[Body mass index and mental health in people referring to assadabadi health center in Tabriz, Iran]

Obesity is known as a public health issue. In addition to common problems,it also affects the mental health. The environmental factors are very effective on mental health among which nutrition and BMI have a critical role. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between BMI and mental health in Tabriz Assadabadi Health Center. This cross-sectional and analytic study was performed out on 500 people referring to assadabadi health center in Tabriz Assadabadi Health Center. Using a questionnaire, individual, population and community information was obtained from each case including sex, age, weight, height, family size, income, education, and occupation. A 28-itemGeneral Health Questionnaire [GHQ] was used for evaluation of mental health. Data were analyzed using Mann-whitney test. This study was performed on 127 men and 373 women, with mean age of 37.92 and 32.85 years, respectively. The BMI of 36.5% of the cases was in normal range, 33.5% of cases were overweight, and 22.9% were obese. Regarding mental health indexes, 51.8% of the subjects were healthy and 48.2% were unhealthy according to GHQ-28. There was a significant statistical relationship between BMI and mental health condition [p= 0.015]. The results of this study underlined that body weight could be related to mental health

[Validation of food frequency questionnaire to assess folate intake status in breast cancer patients]

Inadequate folate intake could be associated with increased breast cancer risk. The aim of the present study was to assess the folate intake by designed Food Frequency Questionnaire [FFQ] using plasma folate concentration. This analytic cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the validity of the semi-quantitative FFQ [136 items] in 152 women with confirmed breast malignancy aged between 35 - 85 years old.. Folate plasma level was assessed by means of automated electrochemiluminescence. The Pearson and partial correlation coefficients were performed between the plasma level of folate and crude, total and energy-adjusted [residual] folate intakes. Area under ROC curve [AUC], sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and odds ratio were fulfilled in two models in order to achieve validity assessment. The folate plasma level was significantly correlated with total intake of vegetables, bread and cereal groups [p=0.001] and also with total intake of fruits [p=0.001] and dairy products [p=0.026]. After adjusting for confounders, the folate plasma levels were correlated significantly with daily [beta=0.39], and residual [beta=0.41] folate intake levels [p=0.001]. The area under ROC curves in model I [folate plasma level <5.9 ng/ml] was 0.74 [95%CI=0.63-0.85] and for model II [folate plasma level <10.0 ng/ml] was estimated as 0.61[95%CI= 0.51- 0.71]. Model I indicated more appropriate predictive value [p=0.001] of folate intake assessment via FFQ. The results of this study showed that FFQ described in this study could be a valid and appropriate tool for assessing folate intake status in dietary content of breast cancer patients and also could be representative and valid for assessing the folate rich-food intake status

Dietary intake and serum bone related chemistry and their correlations in postmenopausal Iranian women

To determine dietary intake and bone related chemistry of osteoporosis and their correlations in postmenopausal Iranian women. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 58 healthy Iranian, postmenopausal women from January 2005 until August 2006, at Sina Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and alkaline phosphatase were measured using auto analyzer and parathyroid hormone [PTH] by immune radio metric assay. Dietary intake was assessed by 3-day dietary record. Bone mineral density [BMD] was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry [DXA] at the lumbar spine and left femur. Comparison between means of the groups was carried out using one-way analysis of variance test. To examine the correlation between dietary factors and bone related chemistry markers, multiple and linear regression was used. According to the results of lumbar spine BMD, women [n=58] were classified into 3 groups: normal [n=18], osteopenia [n=22], and osteoporosis [n=18]. The mean serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and alkaline phosphatase in 3 groups were in the normal range. Serum PTH in the osteoporosis group was higher than other groups. The mean dietary calcium intake in the osteoporosis groups was significantly lower than the normal group [p=0.01]. The results of analyzing by linear regression, showed a significant correlation between calcium intake and PTH [r=-0.61, p=0.0001, B=-0.032]. These findings suggest that postmenopausal women need to be educated regarding osteoporosis and the related preventive measures, such as the effect of nutrients on bone health, and the adequate intake of dairy products and calcium rich-foods