Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index and Maternal Nutrition in Relation to Infant Birth Size

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and dietary intake on birth size in the north-east part of Iran. Maternal information including BMI and dietary intake from 453 healthy pregnant women were collected in 2013–2014. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI were obtained from health records and dietary intakes in third trimester were collected by using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), which consisted of 160 Iranian foods. Anthropometric measurements of neonates including weight, height, and head circumference were 3.19 ± 0.49 kg, 50.24 ± 2.1 cm, and 34.61 ± 1.5 cm, respectively. A significant difference was found in neonatal birth weight (p < 0.001) and head circumference (p = 0.002) between underweight and obese mothers. Furthermore, maternal intake of fat had a direct correlation with birth size. There was a positive relationship between vitamin A and potassium intake and birth height. The article concludes that normal maternal pre-pregnancy weight and appropriate diet are likely essential for healthy babies.

Cardiovascular risk factors and nutritional intake are not associated with ultrasound-defined increased carotid intima media thickness in individuals without a history of cardiovascular events

Carotid ultrasound appears to be useful in the assessment of cardiovascular risk. In this study, we have assessed the carotid intima-media thickness [CIMT] in a group of individuals without a history of cardiovascular events. A sample of 431subjects [189 [43.9%] males and 242 [56.1%] females] was obtained from an urban population using a stratified-cluster method in Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerosis disorder study. None of the subjects had a history of the cardiovascular event. Carotid artery duplex ultrasound was used to determine the CIMT in all subjects, and to identify those with an abnormal value [CIMT [+]; i.e., CIMT >/= 0.8 mm]. Dietary intake of participants was assessed using a questionnaire for 24-h dietary recall. The relationship between anthropometric, biochemical and dietary data and CIMT were assessed. The mean age of subjects was 48.7 +/- 8.0 years. Of the 431 patients, 118 [27.4%] were found to be CIMT [+]. Of the cardiovascular parameters assessed, only age [odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval [CI]], 1.11 [0.56-4.34]; P < 0.01] and male gender [OR [95% CI], 1.14 [0.63-2.23]; P < 0.05] were significant independent predictors of ultrasound defined CIMT. Crude and total energy adjusted intake were not associated with the presence of CIMT [+]. It appears that within a relatively young Iranian population of individuals without a history of cardiovascular event, the presence of CIMT [+] defined by duplex ultrasound cut-off value of >/= 0.8 mm, did not associate with several modifiable cardiovascular risk factors or measures of dietary intake

Changes in dietary intake during Ramadan in North East of Iran population

Ramadan is the holiest month in Islamic calendar and Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, and smoking from dawn to sunset, in which there are changes in quality of food and eating patterns. The purpose of this study was to know whether these changes provide nutritional needs, and supply all of necessary macronutrients for individuals in the month. A prospective observational study was performed during Ramadan of 1429 AH [September, 2008] in Mashhad, Iran. Among 335 subjects enrolled for the study, 266 subjects met inclusion criteria. We used a semi?quantitative 302?item food frequency questionnaire [FFQ] that was self?administered and assessed the subject's energy, macronutrient, and fiber intake over the previous three days. Dietary intake assessment was carried out one week before or after Ramadan and during the month. Data showed that the amount of energy intake and macronutrients increased significantly in women and men less than 35 years during Ramadan, and also we found a significant difference in protein intake between males and females less than 35 years old out of Ramadan time. This study revealed that there was a significant increase in intake of energy and macronutrients in men and women less than 35 years that was mainly due to high consumption of carbohydrate during this month. In this study there was no change in energy intake of participants over 35 years old

Serum selenium concentration in Mashhad prisoners, Iran

To determine the serum selenium concentration among prisoners in the central jail of Mashhad, Northeast of Iran. In a cross-section study, a sample of 435 prisoners [387 men [34.5 +/- 10 years] and 48 women [36.4 +/- 11 years]] recruited during May 2008 to June 2008 from Mashhad Central Prison, Mashhad, Iran, using multistage sampling method, proportionate to gender, age groups and kind of crime. Serum level of selenium was assessed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean of serum selenium concentration was 121 +/- 20 micro g/l. Prevalence of selenium deficiency was 9.7% in selected sample. The selenium deficiency was more prevalent in women than men [25.5% versus 7.8%, p=0.00]. Age distribution of serum selenium level had a different pattern among men and women. While in men serum selenium level on average was least in those aged 50 and over, in women, serum selenium did not change with age. Body mass index [BMI] and weight change had no relations. Results of this study suggest that selenium status of the prisoners in Mashhad central prison is of concern. Women may be at higher risk for selenium deficiency. These results have implications for officials in charge with prisoners and health policy makers

examination of pre/post-adenotonsillectomy obesity indices in 3-10 year old children in Mashad, Iran

Adenotonsillectomy is one of the most frequent surgical operations on children, which may result in weight gain in a number ways, for instance, by increasing IGF-1 or decreasing respiratory hyperactivity. This was an intervention study with a control group, conducted on fifty 3-10-year-old children who had undergone adenotonsillectomy and on fifty children as the control group. The intervention and control groups were identical in terms of age and sex. Height, weight, midarm muscle circumference, waist circumference, and percent body fat measures were performed on the intervention group before and six months after the surgery. The same measurements were also performed on the control group at zero time and six months later. Ultimately, the results were examined and compared. The body mass index [BMI] and percent body fat in the intervention group showed a significant change after six months, with P values of 0.002 and 0.024 respectively. There were no significant correlations for other variables. Based on the findings of this study, children who had undergone adenotonsillectomy for various indications showed a gradual postoperative increase in their BMI and percent body fat

Standardized percentile curves of body mass index of northeast Iranian children aged 25 to 60 months

Growth charts are widely used to assess children's growth status and can provide a trajectory of growth during early important months of life. Racial differences necessitate using local growth charts. This study aimed to provide standardized growth curves of body mass index [BMI] for children living in northeast Iran. A total of 23730 apparently healthy boys and girls aged 25 to 60 months recruited for 20 days from those attending community clinics for routine health checks. Anthropometric measurements were done by trained health staff using WHO methodology. The LMSP method with maximum penalized likelihood, the Generalized Additive Models, the Box-Cox power exponential distribution distribution, Akaike Information Criteria and Generalized Akaike Criteria with penalty equal to 3 [GAIC[3]], and Worm plot and Q-tests as goodness of fit tests were used to construct the centile reference charts. The BMI centile curves for boys and girls aged 25 to 60 months were drawn utilizing a population of children living in northeast Iran. The results of the current study demonstrate the possibility of preparation of local growth charts and their importance in evaluating children's growth. Also their differences, relative to those prepared by global references, reflect the necessity of preparing local charts in future studies using longitudinal data

Newly detected hypertension in an Iranian population: an epidemiological study

Background: Early detection of undiagnosed hypertension may prevent or reduce the onset and progression of many diseases.Objective: To investigate the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in an Iranian population and its relation with socio-demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical factors.Methods: Four thousand five hundred nineteen subjects, aged 15-65 years, were eligible for the study. They were entered into the study through the cluster sampling method.Results: The overall prevalence of previously unknown hypertension was 24.2%. It was higher among urban dwellers who were poorly educated, married, and were manual laborers by occupation compared to other groups.Conclusion: Poor literacy status as well socioeconomic conditions may be positively associated with hypertension. Undiagnosed hypertension can be lowered by increasing access to routine blood pressure measurement, pre-employment medical examination, and improvement of the health seeking behavior in these groups.

Comparison of prooxidant-antioxidant balance method with crocin method for determination of total prooxidant-antioxidant capacity

Comparison of prooxidant-antioxidant balance [PAB] assay with crocin assay. Twenty eight serum samples were chosen, PAB and the total antioxidant capacity were measured by PAB assay and crocin, respectively, and the correlation of both assays, along with their correlation with other clinical and biochemical parameters, were determined. A significant negative correlation was established between PAB assay and crocin assay. Also a significant negative correlation was established between PAB and uric acid and creatinine. The results showed that by increasing the total antioxidant capacity, which is showed by crocin, the PAB shifts in favor of antioxidants, which is showed by PAB assay. Now, it could be considered that the PAB, along with other risk factors, might help in the prediction of the risk for cardiovascular events; and further research could clarify whether by application of PAB assay and appropriate interventions for correcting oxidative stress, progression of the cardiovascular disease could be reduced

Effect of a high dairy diet on serum antibody titers to heat shock protein 27 in overweight and obese children

An immune response to heat shock proteins appears to be involved in atherogenesis. To date, there has been no report on the impact of dairy or calcium consumption on serum antibody titers to heat shock protein 27 [anti-HSP27]. We have investigated whether an increase in dairy food consumption is capable of affecting serum antibody titers to heat shock protein 27 [anti-HSP27] level in children. Overweight and obese children [n=99, age: 12-18 y, body mass index: 27-40 kg/m2] were randomized to receive a calorie restricted diet providing a 500 kcal/d deficit from total energy expenditure and two [n=38], three [n=26] or four [n=35] servings of dairy products/day. Serum anti-HSP27 level in addition to the serum hs-CRP and lipid profile were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. Serum anti-HSP27 concentrations did not change significantly in any of the mentioned groups. Serum hs-CRP and lipid profile did not change significantly either, apart from a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol in the low-dairy group. An increased intake of dairy products does not lead to a significant change in serum anti-HSP27 level in overweight and obese children