Diet quality indices and their relationship with dyslipidemia in adults: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Food habits may influence a range of modifiable risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) including dyslipidemia. This study was conducted to find whether healthy eating index (HEI) and dietary quality index-international (DQI-I) were associated with the risk of dyslipidemia among the Iranian adults in Shiraz. METHOD: In this study, 236 participants with the age of 20-50 years were recruited from Shiraz medical centers through random cluster sampling. The HEI-2015 and DQI-I scores were computed using dietary intakes based on a 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Logistic regression was utilized to estimate the relation between HEI-2015 and DQI-I score and lipid profile. RESULTS: Individuals in the greatest adherence to the HEI-2015 was associated with reduced odds ratio (OR) of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the crude model (OR: 0.46 and OR: 0.30). This association was significant after adjustment for potential confounders (OR: 0.40 and OR: 0.31). Also, we observed significant association between DQI-I with TC and LDL in crude model (OR: 0.42 and OR: 0.45). In the adjusted model, participants in the last tertile of DQI-I were 55%, 58% and 57% less likely to have abnormal TC (OR: 0.45), LDL (OR: 0.42) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (OR: 0.43), compared those in the first tertile. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, higher adherence to DQI-I score was related to lower LDL and total cholesterol and higher HDL levels. Furthermore, in participants with higher adherence of HEI-2015 score, LDL and total cholesterol level were lower.

The relation between dietary quality and healthy eating index with bone mineral density in osteoporosis: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to illustrate the association between the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and Dietary Quality Index (DQI) with bone mineral density (BMD) among postmenopausal Iranian women with osteoporosis compared to the healthy control. METHODS: In the current case-control study, 131 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and 131 healthy postmenopausal women participated. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck BMD. The subjects completed a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and then HEI and DQI were calculated based on the FFQ data. Crude and adjusted multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relation between HEI and DQI with the odds of the femoral and lumbar BMD. RESULTS: According to the results, participants in the last tertile of HEI were more likely to have higher femoral and lumbar BMD in the crude model (odds ratio (OR) = 0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.20-0.71 and OR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.10-0.40, respectively) and also in the adjusted model (OR = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.20-0.78 and OR = 0.20; 95% CI: 0.10-0.41, respectively). Also, in terms of DQI-I, participants in the last tertile were more likely to have higher femoral and lumbar BMD in the crude model (OR = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.12-0.45 and OR = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.15-0.55, respectively) and also in the adjusted model (OR = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.14-0.58 and OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.17-0.67, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study supported the hypothesis that high-quality diets with healthy patterns can be clinically effective in maintaining bone health. Thus, recommendations regarding the consumption of nutrient-rich food groups in a healthy diet can serve as a practical non-pharmacological strategy against osteoporosis.

Evaluating the effect of digital game-based nutrition education on anemia indicators in adolescent girls: A randomized clinical trial.

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of micronutrient deficiency in the world. Adolescence represents a period of increased risk of iron deficiency. Therefore, we aimed to determine the impact of nutrition education by a digital game on markers of iron-deficient anemia in adolescent girls. In this study, 176 adolescent girls were randomly dichotomized into the intervention and control groups. At the beginning and the end of the intervention, knowledge, attitude, and practice of both groups were assessed by a questionnaire. Girls in the intervention group received the necessary education through a digital game during a 14-week period, while those in the control group received basic nutritional education through PowerPoint and pamphlets. Additionally, serum transferrin, serum iron, transferrin saturation, ferritin, CBC difference, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) tests were checked. In this study, nutrition education significantly increased the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of adolescent girls regarding their diet (p Ë‚ .05). Hemoglobin level was also significantly raised (p Ë‚ .05). However, no significant effect was observed on other markers of iron-deficient anemia, such as serum iron, TIBC, and hematocrit, in the intervention group compared with the control group (p Ëƒ .05). The results of this study indicated the positive impact of nutrition education based on digital game on knowledge, attitude, and practice scores, as well as a significant difference in hemoglobin. It is recommended that educational games be designed for students in the future to promote health and nutrition information.

Association between plant and animal proteins intake with lipid profile and anthropometric indices: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Results of studies on the effects of plant and animal proteins on lipid profile are controversial. So we aimed to assess the relationship between plant and animal protein intake with lipid profile and novel anthropometric indices in healthy individuals. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, 236 participants have selected from Shiraz medical centers (Iran) through random cluster sampling. Food intakes were assessed using a 168-items food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) were measured. Anthropometric indices including a body shape index (ABSI), abdominal volume index (AVI), buddy roundness index (BRI), and conicity index (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: In the crude and fully adjusted models, more consumption of plant proteins was associated with TG levels (OR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.08, 4.95; P = 0.03 and OR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.03, 5.15; P = 0.04). Also, there was a significant direct association between plant proteins and BRI in the curd model (OR = 3.55; 95% CI: 1.32, 9.54; P = 0.01), and after adjusting for age and energy intake (OR = 3.32; 95% CI: 1.21, 9.14; P = 0.01). More consumption of plant proteins was related to higher CI in the crude model (OR = 3.06; 95% CI: 1.12, 8.31; P = 0.03), but not in the fully adjusted model. CONCLUSION: We found that a higher intake of plant proteins was associated with a higher TG level, BRI, and CI index. However, more research is needed to confirm these relations and provide the evidence needed to exert these findings into clinical practice.

Effect of a multi-disciplinary program on anthropometric and biochemical parameters in obese and overweight elementary school girls: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obesity and overweight in children are associated with an increased risk of several health issues. The present study aimed to assess the effects of a multi-disciplinary program (including nutrition education using a smartphone game, physical activity, and cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT]) on the management of obesity and overweight in elementary school girls. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-two school girls above the 85th percentile of body mass index (BMI) for age were randomly assigned to two groups. During 10 weeks of study, the intervention group received a multi-disciplinary intervention, including nutrition education using a smartphone game, aerobic exercise, and CBT. The control group received usual traditional nutritional education. Biochemical and metabolic factors were assessed, including fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipid profile, serum leptin, and anthropometric measurements. The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) and metabolic equivalent test (MET) were also conducted. The intervention group showed more promising results in weight loss, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and FBS compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, MET and DEBQ scores in all three sections of emotions, stimuli, and restriction were better in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between groups regarding the results of serum leptin and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR; p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that education through smartphone games could possibly affect performance in real life. In addition, the multi-disciplinary approach to childhood obesity might have better performance in most areas than the single-intervention approach in obesity management.

Healthy plant-based diet index as a determinant of bone mineral density in osteoporotic postmenopausal women: A case-control study.

Introduction: The association between plant-based diet indices and bone mineral density (BMD) of women with osteoporosis have not been studied in Iranian women. This study aimed to evaluate the association between plant-based diet indices and BMD in postmenopausal women with osteopenia/osteoporosis. Materials and methods: The present research was a case-control study conducted on 131 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis/osteopenia and 131 healthy women. The BMD of the femoral neck and lumbar vertebrae was measured by the Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXEA) method. Participants were asked to complete a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). We used three versions of plant-based diet indices, including plant-based diet index (PDI), healthy plant-based diet index (hPDI), and unhealthy plant-based diet index (uPDI). Two different multivariable logistic regression was used for the crude and adjusted model to assess the relationship between PDI, hPDI, and uPDI with odds of femoral and lumbar BMD. Results: There was a reverse association between last tertile of hPDI with femoral BMD abnormality in the both adjusted model [Model 1: odds ratio (OR): 0.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19-0.63 and Model 2: OR: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.15-0.58, respectively]. Furthermore, we found a reverse relationship between hPDI with lumbar BMD abnormality in the first adjusted model (OR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.19-0.67). On the other hand, a negative association was observed in the second and last tertile of hPDI with lumbar BMD abnormality (OR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.24-0.90 and OR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.17-0.64, respectively). According to the results, the association of femoral BMD abnormality in the last tertile of uPDI compared to the first tertile in the both adjusted models (Model 1: OR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.52-5.36 and Model 2: OR: 2.63; 95% CI: 1.37-5.06) were significant. Also, we observed a positive relationship between the last tertile of uPDI with lumbar BMD abnormality compared to the lowest tertile in the both adjusted models (Model 1; OR: 4.16; 95% CI: 2.20-7.85, Model 2; OR: 4.23; 95% CI: 2.19-8.19). Conclusion: Overall, the findings indicated that in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, a healthy plant-based diet could prevent bone loss, and an unhealthy plant-based diet might have detrimental effects on BMD.