[Snack pattern in relation to body mass index and lipid profile in overweight and obese adults in Tabriz]

Background: Proper nutrition is one of the important contributing factors in health and preventing of obesity. This study was aimed to assess the consumption of snacks and their relationship with Obesity and lipid profile in overweight and obese adults in Tabriz

Methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 422 men and women aged 20-60 years with body mass index [BMI] over than 24.99Kg/m2. Weight and height were measured and BMI were classified into four groups i.e."25-29.99Kg/m2" - "30-34.99Kg/m2" and "35-39.99Kg/m2" and "40Kg/m2". Fasting blood sampling was taken to assess serum lipid profile. After completing the 80-food item food frequency questionnaire, median of weekly frequency consumption of snacks in relation to BMI and serum lipid profiles were analyzed using correlation coefficient

Results: There was a significant positive correlation between BMI and serum total cholesterol [P=0.001] and triglyceride [P=0.009] levels. The most common snacks were fruits and tea while low-fat milk and fruit cans showed the lowest weekly frequency. BMI showed a negative and positive correlation respectively with weekly frequency consumption of low-fat milk and tea. There was also found a significant negative correlation between serum total cholesterol and weekly frequency consumption of natural juices [r=-0.100, P=0.041], industrial juices [r=-0.147, P=0.002], also between serum HDL-c levels with weekly frequency consumption of ice cream [r=-0.120, P=0.016] and LDL-c levels with weekly frequency consumption of industrial juice [r=-0.140, P=0.005]. Weekly frequency consumption of coffee and ice cream were negatively correlated with Serum triglyceride levels

Conclusion: Our findings support the beneficial effect of healthy snacks such as low-fat milk, juices on lipid profile as well as BMI

[Identification of major dietary patterns in Tabriz adults]

Background and Objectives: Dietary patterns reflect diet and nutritional habits of the individuals in a society. Moreover, dietary patterns help identify subjects who are at risk of chronic disease to propose proper dietary guidelines. The present study aimed to identify the prominent dietary patterns among apparently healthy adults in Tabriz, Iran

Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 670 males and females, aged 25-50 years, selected with simple random sampling from 4 medical centers of Tabriz city including Sheykh-Al-raees clinic, specialist clinics of Imam Reza hospital, clinic of Alinasab hospital and Bu-Ali clinic [Valiasr area]. Food intake was evaluated using a 132-item semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire after collecting participants' demographic data. Finally, major dietary patterns were extracted through the method of factor analysis

Results: Four major identified dietary patterns were Western, healthy, mixed and Azerbaijan traditional dietary patterns among which healthy dietary pattern [28.8%] was the most prominent. The proportion of adherence to the Western, mixed and traditional dietary patterns was 25.7%, 24.8%, 20.6%, respectively. Moreover, it was observed that among males, Western dietary pattern [33.7%] and among women, healthy dietary pattern [32.4%] had the most followers

Conclusion: Despite dominance of the healthy dietary pattern, more than one-quarter of subjects follow the Western dietary pattern which plays an important role in the incidence of chronic diseases

[ assessment of vitamin D intake in multiple sclerosis patients: a case control trial]

Background and Objectives: Although the etiology of multiple sclerosis [MS] - a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system - has not been well understood, the role of environmental factors, particularly the lack of vitamin D has recently been considered. Therefore, this study was aimed to compare the intake of food containing vitamin D between the MS patients and healthy individuals

Materials and Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 168 MS patients randomly selected from MS Society of East Azerbaijan province in Tabriz and 168 age and sex - matched apparently healthy individuals from relatives of the MS subjects or healthy volunteers in December 2012 - March 2013. Data regarding the consumption of food containing vitamin D, were obtained through completing a semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire and face-to-face 3-day food records by a trained interviewer

Results: Although the weekly frequency consumption of fat group did not show any significant differences between the groups, weekly frequency consumption of meat group, daily products and miscellaneous foods such as hamburgers, bolognia, sausages, and fresh mushrooms in healthy volunteers were significantly higher than MS patients [P<0.05]. Inadequate dietary vitamin D among the MS patients was approximately three-fold more common than healthy subjects [P=0.041]

Conclusion: Our finding indicate the inadequacy of consumption of vitamin D containing foods among MS patients which probably reveal the necessity of nutrition education and vitamin D supplementation in MS

Effect of a probiotic preparation [VSL no.3] in critically ill patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial [Pilot Study]

Objective: Reactive oxygen species [ROS] are a major contributing factor in diseases pathophysiology in critically ill patients. Oxidative stress usually occurs in critical illnesses, specifically during sepsis, and organ dysfunction. The anti-oxidative properties of probiotics may serve as a defense in intestine and overcome various oxidative stresses. The aim of this trial was to determine the effect of probiotics on inflammation, antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation in critically ill patients

Methodology: Forty patients admitted to the intensive care unit were enrolled in this double-blind, randomized controlled trial. They were randomized to receive placebo or probiotic for 7 days. Serum levels of Total Antioxidant Capacity [TAC], Malodialdehyde [MDA], C-Reactive Protein [CRP] and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation [APACHE II] score were measured before initiation of the study and on the 7[th] day

Results: There was a significant difference in CRP levels and APACHE II score between two groups at the end of the study [P= 0.003 and 0.001, respectively]. There was not a significant difference in levels of TAC and MDA between two groups

Conclusions: Administration of probiotics to critically ill patients caused reduction in inflammation and improvement of clinical outcome. However, there were not significant changes in markers of oxidative stress

Correlation of obesity and overweight with emotional-behavioral problems in primary school age girls in Tabriz, Iran

Obesity and overweight have shown an increasing trend in most developing countries. Childhood obesity would impose numerous health-related problems. This study was conducted to determine the correlation of obesity and overweight with emotional-behavioral problems in primary school age girls. In a cross-sectional study, 300 primary school girls [aged 7-11 years] were selected using a multi-staged sampling method, including randomized cluster and stratified method. For all students body mass index was measured and then based on BMI for age and sex, from each grade [1-5], 20 students were selected for each group of normal weight, overweight and obese. The emotional-behavioral problems were evaluated using child behavior checklist that consists of 113 items for childhood behavioral problems. Total behavioral problems were seen in 17%, 27%, and 2% in obese, overweight, and normal weight children, respectively. Internalizing problems [including Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn, and Somatic Complaints] were seen in 11%, 15%, and 2% and externalizing problems [including Aggressive and Delinquent Behaviors] were observed in 8%, 17%, and 2% in obese, overweight, and normal weight children, respectively. The mean scores in all scales were higher in obese and overweight children in comparison with normal weight children and the emotional-behavioral problems had significant positive correlation with obesity and overweight [P<0.01]. Despite the cultural differences between east and west, yet there are similarities in the most of the emotional-behavioral problems related to overweight and obesity. Also, it seems that the risk of behavioral-emotional problems in overweight girls is more than in obese girls. Overweight and Obesity prevention may be a primary preventive step for these problems in children

[Prevalence of Metabolic syndrome in Tabriz city firefighters]

Metabolic syndrome [Metsyn] is closely associated with cardiovascular disease [CVD] particularly in stressful jobs such as firefighting. As studies assessing prevalence of Metsyn among firefighters are rare, this study was aimed to assess prevalence of Metsyn, insulin resistance and LP[a] level among firefighters in Tabriz city. 76 firefighters and 73 official staffs in Tabriz firefighting organization were compared for demographic characteristics, anthropometric and blood pressure level. Obesity was defined using three indexes including body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC] and waist-to-hip ratio [WHR]. Fasting serum was used for assessing lipid profile, LP[a] and HOMA score. Metsyn was determined using international diabetes federation [IDF] criteria. Prevalence of obesity was more based on the waist circumference compared with other obesity indexes, 28.9% and 35.6% in firefighters and staffs, respectively. Around half of the cases and controls suffered from hypertension. Prevalence of Metsyn was found in 56/6% of firefighters and 60/3% of staffs. The mean of LP[a] and HOMA score in firefighters and staffs was 18.40 mg/dl and 1.17 vs. 18.15 mg/dl and 1.48, respectively. Neither LP[a] [P=0.823] and HOMA score [P=0.668] nor biochemical parameters were statistically different between two groups. Obesity and Metsyn were common among firefighters and the staffs. Knowledge promotion focusing on lifestyle modification such as physical activity and healthy eating is suggested

modified atkins diet for intractable childhood epilepsy

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a modified Atkins diet for intractable childhood epilepsy. Twenty one children with medically intractable epilepsy were enrolled in the study. Inclusion criteria were at least four seizures per month and a trial of at least three anticonvulsants without becoming seizure-free. The subjects received the diet over a 6-month period. Three months after diet initiation, 15 patients [71.4%] remained on the diet and 12 [57.1%] had >50% seizure reduction. Eleven patients [52.4%] completed the 6-month study and 8 [38.1%] chose to remain on the diet afterward. At 6 months, 9 patients [42.8%] had >50% seizure reduction. The diet was more effective in cryptogenic epilepsy [p=0.032]. Most complications were transient and successfully managed by careful follow-up and conservative strategies. The modified Atkins diet is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for intractable childhood epilepsy