Interaction of MC4R rs17782313 variants and dietary carbohydrate quantity and quality on basal metabolic rate and general and central obesity in overweight/obese women: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that dietary carbohydrate quantity and quality as well as genetic variants may contribute to determining the metabolic rate and general and central obesity. This study aimed to examine interactions between melanocortin 4 receptor gene (MC4R) rs17782313 and dietary carbohydrate intake, glycemic index (GI), and glycemic load (GL) on body mass index (BMI), waist circumferences (WC), basal metabolic rate (BMR), and BMR/kg in overweight/obese women. METHODS: A total of 282 Iranian women (BMI ≥ 25) aged 18-56 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. All participants were assessed for blood parameters, body composition, BMR, and dietary intake. Dietary carbohydrate intake, GI, and GL were determined using a valid, reliable 147-item food frequency questionnaire. MC4R rs17782313 was genotyped by the restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. RESULTS: After adjustment for age and energy intake, significant interactions were observed between carbohydrate intake and MC4R rs17782313 in terms of BMI (P Interaction = 0.007), WC (P Interaction = 0.02), and BMR/kg (P Interaction = 0.003) in this way that higher carbohydrate intake, compared with lower intake, was associated with an increase in BMI and WC for individuals with C allele carriers (TC + CC genotypes), while related to an increase in BMR/kg for those carrying the TT genotype. No significant interaction was found between MC4R rs17782313 and GI and GL on BMI, WC, BMR/kg, and BMR. CONCLUSIONS: Interactions between the MC4R rs17782313 and carbohydrate intake probably can have an effect on BMI, WC, and BMR/kg in overweight/obese women.

The predictive power of serum vitamin D for poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

Considering the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency worldwide and its relationship with immune response to viral infections, this study attempted to identify the predictive power of serum vitamin D for poor outcomes among the COVID-19 patients. This retrospective cohort study included all patients with confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized between February 20, 2020, and April 20, 2020, at a designated COVID-19 hospital, located in Tehran province, Iran. General characteristics, medical history and clinical symptoms were recorded by trained physicians. Blood parameters including complete blood count, creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and vitamin D were tested. This study included 290 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (the mean age [SD]: 61.6 [16.9], 56.6% males), of whom 142 had vitamin D concentrations less than 20 ng/ml, defined as vitamin D deficiency. COVID-19 patients with vitamin D deficiency were more likely to die (Crude OR [95% CI]: 2.30 [1.25-4.26]), require ICU (2.06 [1.22-3.46]) and invasive mechanical ventilation (2.03 [1.04-3.93]) based on univariate logistic regression results. Although, after adjusting for potentials confounders such as gender and age, the association between vitamin D and need to invasive mechanical ventilation lost its significance, adjusted values for the risk of death and ICU requirement were still statistically significant. Vitamin D deficiency can be considered as a predictor of poor outcomes and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Therefore, checking serum 25 (OH) D on admission and taking vitamin D supplements according to the prophylactic or treatment protocols is recommended for all COVID-19 patients.

Dietary Insulin Index and Dietary Insulin Load in Relation to Metabolic Syndrome: The Shahedieh Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are involved in the etiology of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components. OBJECTIVE: The current study assessed the association of dietary insulin load (DIL) and dietary insulin index (DII) with the odds of having MetS among a large population of Iranian adults. DESIGN: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of the Shahedieh cohort study, which began in 2015-2016 and continues to the present day. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: A total of 5,954 Iranian adults, aged 35 to 70 years, were included in the current analysis. To collect dietary data, the validated block-format 120-item semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire was used. MetS was defined using the criteria belonging to the Iranian-modified National Cholesterol Education Program for Adults. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Enzymatic colorimetric tests were used to measure fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations; blood pressure and waist circumference were measured using the standard protocols. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Binary logistic regression with adjusted models was used to examine the association of DIL and DII with MetS. RESULTS: After taking potential confounders into account, moderate DIL was associated with increased odds of MetS in men, meaning that men in the third quartile of DIL had 61% greater odds for having MetS compared with those in the first quartile (odds ratio [OR]: 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-2.54). Such a significant association was not seen for DII. In women, DIL was significantly associated with increased odds of developing MetS. After controlling for potential confounders, women in the top quartile of DIL had 77% greater odds for having MetS compared with women in the bottom quartile (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.08-2.91). This significant positive association was also seen for DII, such that a higher score of DII was associated with 41% greater odds of MetS (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.08-1.83). CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to a diet with a high DIL and DII is associated with greater odds of having MetS in women. Also, moderate DIL was associated with increased odds of MetS in men.

Food Insecurity is positively related to Dietary Inflammatory Index in Iranian high school girls.

Aim: To determine the association between food insecurity and Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) in high school girls. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 525 students aged 14-18 years in northern Iran. Dietary assessment was performed using a validated and reliable 147-food item questionnaire. DII was calculated on the basis of 30 available food parameters from this FFQ based on the standard means. The USDA 18-item standard food security questionnaire was used to assess the food security status. Linear regression was performed to determine the association between DII and food insecurity, with DII considered as an outcome and food security score as an exposure. Results: The average age of students was 16.13 ± 0.97 year. Mean BMI and menarche age was 22.64 ± 4.62 kg/m2 and 12.59 ± 1.09 year. The mean value of DII was -0.003 ± 1.72. Food insecurity prevalence was 40.8%. Protein, and vitamin D and B12 intake were lower in the food insecure group (P < 0.05). Energy intake, total fat and saturated fatty acid (SFA) were higher in the highest tertile vs. the lowest tertile of DII (P < 0.05). Carbohydrate, protein, fiber, magnesium, zinc, folate, selenium, vitamin A, B6, and C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and tea intake were lower in the highest tertile vs. the lowest tertile of DII (P < 0.05). There was a positive significant association between DII and food security status. Conclusion: It seems there is an association between DII and food security status. However, further well-designed studies in a different population are suggested.

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on circulatory YKL-40 and MCP-1 biomarkers associated with vascular diabetic complications: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial.

AIM: Diabetic patients predispose to vascular diseases such as nephropathy, and retinopathy. Poor adherence to medical treatment and dietary recommendations in uncontrolled diabetes leads to vascular damages. Vitamin D has been extensively studied and found to be protective against diabetes mellitus. YKL-40 and Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) are considered to exert crucial role in diabetes and its complications. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate effects of vitamin D supplementation on serum levels of YKL-40 and MCP-1 involved in the development of diabetic complications. METHODS: For 12 weeks, 48 type 2 diabetic patients enrolled in the trial and randomly were divided into two groups (n = 24 per group), receiving one of the following: 100 µg (4000 IU) vitamin D or placebo. Before and after intervention, serumYKL-40, MCP-1, insulin, IL-6, TNF-α, 25- (OH) vitamin D and HbA1c were measured. RESULTS: Our results revealed that serum levels of 25 (OH) vitamin D significantly increased in vitamin D group (p < 0.001). Vitamin D supplementation also significantly reduced serum YKL-40 levels (-22.7 vs. -2.4 ng/ml; (p-value = 0.003)). There was a significant decline in MCP-1 concentration in intervention group at the end of the study (-45.7 vs. -0.9 pg/ml; (p = 0.001)). Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in IL-6, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR in intervention group after 3 months supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Daily vitamin D supplementation effectively reduced circulatory YKL-40 and MCP-1 levels in patients with type-2 diabetes and vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D might contribute in reducing diabetic complications via modulating YKL-40 and MCP-1 signaling pathways.

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on depressive symptoms in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: Randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial.

AIM: Diabetes increases the odds of depression and depression is often associated with poor glycemic control and complications of diabetes. Vitamin D is also believed to improve glycemic control and ameliorate depressive symptoms. Therefore, we examined effects of vitamin D monotherapy (without antidepressant drugs) on depressive symptoms in Type 2 diabetic patients with mild to moderate depressive symptoms. METHODS: We conducted 12 weeks, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial on 68 subjects with T2DM and mild to moderate depressive symptoms. Subjects received 100 µg (4000 IU) vitamin D (n = 32) or placebo (n = 34) daily. Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II-PERSIAN) was applied for assessment of the severity of depression. Depression scores and metabolic profiles were measured at the beginning and end of trail. RESULTS: after 3 months of vitamin D supplementation, mean values of 25(OH) D increased from 15.5 ±â€¯8.8 to 32.2 ±â€¯8.9 ng/ml (p-value <0.001) in the vitamin D group. Moreover, BDI-II scores decreased from 15.2 ±â€¯9.6 to 9.8 ±â€¯7.2 (p-value <0.001) in the vitamin D group and 15.5 ±â€¯11.2 to 13.7 ±â€¯11.5 (p-value = 0.03) in placebo group. This decrease in BDI-II scores were significant (27.6% vs 10.8%) compared with placebo (p-value = 0.02). In term of metabolic profiles, mean change in level of Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin and triglycerides (TG) were significantly higher in response to the treatment with vitamin D compared to placebo (p-value <0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, supplementation of vitamin D in T2DM patients may protect these patients against the onset of major depressive disorder (MDD), with noticeable favorable effects on measures of metabolic profiles. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03008057.

Does ginger supplementation lower blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy of ginger supplementation on blood pressure (BP). PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were comprehensively searched until September 2018. Human clinical trials, which reported the effect of ginger supplementation on aortic and/or brachial BP, were included. Mean differences were pooled using a random effects model. Standard methods were used for assessment of heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias. Total of six randomized clinical trials (345 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analysis suggested that ginger supplementation can reduced systolic BP (MD: -6.36 mmHg, 95% confidence interval [-11.27, -1.46]; I2  = 89.8%; P = .011) and diastolic BP (MD: -2.12 mmHg, 95% confidence interval [-3.92, -0.31]; I2  = 73.4%; P = .002). When studies were categorized based on participants' mean age, ginger dosage and duration of intervention, systolic BP and diastolic BP were significantly decreased only in the subset of studies with mean age ≤ 50 years, follow-up duration of ≤8 weeks and ginger doses ≥3 g/d. Our findings revealed that ginger supplementation has favorable effects on BP. Nonetheless, further studies are warranted before definitive conclusions may be reached.

Analysis of the thermal comfort and impact properties of the neoprene-spacer fabric structure for preventing the joint damages.

BACKGROUND: Frequent moves at the joint, plus external factors such as trauma, aging, and etc., are all reasons for joint damages. In order to protect and care of joints, the orthopedic textiles are used. To protect the joints, these textiles keep muscles warm to prevent shock. To produce orthopedic textiles, Neoprene foams have been traditionally used. These foams are flexible and resist impact, but are not comfortable enough and might cause problems for the consumer. This study introduces a new structure consisting of perforated Neoprene foam attached to the spacer fabric and also compares the properties of thermal and moisture comfort and impact properties of this structure in comparison with Neoprene foam. METHODS: In order to measure the factors related to the samples lateral pressure behavior, a tensile tester was used. A uniform pressure is applied to the samples and a force - displacement curve is obtained. The test continues until the maximum compression force is reached to 50 N. The area under the curve is much greater; more energy is absorbed during the impact. In order to investigate the dynamic heat and moisture transfer of fabrics, an experimental apparatus was developed. This device made the simulation of sweating of human body possible and consisted of a controlled environmental chamber, sweating guarded hot plate, and data acquisition system. RESULTS: The findings show that the Neoprene-spacer fabric structure represents higher toughness values compared to other samples (P ≤ 0.001). Neoprene-spacer fabric structure (A3) has higher rate of moisture transport than conventional Neoprene foam; because of undesirable comfort characteristics in Neoprene. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the tests indicate full advantage of the new structure compared with the Neoprene foam for use in orthopedic textiles (P ≤ 0.001).