[Effect of supplementation with grape seed extract [vitis vinifera] on serum lipid profiles in patient with type 2 diabetes]

Lipid abnormalities are a major cause of cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes. The present study was therefore designed to investigate the supplemental effects of grape seed extract on serum lipid profiles of patients with type 2 diabetes. The study was a randomized, triple-blind, clinical trial in which 48 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the grape seed extract supplement and the placebo group. The patients in the grape seed extract group received 200 mg/d grape seed extract for 8 weeks while the placebo group received a corresponding placebo. At baseline and or the end of the 8[th] week of the study, 5 ml blood was collected after a 12 to 14-hour fast from each patient and serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C were measured. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to mean changes of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C. The results of the present study indicate that grape seed extract supplement has no effect on serum lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes

[Study of awareness towards and the pattern of milk consumption in 7-12 year old elementary school students in the city of Sari and their mothers [2005-2006]]

Today, most societies face significant decrease in consuming milk products in children and this process would cause problems in providing the calcium needed by children, particularly since the osteoporosis is definitely connected to a lack of receiving sufficient calcium in children and adolescence age. Therefore, the goal of this study is to study the knowledge and pattern of milk consumption in 7-12 year old children of Sari and their mothers. The research samples consisted 638 male and female student at 7-12 in elementary schools [urban and rural], chosen at random from 16 schools. Necessary data were obtained through separate and different questionnaires on the output of milk consumption and its products through direct interviews. The data of the study were analyzed using t-Test, ANOVA, Duncan follow up, Chi-square and correlation coefficient. In this study, 44% of children and 37.7% of mothers consumed milk and 50.1% of children and 19.4% mothers sometimes consumed milk. 5.5% of children and 19.4% of mothers did not consume milk. Mostly, the reason for non-consuming milk among children and mothers was: not having access to milk [27.9% and 17.7%]. The awareness towards the advantages of milk was desirable in 67% children and 48.7% of mothers. It was almost desirable in 21.1% children and 4.5% of mothers and undesirable in 1.4% of children and 1.1% of mothers. The amount of milk consumption for 62% of urban children and 49% of rural children was only one unit, and, in sum, the amount of milk consumption for 59% of boys and 55% of girls was less than the recommended figures. The mean average of criteria deviation in the amount of milk consumption for children showed a significant difference from their educational levels [p=0.001] and insignificant difference from their sex. In addition, the pattern of milk consumption of children had significant relationship with the sex, education level and education of father; however, it had significant relationship with the education level of mothers and the jobs of mother and father. Children's knowledge about the advantages of milk had a significant relationship with the education level of mothers, fathers and jobs of mothers [P<0.004]; however, it had a insignificant relationship with their sex. In this study, the amount of milk consumption in half of the population subjects of the study was less than the standard recommended amount; therefore, to improve children's health status and prevent the destructive effects of osteoporosis in adulthood, there should be necessary actions to increase milk consumption among children

[ study of the female students' knowledge on osteoporosis in Tabriz university]

Osteoporosis is a growing health problem which threatens the quality of life in the elderly. Young women have a limited knowledge about the risk factors of osteoporosis. To assess the knowledge of female university students about osteoporosis, through a cross-sectional descriptive study, 260 female students from Tabriz university and Tabriz university of medical sciences were selected by stratified random samples based on their fields and levels of study. A questionnaire including 17 questions on osteoporosis was completed to assess their knowledge. ANOVA and Pearson correlation Coefficient were used for data analysis. The mean of age was 23.45 yr [ranging 18-32 yr]. Most of the subjects [83.8%] were undergraduated and 1.5% were MSc students. More than half of the subjects were medical students. The proportion of native students was 37 1%. Results showed that 37.1% and 62.9% of the subjects had desirable and relatively desirable knowledge on osteoporosis respectively. The sources of knowledge were media [52.9%], nutritionists respectively. The sources of knowledge were media[52.9%], nutritionists [33.6%] friends [17.4%] and physicians [14.7%]. There was a significant difference in knowledge scores between medical and non-medical students [P<0.001]. Knowledge scores were positively associated with educational level [P<0.001], source of information [P<0.05] and the field of study [P<0.05] while no association was found for age. On the whole, to reduce osteoporosis, it is necessary to concentrate more on intervention programs to increase women's knowledge about this disease

effect of nutrition education on the knowlege and practice of elementary school children regarding junk food intake

Nutritional habits and behavior are acquired and established during childhood and can remain through the whole life. Proper nutrition in childhood results in enhancing the child growth and development and hinders the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Regarding the significance of nutritional training of school children, this study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of nutrition education on knowledge and nutritional practice of grade five elementary school children about junk food intake in Tabriz from 2004 to 2005. This experimental study was conducted on 487 students [from 16 schools] in two control and treatment groups. In this research two teaching styles [lecturing without teaching aids - and with teaching aids and group discussion] were performed for twelve sessions for the students. Data collecting tool was a questionnaire whose reliability and validity had been confirmed in advance. To investigate the effect of intervention of nutrition education in junk food consumption Solomon method was used. The results obtained from this study showed no significant difference between mean knowledge and practice of the students in control and education groups before intervention. However, after nutrition education there was a significant difference [P=0.005] between mean score of knowledge and practice in two groups and the mean score of practice in treatment group increased from 87.8 +/- 31.95 before intervention to 104.6 +/- 28.34 after intervention and the mean score of knowledge increased from 22.4 +/- 16.49 before intervention to 42.6 +/- 25.68 after intervention. In addition, knowledge and practice increased significantly in two groups [P=0.005]. The results were more favorable in girls than in boys [P=0.005]. Nutrition education plays a crucially important role in improvement of knowledge and practice, particularly in school. Replacement of junk food with nutritious, healthy food will reduce the complications posed by consumption of junk food. Parents, education also seems essential to reduce the consumption of junk food