Accelerated wound healing induced by spinach extract in experimental model diabetic rats with streptozotocin.

Patients with diabetes often have difficult-to-heal wounds. Spinacia oleracea extract comprises anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative compounds; this research, therefore, studied the impact of Spinacia oleracea extracts on ulcer regeneration. This study was conducted on 72 adult Wistar rats (200 [Formula: see text] 20 g). They were randomly divided into six groups of twelve. A: Diabetic group receiving normal saline. B: Non-diabetic group receiving normal saline. C: Diabetic group receiving spinach aqueous extract. D: Diabetic group receiving spinach alcoholic extract. E: preventive group that received aqueous extract for 2 months. F: preventive group that received alcoholic extract for 2 months. Ulcer regeneration, vascular endothelium growth factor, blood sugar, and weight changes were measured on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 30. Macroscopic investigation of the wounds non-diabetic control group, diabetic group, as well as spinach aqueous and alcoholic extract groups, were compared and there were significant changes (P < 0.05). Pathologic examination in the spinach aqueous and alcoholic extract groups, and nondiabetic group than in the diabetic group revealed significant advances (P < 0.05). On the third and seventh days, Vascular endothelium growth factor detected significant differences between groups (P < 0.05). Results indicate that, in regenerating diabetic ulcers, Spinacia oleracea may be effective. It influences the ulcer structure and speed.

Association and interaction of the MC4R rs17782313 polymorphism with plasma ghrelin, GLP-1, cortisol, food intake and eating behaviors in overweight/obese Iranian adults.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that obesity is largely influenced by heredity and created by the interactions between several genes and environmental and behavioral factors. This study aimed to examine association between variant rs17782313 near melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene and behavioral and hormonal factors then evaluated interactions between variant MC4R rs17782313 with behavioral and hormonal factors on obesity. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 403 subjects, overweight and/or obesity, aged 20-50 years from Iran. The MC4R rs17782313 data were measured by the PCR-RFLP method. Dietary intake, physical activity, stress, anxiety, depression, appetite and emotional eating were assessed by using validated questionnaires. Ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1 and cortisol were measured by radioimmunoassay in plasma samples. Participants were also divided into three groups based on rs17782313 genotype and BMI. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, gender, energy intake and PA, significant associations were observed between food intake, appetite, emotional eating, stress and physical activity with MC4R rs17782313 (p ˂0.05). Also, significant interactions were observed between fat intake (p-interaction = 0.002), protein intake (p-interaction = 0.01), energy intake (p-interaction = 0.01), emotional eating (p-interaction = 0.02), appetite (p-interaction = 0.04), stress (p-interaction = 0.04), ghrelin (p-interaction = 0.03), cortisol (p-interaction = 0.04) and physical activity (p-interaction = 0.04) and MC4R rs17782313 in terms of BMI. CONCLUSION: Interactions between the CC genotype and high intakes of fat and energy, emotional eating, high appetite, and too much stress with high levels of cortisol and ghrelin probably can have an effect on BMI in overweight/obese subjects.

Association between CLOCK 3111 T/C polymorphism with ghrelin, GLP-1, food timing, sleep and chronotype in overweight and obese Iranian adults.

BACKGROUND: Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput (CLOCK), an essential element of the positive regulatory arm in the human biological clock, is involved in metabolic regulation. The aim was to investigate the behavioral (sleep duration, food timing, dietary intake, appetite and chronobiologic characteristics) and hormonal (plasma ghrelin and Glucagon-like peptide-1 concentrations) factors that could explain the previously reported association between the CLOCK 3111 T/C SNP and obesity. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 403 subjects, overweight and/or obesity, aged 20- 50 years from Iran. The CLOCK rs1801260 data were measured by the PCR-RFLP method. Dietary intake, food timing, sleep duration, appetite and Chrono-type were assessed using validated questionnaires. Ghrelin and GLP-1 were measured by ELIZA in plasma samples. Participants were also divided into three groups based on BMI. Logistic regression models and general linear regression models were used to assess the association between CLOCK genotype and study parameters. Univariate linear regression models were used to assess the interaction between CLOCK and VAS, Food timing, chronotype and sleep on food intakes. RESULTS: After controlling for confounding factors, there was a significant difference between genotypes for physical activity (P = 0.001), waist circumference (P˂0.05), BMI (˂0.01), weight (P = 0.001), GLP-1 (P = 0.02), ghrelin (P = 0.04), appetite (P˂0.001), chronotype (P˂0.001), sleep (P˂0.001), food timing (P˂0.001), energy (P˂0.05), carbohydrate (P˂0.05) and fat intake (P˂0.001). Our findings also show that people with the minor allele C who ate lunch after 3 PM and breakfast after 9 AM are more prone to obesity (P˂0.05). furthermore, there was significant interactions between C allele carrier group and high appetite on fat intake (Pinteraction = 0.041), eat lunch after 3 PM on energy intake (Pinteraction = 0.039) and morning type on fat intake (Pinteraction = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Sleep reduction, changes in ghrelin and GLP-1 levels, changes in eating behaviors and evening preference that characterized CLOCK 3111C can all contribute to obesity. Furthermore, the data demonstrate a clear relationship between the timing of food intake and obesity. Our results support the hypothesis that the influence of the CLOCK gene may extend to a wide range of variables related to human behaviors.

Effect of spinach aqueous extract on wound healing in experimental model diabetic rats with streptozotocin.

BACKGROUND: Chronic ulcer is still a serious issue for diabetic patients. Diabetes is a prevalent cause of ulcer regeneration delay and (or) disruption. Since Spinacia oleracea extract contains compounds with anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, this may be effective in accelerating the healing process of ulcers, especially diabetic ulcers. Hence, this study examined the effect of Spinacia oleracea aqueous extract on ulcer regeneration in an experimental animal model. RESULTS: Macroscopic examination of the wounds of the control group and spinach aqueous extract group between 7 and 21 days compared with diabetic group, significant changes were observed (P < 0.05). On microscopic examination, epithelial tissue formation, formation of granulation tissue and new blood vessels in the spinach aqueous extract group and non-diabetic group compared to the diabetic group showed significant improvements (P < 0.05). Also, significant differences in vascular endothelial growth factor were observed between groups on days 3 and 7 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The Spinacia oleracea aqueous extract can be effective in regenerating diabetic ulcers. It affects the speed and structure of the ulcer. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Food pattern, lifestyle and diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is increasing rapidly worldwide. Recent data is reprehensive of increasing diabetes prevalence from 285 millions in 2010 (6.4%) to 439 millions in 2030 in adults aged 20 to 79 in different countries. Lifestyle and particularly dietary habits play an important role in the development of diabetes. Additionally, specific individual food groups and diet components such as monounsaturated fatty acids, fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals, dietary fiber, fish, magnesium and nuts may protect against the development of diabetes, possibly through the amelioration of insulin sensitivity and its anti-inflammatory actions, while consumption of red and processed meats and saturated fat may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVES: In this section, we studied dietary and other factors related to the effect of lifestyle in type 2 diabetes. These factors may affect the incidence of type 2 diabetes which could be corrected by lifestyle modifications. RESULTS: Unfortunately, dietary habits in the developed and developing countries are changing towards an unhealthier direction. Consequently, emphasis should be given on encouraging at population and individual levels for adopting a healthier lifestyle, including dietary habits, to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. Here we reviewed epidemiologic and clinical trial evidence regarding nutrients, foods and dietary patterns to diabetes risk and involved possible mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 diabetes is increasingly growing in young population of developing countries, which causes a large burden on individuals and the society.