Dietary antioxidants and liver enzymes in Rafsanjan, a Region in Southeast Iran.

Oxidative stress has been considered the main contributor to liver injury. Dietary antioxidants would be expected to improve liver function. The hepatoprotective effects of antioxidants are controversial. In the present study, the associations of some dietary antioxidants and the levels of serum liver enzymes were examined. This cross-sectional study was conducted using the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (RCS) data as a population-based prospective cohort which is a part of the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN). A total of 9942 participants aged 35-70 years old were included in this study. Among this population, 4631 (46.59%) were male, and 5311 (53.42%) were female. Dietary intakes were collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with 128 items. Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured by a biotecnica analyzer. Dichotomous logistics regression models were used to investigate the association between the elevated liver enzymes and intake of dietary antioxidants using crude and adjusted models. In the adjusted model, in subjects with higher consumption of Se, Vit A, Vit E, ß-carotene, α-carotene, and ß-cryptoxanthin, the odds ratios of elevated ALP were decreased compared to the reference group (ORs 0.79 (0.64-0.96), 0.80 (0.66-0.98), 0.73 (0.60-0.89), 0.79 (0.64-0.96), 0.78 (0.64-0.95), 0.80 (0.66-0.98), and 0.79 (0.64-0.98), respectively). Subjects with higher consumption of Se, Vit A, Vit E, and provitamin A carotenoids (ß-carotene, α-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin) showed decreased odds of elevated ALP. These findings support the hypothesis that Se, Vit A, Vit E, and provitamin A carotenoids may be associated with improvements in ALP and act as suppressors against the development of liver injury.

The profile of Rafsanjan Cohort Study.

Owning the largest human-made jungle of pistachio, the second largest copper mine, and being located on the trade route of opium transit, distinguish Rafsanjan from many other cities in Iran. The environmental exposures and lifestyle factors associated with these characteristics of Rafsanjan, have raised concern about possible health outcomes for individuals living in and around this city. Thus, local health authorities initiated the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (RCS), as part of the prospective epidemiological research studies in IrAN (PERSIAN). RCS is a population-based prospective cohort of men and women aged 35-70 years, launched in August 2015. Individuals from diverse socioeconomic levels and lifestyles were recruited from four urban and suburban areas of Rafsanjan (participation rate 67.42%). Questionnaire-based interviews regarding demographics, dietary and environmental exposures, medical and occupational history, as well as anthropometric measurements were completed for all participants. Additionally, bio-specimens (blood, urine, hair, and nail) were collected, and dental and eye examinations were performed. The enrollment phase ended in December 2017, and a 15-year follow-up is planned. A total of 9990 individuals were enrolled in RCS (53.41% females). About 26% of men are pistachio farmers. The baseline prevalence of major non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and opium use were 25.45%, 10.02%, and 23.81%, respectively. The mean ± SD of other common risk factors are as follows: body mass index (27.83 ± 4.89 mm Hg), systolic blood pressure (107.18 ± 17.56 mm Hg) diastolic blood pressure (71.13 ± 10.83), fasting blood sugar (113.27 ± 39.11 mg/dL) and plasma cholesterol (198.78 ± 41.89 mg/dL). These results indicate a concerning prevalence of NCD risk factors in Rafsanjan city, warranting further detailed investigations, particularly regarding the association of NDC with agricultural/industrial pollutants and drug abuse.

Dietary quality among Tehranian adults in relation to lipid profile: findings from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

The prevalence of dyslipidaemia has been increasing in developing countries that are undergoing nutrition transition. However, the association of diet quality and lipid profile has not been well-understood in these countries. The aim of the current study was to compare the ability of three diet quality indices--the Mediterranean diet scale (MDS), healthy eating index-2005 (HEI-2005), and diet quality index-international (DQI-I) in relation to changes in lipid profile between baseline and 6.7 years of follow-up. Baseline data from two 24-hour dietary recalls provided by 469 adults with mean age of 38.7 +/- 12.3 years, who were participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, were analyzed to describe dietary intakes. Data on anthropometry, sociodemography, physical activity, and other lifestyle variables were recorded, and a comparison of baseline and follow-up data revealed changes in the concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-G), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). A general linear model was used in assessing changes in lipid profile depending on adherence to diet quality indices at baseline, after adjustment for age, smoking status, waist-circumference, body mass index, physical activity, and energy intake. A significant interaction was observed between scores and sex, and upon stratification, males in the highest quartile score of the HEI-2005 had significantly lower TG changes than those in the lowest quartile, after adjusting for confounders (-8.8 vs 2.9, p = 0.038). No association was apparent in females (-0.2 vs 11.2, p = 0.297). In addition, a positive association was found between DQI-I and HDL-C (Q1-0.6 vs Q4 = -2.0, p = 0.044) in males. In both sexes, all these indices were weakly associated with TC while none was associated with LDL-C. It is concluded: adherence to the HEI-2005 recommendations was weakly associated with reduced TG concentration in an urban Iranian adult population. The MDS and DQI-I were not related to change in lipid profile.

The association between diet quality indices and obesity: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of diet quality indices in predicting obesity and abdominal obesity in a population in nutrition transition. METHODS: This study explored the association of the Mediterranean Diet Scale (MDS), Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005), and Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in a cross-sectional study after 6.7 years of follow-up in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) population. RESULTS: Out of 192 subjects who had BMI < 25kg/m(2) and of 283 subjects who were free of abdominal obesity at baseline, 39.6% developed overweight and obesity and 43.1% developed abdominal obesity, respectively during 6.7 years of follow-up in the study population. In cross-sectional analysis, after adjusting for age, sex, energy intake, physical activity and smoking status, multivariate analysis of covariance did not show any significant results regarding the relation of the diet quality indices, BMI and WC. According to follow-up analysis, none of the indices had significant associations with BMI and WC after adjustments for confounders and baseline values of BMI and WC. CONCLUSION: Adherence to MDS, HEI-2005, and DQI-I could not predict BMI and WC in Iranian participants after 6.7 years of follow-up.

Effect of broccoli sprouts on insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

Use of antioxidant components is a new approach for improvement of insulin resistance (IR) as a main feature of type 2 diabetes and its complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of broccoli sprouts powder (BSP) containing high concentration of sulphoraphane on IR in type 2 diabetic patients. Eighty-one patients were randomly assigned to receive 10 g/d BSP (A, n = 27), 5 g/d BSP (B, n = 29) and placebo (C, n = 25) for 4 weeks. Fasting serum glucose and insulin concentration, glucose to insulin ratio and homoeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) index were measured at baseline and again 4 weeks after treatment. Seventy-two patients completed the study and 63 were included in the analysis. After 4 weeks, consumption of 10 g/d BSP resulted in a significant decrease in serum insulin concentration and HOMA-IR (p = 0.05 for treatment effect). Therefore, broccoli sprouts may improve IR in type 2 diabetic patients.