ABSTRACT
Background: According to previous studies, probiotic and prebiotic supplementation have desirable effects on glycemic parameters. Thus far, the effect of supplementation on the glycemic parameters and adipokines in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] has not been assessed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of supplementation with probiotic and prebiotic on adiokines and glycemic parameters in the patients with NAFLD
Methods: In the present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 89 patients with NAFLD were randomly divided into three groups to receive one probiotic capsule + 16 g/d maltodextrin [probiotic group] or 16 g/d oligofructose powder + one placebo capsule [prebiotic group], and one placebo capsule + 16 g/d maltodextrin [control group] for 12 weeks. All the subjects in the study were advised to follow the weight loss diet and physical activity recommendations during the intervention. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after the intervention to measure leptin, adiponectin, insulin, and fasting blood sugar
Results: At the end of the study, serum concentrations of leptin, insulin, and HOMA-IR decreased significantly in the probiotic and prebiotic groups compared with the control group. Despite the changes within the groups, serum concentrations of adiponectin did not change significantly between the three groups. Also, fasting blood sugar did not change between the groups, but decreased in the prebiotic group. Quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index [QUICKI] increased significantly in probiotic and prebiotic groups compared with the control group
Conclusion: Probiotic and prebiotic supplementation along with lifestyle intervention has a favorable impact on glycemic parameters and leptin levels compared with lifestyle intervention alone
ABSTRACT
Obesity is an epidemic nutritional disease caused mainly by excessive dietary intake and/or insufficient exercise. The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between a number of demographic characteristics and eating habits with prevalence of overweight and obesity in hospital employees. The study was cross-sectional performed on employees of Namazi Hospital in Shiraz, Iran. Subjects were selected from different departments of the hospital. Demographic characteristics, eating habits, and exercise were questioned by interview. Overweight and obesity was defined as a body mass index >/= 25 kg/m[2]. The rate of overweight/obesity was 30.2%. Among demographic characteristics, only age [OR=5.6 for older ages, p=0.001] and sex [OR=0.4 for females, p=0.04] were significantly associated with overweight/obesity. Skipping breakfast was not associated with overweight/obesity, but skipping meals [OR=2.8, p=0.08] and consuming >/= 3 snacks per day [OR=0.2, p=0.05] had associations with it, although non-significantly. Performing >/= 60 min/day [but not >/= 45 min/day] exercise was associated with a lower risk of overweight/obesity [OR=0.1, p=0.01]. The association between exercise and overweight/obesity existed in both sexes, but the association between skipping meals and obesity was present only in females [OR=3.8, p=0.05]. Females skipped meals especially breakfast more frequently than males [p=0.001] but snack consumption and exercise was not statistically different between the two sexes. Eating 3 meals and at least 3 snacks per day and performing 1 hour or more exercise may be introduced as helpful strategies in prevention of obesity