[Effects of vitamin E supplementation on activity of serum paraoxonase, SOD, GPX enzymes and lipid profiles in beta major thalassemia patients]

In pathogenesis of beta major thalassemia, tissue damage is occurring due to oxidative stress. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of vitamin E supplementation on serum Paraoxonase, SOD, GPX enzyme activity and lipid profiles in beta major thalassemia patients. In this clinical tiral study, Sixty [25 males, 35 females] beta major thalassemia patients with age >/= 18 years who had criterias to enter the study, were selected randomely in two groups. The patients in interventional group, vitamin E at a dose of 400 mg/day were given for three months, with no supplementations in control group. The enzyme activities of paraoxonase, SOD, GPX and lipid profiles [LDL-c, HDL-c, triglyceride, total Antixidant Capacity] were measured prior and after 3 months in both case and control groups. Data analyzed by using paired t-test. Significant increases in serum levels of vitamin E, Paraoxonase activity, HDL cholesterol [P<0.001], BMI [P

[Pattern of diet and supplement consumption among multiple sclerotic patients pre and post diagnosis and their attitudes toward the effects of these parameters on disease progression]

Multiple Sclerosis [MS] is one of the central nervous system white matter disorders, with variable prevalence in various districts. Some researches proposed the probable effects of diet as a risk factor in the etiology and control of MS due to its variety of patterns in diverse cultures and regions. Determination of the MS patients' dietary habits, before and after diagnosis of the disease and their attitude toward the effect of dietary parameters on the disease progression. In this cross-sectional study, A total of 166 confirmed MS patients referred to Tabriz MS society during 2005 to 2006 were assessed by a pretested questionnaire composed of 3 sections of questions about demographic informations, dietary habits pre and post disease diagnosis, weight and appetite changes and also changes in dietary patterns after diagnosis. Data were analyzed by t-student test and qi2 in SPSS version 16. A total of 122 women and 44 men participated with the mean age of 31.97 +/- 9.21 years, and the mean age of diagnosis 28.33 +/- 8.84 years, in this study. As revealed, 79.8% of the patients didn't change their dietary patterns mainly because of their inattention to probable effect of nutrition on symptoms of disease in 80% of cases. There was a significant change in the type of using oil that reduced the disease severity among 50% of the patients. Also, there was a significant increase in the usage of dietary supplement and fish oil and a significant decrease in tendency toward egg, sugar, and pickles, following the disease. The patients suggested that fruits, milk, olive and its oil, vegetables, fish and nuts are sequentially alleviating the symptoms but pickles, hot [chilli] foods, confectionary products, fried foods, conserved food and red meat aggrevating the symptoms. From patients' viewpoints, dietary patterns and supplements are somehow effective on the symptoms of multiple sclerosis

Comparison of low-calorie diet with and without sibutramine on body weight and liver function of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver [NAFLD] is defined as a spectrum of clinical scenarios which is pathological deposition of fat droplets in the liver of patients who have no history of alcohol use. This study compared the effect of low calorie diet with and without sibutramine on body weight and liver function in patients with NAFLD. This clinical trial study was conducted in 2010 at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, on 40 obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver. Patients were randomly divided into two equal groups of intervention and control groups. Group one received 15 mg daily sibutramine capsules half an hour before lunch and a weight loss diet based on ideal body weight. The other group only had diet control for weight reduction. Before and after 3 months of intervention, weight changes, fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin HbA1c, levels of liver enzymes and ultrasound evaluation was repeated. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software and the paired T test, Mann-Whitney and McNemar test. The mean age of the subjects was 38.90 +/- 7.00 in the sibutramine group and 36.55 _7.87 for the control group. After three months, the average weight loss in sibutramine group was significantly more than the control group sibutramine group13 kg and control group 4 kg [p<0.05]. Improvement in liver echogenicity in sibutramine patients was 90% and 50% of diet group patients. ALT changes in the sibutramine group and control group was 7.50 +/- 15.11 and 6.15 +/- 28.23 respectively, which was statistically significant in the sibutramine group. AST changes were 4.38 +/- 13.37 and 1.70 +/- 18.37 in sibutramine and control group respectively. The changes were not statistically significant. Overall, findings of this study suggest that sibutramine is effective in liver function improvement and treatment of NAFLD patients

Long-term effects of processed Berberis vulgaris on some metabolic syndrome components

Metabolic syndrome is complex of metabolic disorders that correlates with cardiovascular disease. This study aimed at investigating the effect of processed Berberis vulgaris [B.vulgaris] on some metabolic syndrome components. Participants, type2 diabetics, were recruited in a randomized controlled clinical trial [n = 57] and randomly assigned into three groups: 1] processed B.vulgaris [n =19], 2] apple vinegar group [n =19] and 3] control group [n =19]. Height, weight, serum total cholesterol, HDL-, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and insulin concentrations were measured at baseline and at the end of the 8th week and BMI, total/HDL-cholesterol ratio and insulin resistance were estimated. Processed B.vulgaris group showed no significant effects on BMI, total cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose concentrations, whereas LDL-cholesterol concentration [22.48 +/- 35.44mg/dl] and total/HDL-cholesterol ratio [2.56 +/- 4.87] significantly decreased and HDL-cholesterol concentration [12.33 +/- 20.58mg/dl] increased [P < 0.05]. No significant effect on lipid profiles was found in the apple vinegar group. Increased insulin concentration and insulin resistance was observed in all of these groups [P < 0.001], independent of processed B.vulgaris and apple vinegar effects. Findings of the present study showed the beneficial effects of processed B.vulgaris on certain atherosclerosis risk factors