[ association between dietary energy density and the risk of type 2 diabetes: Tehran lipid and glucose study]

Dietary energy-dense foods predispose to obesity and may be associated with risk of type 2 diabetes; therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the association between dietary energy density [DED] and the risk of type 2 diabetes. In this matched nested case-control study, 178 new onset cases of diabetes were selected from among participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, and followed for over 9 years. Each case was randomly matched with 3 controls from among participants who had not developed diabetes. Dietary intakes were determined using a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire. DED was calculated as energy intakes [kcal] from foods and beverages divided by the weight [grams] of foods. The mean ages of participants were 43 +/- 6.5 and 44.5 +/- 12 years, in women and men respectively. Individuals with higher DED had higher calories, total fat, carbohydrate and processed meat intakes and lower fruit and vegetable intakes in men and women [P<0.05]. Energy density was positively associated with incident diabetes in women, after adjustment for diabetes risk factors and total calorie intake [OR: 2.28, P trend=0.02] or total fat intake [OR: 2.15, P trend=0.03], an association which was not significant in men. In this nested case-control study, there was positive association between DED and risk of type 2 diabetes in women

Relationship between dietary pattern and cardiometabolic risk factors in women with PCOS

To identify a dietary pattern predictive of visceral adiposity index [VAI], using reduced rank regression, and to examine its associations with cardiometabolic risks in the PCOS women. This case-control study was conducted on 53 PCOS women and 167 age-matched healthy women from the population of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. Dietary intakes were collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The associations of dietary pattern with cardiometabolic risks were investigated by Pearson's correlation and linear regression. In this study, a positively correlated VAI dietary pattern, characterized by high consumption of fried vegetables, vegetable oils [except for olive oil], fast foods and low consumption of dairy, and cruciferous vegetables was identified. The dietary pattern was correlated with triglycerides [rcontrols=0.32, rPCOS=0.41], triglycerides/HDL-C ratio [rcontrols=0.35, rPCOS=0.44] and HDL-C [rcontrols=-0.22, rPCOS=-0.26] in both groups. The pattern was also positively correlated with waist circumference, total cholesterol [TC], LDL-C and systolic blood pressure in the controls. After adjustment for age and BMI, dietary pattern was associated with triglycerides [Pcontrol=0.22, p=0.003; betaPCOS=0.48, P=0.001] and triglycerides/HDL-C ratio [Pcontrol= 0.23, P=0.002; betaPCOS= 0.52, P=0.001] in both groups. The dietary pattern was inversely associated with HDL-C in both groups, but the association was attenuated by adjusting for age and BMI in the PCOS group. High adherence to the dietary pattern was associated with cardiometaboiic risks in controls and to a lesser degree in the PCOS group

[Effects of flaxseed and its nutritional components on the metabolic syndrome and associated risk factors]

In recent years, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased considerably in most countries worldwide, with an estimated age range of 10-25% in adults. In Iran, 30% adults and 10% adolescents have the syndrome, increasing their risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular by 5- and 2-fold, respectively. Flaxseed is the worlds richest vegetable source of lignin and alpha-linolenic acid, essential fatty acids and it is a good source of dietary fiber; its possible role in prevention of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes has been reported. Also, there is evidence suggesting that this functional food can have beneficial effects in reducing the incidence of metabolic syndrome by reducing its risk factors. To better understand the beneficial effects of this functional food, this study aimed to assess the effects of flaxseed and its nutritional components on metabolic syndrome and its associated risk factors. A review of literature showed that taking flaxseed, its lignan or alpha-linolenic acid is effective in reducing the risk factors of Metabolic Syndrome, i.e abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, HDL decrease, impaired fasting glucose, and hypert-ension. Flaxseed can reverse insulin resistance and central obesity and hence,has an important role in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. It can also reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, which are inter-related indications in obesity and metabolic syndrome

[Association between glycemic index, glycemic load and cardiovascular risk factors in adults]

Limited studies on the relation between the cardiovascular diseases [CVDs] risk factors and dietary glycemic index [GI] and glycemic load [GL] are available. This study was done to determine the association between glycemic index, glycemic load and cardiovascular risk factors in adults. This descriptive study was carried out on 2284 subjects [1327 males, 957 females] with 19-84 age in Tehran, Iran during 2005-08. Dietary GI and GL were assessed using a validated semi quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Blood pressure, Anthropometric, fasting blood of glucose and lipid profiles including total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein [HDL] and low density lipoprotein [LDL] as a CVDs risk factors were measured. The mean intake of nutrient, adjusted for energy production, gender, age, according to GI and GL, using general linear model analysis covariance test was measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS-15, one-way analysis variance, Chi-Square, partial correlation and Linear regression. The mean intakes of glycemic index and glycemic load were 68.3 and 244.8, respectively. Dietary GI and GL was inversely associated with whole grain and positively associated with refined grained, fruits, dairy products and simple sugar. After adjustment for lifestyle and dietary variables, dietary GI was inversely associated with triglyceride and HDL cholesterol concentrations among obese subjects. Dietary GL was inversely associated with fasting and 2-h blood glucose among non-obese subjects after adjustment for confounders. GI in obese men associated with serum increase triglyceride and reduced HDL-C. Glycemic load in a non-obese man is correlated with reducing fasting blood glucose

[Correlation between menarcheal age and certain demographic characteristics]

The first occurrence of menstruation [or periods] is called menarche and it is a vital event during puberty in girls. Various studies show a downward trend in menarcheal age over the last hundred years. Many factors can influence age at menarche. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between menarcheal age and certain demographic characteristics, in female residents of district 13, Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. In this longitudinal descriptive, conducted within the framework of the Tehran lipid and glucose study, subjects were 402 girls, aged 12 and 18 years, whose menarche had not begun at the initiation of the study, but it did during their follow-up. In order to collect data, questionnaires previously completed in the TLGS were used. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire confirmed in previous studies. Various factors including maternal age at menarche, maternal education, maternal occupation, body mass index, physical activity, energy expenditure and exposure to tobacco smoke were examined. Findings showed that the mean age at menarche was 13.06 +/- 1.24 years in this study. There were significant statistical associations between body mass index [P=0.002, r=-0.04], mother's age at menarche [P<0.001, r=0.66] and maternal education [P=0.027, r=0.25] and the subjects age at menarche. However there was no significant association between age at menarche, with mother's occupation, passive smoking, physical activity and energy expenditure. It seems that BMI, mother's menarcheal age and maternal education are factors that influence the age at menarche

[Relationship between infant nutrition feeding and childhood obesity in first grade Tehranian students of primary schools, 2009]

Since the prevalence and severity of childhood obesity is increasing, understanding the effective factors for prevention of this disorder is important. A total of 513 students of both sexes in the first year of primary schools, were recruited in this cross-sectional study. They were chosen randomly from 19 regions [of the ministry of education] from Tehran city. Their weight and height were measured, and information on infant birth and feeding characteristics [birth order, birth weight, the type of feeding in infancy, the duration of exclusive breast feeding, the duration of breast feeding and formula feeding] activity levels, the timing of the introduction of complementary foods were obtained. Descriptive statistical methods such as frequency distribution table,%C2 test and central and dispersion parameters were used to describe samples. Eight percent of the children were overweight and 11.7% were obese. There was no significant relation between the type of feeding [breast or formula feeding] and children's BMI. The duration of breast feeding was not significantly associated with children's BMI, Children's BMI had a negative linear association with the duration of exclusive breast feeding [r=-0.151, P=0.0001]. The duration of formula feeding was associated with children's BMI [r=0.108, P=0.007]. Children's BMI had an inverse linear relation with the time of introduction of complementary foods [r=-0.128, P=0.002]. This study shows the importance of duration of breast feeding in reducing the risk of childhood obesity