[Dietary intake in people with spinal cord injury based on sex, obesity and injury related variable in brain and spinal injury repair research center]

Despite an increased risk of obesity and CHD in people with spinal cord injury [SCI], there is little known about the dietary intake in this group, therefore the aim of this study was to examine nutrient intake and body mass index [BMI] in the spinal cord injury [SCI] population according to level of injury and related variables. In this cross-sectional study, 162 patients with spinal cord injury participated from Brain and Spinal Injury Repair research Center, Tehran, Iran. Dietary intakes were assessed by means of a semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The mean age of study population was 34.1 +/- 0.6 years. Total energy and carbohydrate intake were higher in men than women [P<0.001]. Incomplete injured consumed more MUFA [P=0.03]. The elderly were consumed less total calorie, saturated fat, MUFA, cholesterol [P<0.01] and PUFA [P<0.05]. Injured patients with longer times had lower total calorie, carbohydrate [P<0.01], total fat and MUFA intake [P<0.05]. Based on new classification 60.5% were at the risk of obesity or obese. Central obesity was seen in 33.1%of man and 48.4% of women. BMI of the paraplegia group was greater than that of the tetraplegia group [P=0.009]. Macronutrients balance is moved towards higher saturated fat intake and less complex carbohydrates and protein intake in SCI patient's. The elderly and patients who had lived with SCI longer time tended to maintain healthier diets

[Effects of high-fat diets based on butter or soybean, olive or fish oil on insulin resistance and plasma desacyl-ghrelin in rats

There is evidence on reciprocal effects of insulin and desacylghrelin [DAG], but associations between secretions of hormones [insulin and DAG] and saturated and unsaturated proportions of edible oils in high-fat diets have not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of different sources of dietary fat and the extent of fatty acid saturation on plasma insulin and DAG levels and determine the association between DAG and insulin action in rats. Weaning male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups to be fed on one of 4 high-fat diets containing, as the source of fat, butter [HF-b], soybean oil [HB-S], olive oil [HF-O], or fish oil [HF-F]. A fifth group was put on a standard diet [SD]. Blood samples were collected after 8 weeks at non-fasting state and after a 24h fast. Body weight, food intake, and plasma parameters - glucose, insulin, DAG, and HOMA-IR, as an insulin resistance index - were measured. Body weight and food intake in the HF-S and HF-B groups were higher than in the other groups [p<0.05]. In the HF-B group the fasting insulin level and HOMA-IR were both higher as compared to the ST, HF-O or HF-F group [p<0.05]. In addition, the fasting DAG level in the HF-B group was lower than in HF-F, HF-O or ST group [p<0.05]. Finally, the HF-F group had a significantly higher DAG level than the HF-S group [P<0.05]. Diets containing polyunsaturated omega -3 and monounsaturated fatty acids cause lower weight gains and energy intakes. It is likely that these dietary fats could bring about a decrease in appetite through increasing the DAG level, thereby causing weight reduction. It is concluded, then, that they may have a role in lowering HOMA-IR or insulin level

[Comparison of effects of three diets containing "Fish Oil", "Iranian fat consumption pattern", and "standard" diet on serum glucose and insulin sensitivity in Wistar rat]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of fish oil containing diet versus Iranian fat consumption pattern and standard diets on serum glucose and insulin sensitivity in Wistar rat. Thirty female Wistar rats were randomly allocated to three dietary groups: a standard diet [containing soy bean-oil], diet containing fish oil and diet containing mixed oil which was designed based on Iranian population fatty acid intake. Dams in each group were fed one of the diets during pregnancy and lactation and the pups were also weaned onto the same diet. Fasting serum glucose [Photometry] and insulin [ELISA] in pups were assessed and insulin sensitivity calculated on puberty. Fasting serum insulin in fish oil-fed group was significantly less than two other groups [P=0.018] and insulin sensitivity in fish oil-fed rats was significantly more than two other groups [P=0.002]. It seems a diet containing fish oil [rich in long chain omega-3 fatty acids] causes more insulin sensitivity comparing to diet containing soy bean oil [rich in omega-6 fatty acids] and diet with Iranian population fatty acid intake pattern [rich in saturated fatty acids]

[Effects of apple consumption on lipid profile among hyperlipidemic and over weight men]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of apple consumption on lipid profiles among hyperlipidemic and overweight men. We performed an experimental study on 46 hyperlipidemic men, aged between 30-50 years[TC=200-240 mg/dl, TG=150-350 mg/dl], randomly divided into two [apple and control] groups. The apple group [23 subjects] received 300 gr of whole apples per day [Golden Delicious] for 8 weeks, while controls [23 subjects] had the regular dietary pattern for the same period of time. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after intervention and analyzed for serum TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, VLDL, Apo[B], Lp[a] and LDL/HDL levels. Before study, education level and family size were compared. Before and after intervention, physical activity and dietary intake were compared between the two groups. Both total polyphenol and the total fiber consumed in apples were measured. Total polyphenol and total fiber intakes were 485 mg/kg fresh apple and 4.03 gr/100 gr of fresh apple, respectively. After 8 weeks, mean differences in TG and VLDL concentrations increased statistically in the apple group compared to the control group, but, no significant differences were observed in the TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, Apo[B], Lp[a] and LDL/HDL levels, between two groups. Consumption of Golden Delicious apples seemed to increase serum TG and VLDL concentrations in hyperlipidemic men. More studies are needed to investigate the effect of Golden delicious apple on serum TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, Apo[B], Lp[a] and LDL/HDL concentrations

[Comparison of the effects of a fish oil-containing diet, a diet containing an oil mixture based on the Iranian fat consumption pattern, and a standard diet on the serum glucose level and insulin sensitivity in rats]

Information on the effects of different types of fat on insulin sensitivity is limited. The present study was designed to compare the effects of feeding a fish oil-containing diet, a diet containing an oil mixture based on the Iranian fat consumption pattern, and a standard diet from the fetal period till puberty on the serum glucose and insulin sensitivity in Wistar rats. Thirty female Wistar rats were randomly allocated to three dietary groups: a standard diet [containing soy bean-oil], a diet containing fish oil, and a diet containing an oil mixture based on the Iranian population fatty acid intake. Dams in each group were fed one of the diets during pregnancy and lactation, and in each case the pups born were weaned onto the same diet. Fasting serum glucose level [by photometry] and insulin [by ELISA] were measured in the pups and insulin sensitivity was calculated at puberty. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and the one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests. The fasting serum insulin level and insulin sensitivity in the fish oil-fed group were significantly lower [P=0.018] and higher [P=0.002], respectively, than in the other two groups. It seems a diet containing fish oil [rich in long chain omega-3 fatty acids] causes a higher insulin sensitivity, as compared to diets containing either soy bean oil [rich in omega-6 fatty acids] or mixed oil based on the Iranian dietary fatty acid pattern [rich in saturated fatty acids]

[Comparison of the effects of a fish-oil containing diet, a diet with a fat composition based on the Iranian fat consumption pattern, and a standard diet on pathologic changes in the wistar rat liver]

Information of the effects of different types of fat on liver pathology is limited. The present study was designed to compare the effects of a fish-oil containing diet, a diet with a fat composition based on the Iranian fat consumption pattern, and a standard diet on pathologic changes in the Wistar rat liver. Thirty female Wistar rats were randomly allocated to one of three diets: a standard diet [containing soy bean-oil], a diet containing fish oil, and one containing mixed oil based on the Iranian population fatty acid intake. Dams in each group were fed one of the diets during pregnancy and lactation, and the pups were weaned onto the same diet. Hepato-cellular pathology in pups was assessed on days 21 and 70 postnatal. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software and Kruskal-Wallis test. Fish oil-fed and Iranian mixed oil-fed pups showed more ductular cell hyperplasia on day 70 postnatal, as compared to the soy bean oil-fed pups [p=0.005]. The pathologic changes increased from day 21 to day 70 in all the 3 groups [p=0.002]. The magnitude of the increase was significant in the fish oil-fed rats [p=0.007]. A diet containing fish oil as the only fat source and a diet with the Iranian population fatty acid intake pattern may lead to pathologic changes in the rat liver. It seems this adverse effect increases by age of the animal