Effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors in subjects with metabolic syndrome: a randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial.

PURPOSE: The evidence in support of the effect of vitamin D deficiency on cardiovascular diseases is inconsistent. The objective of this randomized, controlled, double-blind study was to assess the effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on cardiometabolic risk factors in subjects with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: Eighty subjects were randomized to receive 50,000 IU vitamin D or matching placebo weekly for 16 weeks. Fasting blood sugar, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity (Quicki), serum lipid profiles (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol), anthropometric factors and blood pressure were assessed before and after intervention. Dietary intake and sun exposure were also determined. The trial was registered at http://www.irct.ir (code: IRCT201409033140N14). RESULTS: Participants were 40.49 ± 5.04 years and 49 % male. All of the intervention group and 97 % of placebo group were vitamin D deficient or insufficient (25-hydroxyvitamin D <75 nmol/L). After intervention, serum 25(OH)D concentration was increased by 61.93 nmol/L in intervention group, while it was decreased in placebo group (p < 0.001). There was a significant change in TG concentration after 4 months (p < 0.001). Other metabolic or anthropometric factors did not change significantly (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Supplementation with high-dose vitamin D for 4 months improved vitamin D status and decreased TG levels in subjects with metabolic syndrome. However, it did not have any beneficial effects on other cardiometabolic risk factors; this might be due to the inadequate vitamin D status attained in this study which was conducted in a severely deficient region.

Measuring unintended pregnancies in postpartum Iranian women: validation of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy.

Research suggests a relatively sizable rate of unintended pregnancies in some subgroups of Iranian women, but there is no concise, standard scale to measure the pregnancy intention of Iranian women. Therefore, the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP) were investigated. The Persian version of the LMUP was tested on randomly selected married women aged 15-49 years in the city of Ajabshir, East Azerbaijan province, north-west of Islamic Republic of Iran. The scale's face validity and internal consistency was examined and its construct validity was tested by exploratory factor analysis. The internal consistency of the scale was acceptable (Cronbach alpha coefficient 0.87). Structural indicators of the Kaiser-Meyer- Olkin measure (0.85) and Bartlett test of sphericity (P < 0.001) verified interpretability of the exploratory factor analysis output. Applicability of the Persian version of the LMUP is accepted. Further investigation is needed to understand cultural norms that might influence Iranian women's responses to queries about pregnancy intentions.

Measuring unintended pregnancies in postpartum Iranian women:validation of the London measure of unplanned pregnancy

Research suggests a relatively sizable rate of unintended pregnancies in some subgroups of Iranian women,but there is no concise, standard scale to measure the pregnancy intention of Iranian women. Therefore,the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy [LMUP] were investigated. The Persian version of the LMUP was tested on randomly selected married women aged 15-49 years in the city of Ajabshir, East Azerbaijan province, north-west of Islamic Republic of Iran. The scale's face validity and internal consistency was examined and its construct validity was tested by exploratory factor analysis. The internal consistency of the scale was acceptable [Cronbach alpha coefficient 0.87]. Structural indicators of the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure [0.85] and Bartlett test of sphericity [P < 0.001] verified interpretability of the exploratory factor analysis output. Applicability of the Persian version of the LMUP is accepted. Further investigation is needed to understand cultural norms that might influence Iranian women's responses to queries about pregnancy intentions

Les travaux de recherche suggèrent que le taux de grossesses non désirées dans certains sous-groupes de femmes iraniennes est relativement important.Toutefois, il n'existe pas d'échelle concise et normalisée de mesure de l'intention de grossesse chez les femmes iraniennes. Par conséquent, les propriétés psychométriques de la version en langue perse de l'échelle London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy ont été étudiées. La version en langue perse de l'échelle a été testée auprès de femmes mariées âgées de 15 à 49 ans et sélectionnées aléatoirement dans la ville d'Ajabshir, dans la province de l'Azerbaïdjan oriental, au nord-ouest de la République islamique d'Iran. La validité apparente de l'échelle et sa cohérence interne ont été examinées. Sa validité conceptuelle a été testée par une analyse des facteurs exploratoires. La cohérence interne de l'échelle était acceptable [coefficient alpha de Cronbach : 0,87]. Des indicateurs structuraux de la mesure de Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin [0,85] et le test de sphéricité de Bartlett [P < 0,001] ont permis de vérifier l'interprétabilité du résultat de l'analyse factorielle exploratoire. L'applicabilité de la version en langue perse de l'échelle a été acceptée. Des recherches supplémentaires sont requises pour comprendre les normes culturelles qui pourraient influer sur les réponses des femmes iraniennes aux questions sur l'intention de grossesse