood glucose at the end of study did not differ significantly with the initial mean in both groups. In contrast, the mean of hemoglobin A1C was significantly decreased in the ST group. The results showed that sour tea has significant effects on blood lipid profiles in diabetic patients however, it did not have significant effects on blood glucose or hemoglobin A1C. Drinking sour tea can be recommended for diabetic patients

[Effects of zinc supplementation on the physical growth of 2-5 years old children]

Physical growth disorder in children, aged under 5-years, is a common health problem in developing countries, including Iran, where national studies have shown that the prevalence of stunted growth disorder is approximately 15 percent. The aim of this study was to determine effects of supplemental zinc on physical growth in children with retarded growth. The study was a 12-month community-based RCT which incorporated 6 months of zinc supplementation to 2-5-year-old children with height-for-age index less than the 25th percentile of NCHS [n=90]; children were assigned randomly into either the Zinc Group receiving 5 ml of a solution containing 5 mg of zinc as zinc sulfate [ZG, n=40] or the Placebo Group who received placebo [PG, n=45] daily [7d/wk] for 6 months. The children's weight, height, mid-upper arm, Z-score for height for age, weight for age and weight for height were measured at baseline and monthly for 12 months. Data were analyzed by the SPSS statistical package. Student-t test was used for comparing the means and chi-square and Fisher's exact test were performed to compare categorical variables. Eighty-five children completed [55.3% girls, 44.7% boys] the study supplementation; compliance with supplement consumption was 95-100% and the two groups were not significantly different. The means of total weight increments [Kg] among girls in the PG and ZG groups were 2 +/- 0.9 and 2.6 +/- 1.1 [PV=0.05], respectively and for boys were 2.1 +/- 0.8 and 2.7 +/- 0.8 [PV=0.04], respectively. The mean of total mid arm circumference increments [Cm] among girls in the PG and ZG groups were 1.23 +/- 0.46 and 1.7 +/- 0.51 [PV=0.8], respectively; these figures for boys were 1.43 +/- 0.51 and 1.19 +/- 0.39 [PV=0.1], respectively. The means of total height increment [Cm] among girls, in the PG and ZG groups were 8.28 +/- 2.23 and 9.64 +/- 1.7 [PV=0.02], respectively; these figures for boys were 8.34 +/- 3.14 and 11.7 +/- 1.96 [PV=0.001], respectively. At baseline, stunted rates in the ZG and PG groups were 26.7% and 15% respectively [NS]. However, these rates in the 6th month of intervention in ZG and PG were 2.5 and 20%, respectively [PV= 0.01]. The results of this study showed that administration of 5 mg zinc daily to young children have significant effects on growth, particularly if the interventions are focused on stunted children

[ effects of soy bean on serum homocysteine, Lp[a] and lipoproteins in hyperlipidemic postmenopausal women]

Because of undesirable serum lipoprotein profiles, postmenopausal women are at risk of cardiovascular disease. Soy protein may help protect against these risk factors although its effect on homocysteine and Lp [a] is not clear; however, the effects of soy bean in hyperlipidemic postmenopausal women has not been assessed independently yet. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of soy bean on serum concentration of homocysteine, Lp[a] and lipoproteins in hyperlipidemic postmenopausal women. In a randomised clinical trial with parallel design, 34 hyperlipidemic postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to group 1 and given 130 g soy bean containing 50 g/d soy protein and 159/9mg isoflavones, while group 2 continued their usual diet for 10 weeks [controls]. Serum lipoproteins, homocysteine and Lp [a] were measured at baseline and after the 10[th] week. There were significant decreases in Lp [a] LDL-c, TC, LDL-c/HDL-c, TG/HDL-c, TC/HDL-c in group 1, as compared to group 2, after ten weeks of study [p<0.05, p<0.001, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.05 and p<0.05 respectively] at the end of the study. Similarly, Lp[a], homocysteine, LDL-c, TC, LDL-c/HDL-c, TG/HDL-c, TC/HDL were significantly decreased [p<0.01, p<0.05 p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.01] at the end of the study, compared with initial values of the soy group. We can conclude that Soy protein reduces CVD risk in postmenopausal women because of both modest reductions in serum lipoproteins and Lp[a] in hyperlipidemic postmenopausal women

[Evaluation of electroimmunoassay and clinitek-100 for detection of microalbuminuria]

Detection of microalbuminuria is an important laboratory test for evaluation of diabetic complications. A reliable method for determination of urine albumin is critical in this process. In the present study, we set-up and evaluated an electroimmunoassay [EIA] method for measearing the amount of albumin in urine. The reliability of Clinitek-100 Instrument was evaluated for screening of microalbuminuria as well. In this study which was the evaluation of a diagnostic test, anti human albumin antiserum was prepared following the immunization of rabbit and the EIA method was set-up for albumin determination. The ratio of albumin to creatinine, as the index of albumin excretion rate, were calculated for 61 urine samples of diabetic patients. Finally, the reliability of EIA and clinitek-100 for detection of microalbuminuria were evaluated. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] was used as a reference method for determination of urine albumin and for detection of microalbuminuria as well. The detection limit for EIA method was 2 mg/L, with analytical range of 2-200 mg/L. The intra-assay coefficient variation [C.V] of various albumin concentrations were 3.34 to 5.57%, whereas the regression coefficient was 0.996 [r=0.996]. The sensitivity and specificity of EIA-test for detection of microalbuminuria were 95% and 83%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of Clinitek-100 for microalbuminuria detection were 67% and 94%, respectively. The EIA is a precise and specific method for determination of urine albumin and detection of microalbuminuria, but it is time consuming and unsuitable for single test reports. Clinitek-100 is specific and fast for delection of microalbuminuria. This method is suitable for single reports, but its negative results in test are controversial. We suggest that more care be taken for the clinitek-100 results and the negative results should be re-examined by other sensitive methods

[ effect of zinc supplementation on treatment of acute watery diarrhea in 1-4 year old children]

Patients with diarrhea are susceptible to zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency can cause growth retardation, delay in sexual maturity, behavior disorders, persistent diarrhea and abnormalities of immune system, susceptibility to respiratory and gastrointestinal infections and impairment of taste and smell perception. The aim of this study was to evaluate of the effect of oral zinc supplementation on the treatment of acute watery diarrhea.This study was a randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial that was carried out in 139 children, aged 1 to 4 years, with acute watery diarrhea referred to two out-patient pediatric clinics in Yazd. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, zinc group [ZG] and placebo group [PG]. The former group received zinc sulphate 2 mg/kg qd orally for 10 days and the latter group were treated with saline-dextrose solution [1/3:2/3]. Duration and frequency of the diarrhea episodes were recorded in each group. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Student t-test. The mean frequency of diarrhea at the first visit in ZG and PG groups were 4.6 +/- 1.7 and 4.2 +/- 1.5, respectively [p=0.1]. At forty-eight to 72 h post-intervention, these values were 2.32 +/- 1.43 and 3.84 +/- 1.34 for girls [p=0.001], and 2.21 +/- 1.49 and 3.9 +/- 1.8 [p=0.001], for boys respectively. In general, after five days intervention, 45 patients [43%] were recovered, that 24 [53%] of them were from ZG. However, 10 days after the intervention the recovery rate in the ZG was markedly higher than the control group. At the end of the intervention, 80 [77%] patients, with 50 cases [66%] belonging to the ZG completely recovered. This study showed that oral zinc supplementation [2mg/kg qd] in children with acute watery diarrhea reduces the duration and severity of diarrhea