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BACKGROUND: The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is the method of choice for dietary assessment in epidemiological studies. FFQs focusing on mixed-dishes and simple food items are useful where mixed-dishes are an essential part of food consumption. OBJECTIVE: Regarding the fact that the nature of the Iranian diet is mixed-dish, the present study aimed to design and assess the validity and reproducibility of a dish-based semi-quantitative FFQ in the Iranian adult population. METHODS: A list of 302 food items was collected from four geographical areas around Iran. The validation study was conducted on 97 healthy adults. The FFQ was introduced at the beginning of the study and 10 months after; two three-day food records were collected during the study. Also, biomarkers including 24-hour urinary potassium and nitrogen, serum retinol, and alpha-tocopherol were measured. RESULTS: A 142-food-item FFQ was concluded. The correlation coefficient between the second FFQ and the second three-day food record ranged from 0.225 to 0.323 for macronutrients and 0.128 to 0.476 for micronutrients. The percentile agreements (same or adjacent quartile) between the two methods were more than 60% for all nutrients. The intraclass correlation coefficient between FFQs (except for vitamin E) ranged from 0.363 to 0.578. The correlation coefficient between the second FFQ and the second biomarker assessment was 0.241 for protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea in patients on enteral feeding is a common complication with serious clinical outcomes. In Eastern and Southern Mediterranean regions, using curd as a food for the treatment of diarrhea is a common practice. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether curd could reduce the duration or severity of diarrhea in critically ill tube-fed patients with head trauma. METHODS: A total of 42 patients on enteral feeding who had diarrhea after starting enteral feeding, admitted to the intensive care unit, were randomly assigned to either to receiving curd and standard enteral formula or standard enteral formula only groups. The intervention period for each patient was three days. The primary outcome was the duration of diarrhea, while the secondary outcomes were the frequency and weight of stool per day in each patient. RESULTS: This study showed a significantly higher stool weight in patients receiving enteral curd (588.76±266.88 vs 390.60±171.82 gr/day). There was no significant difference between the groups in duration of diarrhea (9 v 8 days) and episodes of diarrhea per day (2.20±1.00 vs 2.00±0.70) in intervention and control groups. incidence of liquid or loose stools on days 1–4 of the intervention (P1 = 0.43, P2 = 0.16, P3 = 0.45, P4 = 0.62). Feeding with curd did not change the APACHE score in intervention and control groups. This study showed no significant difference in 28 days of mortality in intervention and control groups. CONCLUSION: The findings showed that supplementary enteral feeding with curd did not improve diarrhea, the severity of the disease, or 28 days mortality in critically ill patients with diarrhea receiving enteral nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial study was to assess the effects of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) compared with general nutritional advice (NA) on nutritional status in esophageal cancer (EC) patients during Chemoradiation (CRT). METHOD: The sample includes one hundred newly diagnosed patients with EC. The MNT group received individualized nutritional therapy. The NA group received general nutritional advice at the beginning of the participation. Patient-Generated- Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), anthropometric indices, body composition, dietary intake, laboratory tests, and nutrition-related complications were assessed. RESULTS: Forty-nine cases were in the MNT group. The MNT group had significantly more favorable energy (26.4±14.1 vs. 18.2±11.2 kcal/kgw.day) and protein (1±0.6 vs. 0.7±0.4 g/kgw.day) intake than the NA group at the final evaluation. The PG-SGA score diminished but not significantly in both groups (11±6 vs. 12±6). As compared to the NA group, patients in the MNT group experienced more frequently no weight loss (21% vs. 11%) or mild weight loss (40% vs 35%) during the treatment. Meanwhile, moderate weight loss was more frequently observed in the NA group (26% vs. 44%). In the MNT group, those with severe weight loss had not proper adherence to the nutritional protocol. Mid-upper arm circumference, body composition, laboratory tests, physical performance, and nutrition-related complications were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: As compared to general NA, MNT improved energy and macronutrients intake in patients with EC undergoing CRT which resulted in less severe weight loss and potentially better nutritional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE:Nowadays, role of diet as a possible predisposing factor to diabetes and other non-communicable diseases is considered. MATERIALS/METHOD: A total of 1026 young unmarried women aged between 18 to 30 years old from all parts of Iran who were supported by Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation, were enrolled in this study. Anthropometric indices were measured and dietary intake was assessed with a semi-quantitative 302-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). RESULTS: The dietary intakes were compared in absolute and adjusted forms between four BMI groups. The amount of energy, fat and fiber intake in the absolute forms were statistically different between various groups. Comparison of fat mass, lean mass, lean body mass and body mass did not differ significantly between quartiles of energy and dietary intake. The results of Multifactorial analysis to determine the simultaneous effects of multiple data showed that energy intake, carbohydrate and protein intake were statistically significant in absolute terms. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that there is a significant relation between macronutrients intake and anthropometric indices. Also, individual's anthropometric status can be predicted according to their macronutrients intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is becoming the most common cause of liver disease worldwide. However, there are few reports about the intake of various nutrients in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of dietary intake and their associations with NAFLD. METHODS: This case-control study was performed on 280 subjects (140 patients with NAFLD and140 healthy subjects) who attended nutrition clinic, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. Dietary intake was assessed using an Iranian semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Dietary intake was compared with data reported by clinically healthy individuals. Regression models were fitted to assess the relation between dietary patterns and non- alcoholic fatty liver disease. RESULTS: The means (and SD) age of the samples were 39.3±11.4 years for NAFLD group and 38.6±11.3 years for the controls. After adjustment for total energy intake, NAFLD group had higher carbohydrate intake (235.60±31.12 g vs. 222.47±21.18 g, P < 0.001). However, the consumption of vitamin E, folate and potassium was significantly less in patients than controls (P < 0.001.(After adjusting for confounders, higher intake of carbohydrate was significantly associated with an increased risk for NAFLD (OR = 4.15, 1.66-10.38; P < 0.05), While higher intake of fat, vitamin A and folate was significantly associated with lower odds of the disease (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that within an Iranian population, there may be an association between diet andNAFLD.Alarge-scale trial and more prospective studies are yet warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]