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Gaining weight above the Institute of Medicine recommended range contributes to the development of obesity, which increases risk for diseases. We evaluated the effectiveness of an educational program with the spouse's participation on the optimal gestational weight gain (GWG) in pregnancy. We conducted a randomized controlled trial on 128 nulliparous women attending Najmieh Hospital--Antenatal Clinic based in Tehran-Iran. Participants randomly allocated into two groups of interventions and one control group. In group A, the women received education with their spouse's participation. In group B, the women received education without the participation of the spouses. In the control group, women received only routine prenatal care. Data were analysed by the ANOVA and Chi-square coefficient. The mean of the total GWG in the groups A and B was significantly lower than the control group (13.50 3.85, 13.55 3.20 and 15.53 4.20 kg, respectively, P > 0.05). The rate of optimal GWG in groups A and B was 1.97 and 1.77 times of the control group, respectively (P < 0.05). The percentage of non-optimal GWG significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Groups A and B were not significantly different indicating no effect of spousal presence.

Introduction: Epidemiologic studies have shown a discrepancy between overweight and puberty processes. This cross-sectional study was aimed to clarify these associations in the Iranian girl population. Methods: A total of 1300 girls aged 11-15 years were randomly selected from Mashhad, in the northeast of Iran, using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. The demographic data were collected and weight, height, and waist circumference (WC) were measured, then Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist-to-Hip ratio were calculated. Overweight and obesity were defined based on WHO reference data. Central obesity was defined as ≥90th percentile of WC. Linear regression and unconditional binary logistic regression were performed to investigate the association between socio- demographic parameters and age at menarche in months, puberty categories, and menarche age groups (<12 vs. ≥12 years) respectively. Results: The prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal fat distribution were 11.5%, 10.3%, and 10.5% respectively. Menarche was experienced by 63% of subjects at the mean age of 12.24±0.98 years. Regression tests revealed that the odds of menarche occurrence at the age of 12 or more was significantly lower in girls with higher BMI (OR: 0.31, 95%CI: 0.22-0.43) than their leaner counterparts (P< 0.001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that being overweight or obese is a possible predictor of experiencing menarche at a younger age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Eating disorders are psychological syndromes which characterized by abnormal or disturbed food habits resulted from intense fear of obesity and may include negative effects on people physical or mental health. This cross sectional study was carried out to assess dietary intakes and food habits in female adolescents with eating disorders in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: Totally, 231 female adolescent with eating disorders were selected from a total number of 2766 students from five districts in Tehran using multistage clustered sampling in a 2-phase procedure. All affected students and 284 non-affected students filled demographic and food habit questionnaires (modified version) for adolescents and then were interviewed for the 70-item non-quantitative food frequency by expert nutritionists. Results: Study of dietary patterns in adolescents showed that the most common meal pattern (30%) in nonaffected group included three main meals and two snacks. The highest frequent patterns in partial syndrome group (33.5%) and bulimia nervosa (28.1%) included two main meals daily. The missing dinner in partial syndrome and bulimia nervosa groups were significantly higher than that in non-affected group (P<0.05). The highest frequency of drinking water (4-6 cups/day) was seen in partial syndrome group (41%). This included 3-2 cups/day (39% and 42.3%) in bulimia nervosa and non-affected groups, respectively. A significant difference was seen between these groups (P = 0.037). Consumption of all cereals and vegetables in the affected group was significantly lower than that in non-affected group (P < 0.05). Study of lipid intake status in the participants showed that the frequency of low-fat dairy products in affected groups (25% and 35.8% in partial syndrome and bulimia nervosa, respectively) was significantly higher than that in non-affected group (12.7%). Conclusions: Study demonstrated that missing dinner and drinking higher volumes of water with decreased cereal and low-fat dairies intakes were the major techniques used by the adolescents to reduce the calorie intake. Despite of these differences, the overall food habits in the affected group do not seem different significantly from those in non-affected groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate seasonal variations of vitamin D status at different latitudes and if these changes are accompanied by corresponding variations in certain health parameters in children living in a broad latitudinal range in Iran.Design: Longitudinal study.Subjects: In total, 530 apparently healthy children aged 5-18 years were randomly selected from six regions of Iran with a latitudinal gradient from 29°N to 37·5°N. All anthropometric and biochemical assessments were performed twice during a year (summer, winter). High BMI (Z-score >1), low HDL cholesterol (150 mg/dl) were considered cardiometabolic risk factors.Results: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) showed between-season variation, with significantly higher concentrations (mean (sd)) in summer v. winter (43 (29) v. 27 (18) nmol/l; P33°N v. <33°N: 4·5; 0·09, 9·0; P=0·04) were predictors of change of serum 25(OH)D between two seasons.Conclusions: Summertime improvement of vitamin D status was accompanied by certain improved cardiometabolic risk factors, notably serum TAG, total cholesterol and BMI, in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic and endocrine perinatal complication and is a growing health problem worldwide. Considering the fetal programming and its contribution as one of the evolutionary origins of human diseases, it is very important to improve the glucose metabolism in pregnant women, determination of other nutrients, preventing excessive accumulation of fetal fats, emphasis on weight loss measures before pregnancy, dietary intake with low-fat healthy food and prevention of abundant weight loss. In this paper, we have provided a brief review on dietary intake and dietary interventions in GDM from the perspective of nutrition science attending the physiopathology and etiology of the disease. Materials and methods: Electronic search for English and Persian articles has been perform in databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed ,Scopus, Cochrane central ,Science direct, ISC, SID, Magiran, Iran Medex, and Med Libby key words: gestational diabetes, gestational diabetes mellitus, nutrition, macronutrient, micronutrient, Diabetes. All available articles (cross-sectional, descriptive-analytic, and clinical studies with desirable design and review quality studies were used. Reference books including Krause's Food and the Nutrition Care, The Williams Obstetrics editions of the 14th (2017) and the 24th edition (2014) were also reviewed. Results: Nutrition therapy and physical activity are the initial treatment of GDM. Proper and flexible methods of nutrition therapy that successfully regulate maternal glycaemia while improving expected fetal growth have extensive concepts. Meanwhile, dietary supplements with proven beneficial effects can play an important role in improving deficiencies and improving the metabolic profile of patients. Conclusion: Nutritional management is the main treatment for gestational diabetes mellitus and overweight/obesity is the principal contest in patient counseling and interventions during pregnancy. Despite extensive researches carried out, this field is an active research area and requires more clinical research to minimize maternal and fetal complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: Dyslipidemia has been considered as a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. Alternative medicine has a significant role in treatment of dyslipidemia. There are controversial findings regarding the effects of sour tea on dyslipidemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of aqueous extract of dried calyx of sour tea on polygenic dyslipidemia. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was done on 43 adults (30-60 years old) with polygenic dyslipidemia that were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. The control group was trained in lifestyle modifications at baseline. The intervention group was trained for lifestyle modifications at baseline and received two cups of sour tea daily, and both groups were followed up for 12 weeks. Lipid profile was evaluated at baseline, and six and 12 weeks following the intervention. In addition, dietary and physical activity assessed at baseline for twelve weeks. Results: Mean concentration of total cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C significantly decreased by up to 9.46%, 8.33%, and 9.80%, respectively, after 12 weeks in the intervention group in comparison to their baseline values. However, LDL-C/HDL-C ratio significantly increased by up to 3.15%, following 12 weeks in the control group in comparison to their baseline values. This study showed no difference in lipid profiles between the two groups, except for HDL-C concentrations. Conclusion: sour tea may have significant positive effects on lipid profile of polygenic dyslipidemia subjects and these effect might be attributed to its anthocyanins and inflation factor content. Therefore, sour tea intake with recommended dietary patterns and physical activity can be useful in regulation of lipid profile in patients with polygenic dyslipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Reports indicate that hypovitaminosis D is extremely common worldwide and is reemerging as a major health problem globally. In the present study, the main objectives were: 1) to examine whether healthy men and women living in Ahvaz have adequate vitamin D status; 2) to assess association between vitamin D status and some cardiometabolic risk factors. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which was part of the National Food and Nutrition Surveillance (NFNS). A total of 235 apparently healthy women and men aged 20-60 met the inclusion criteria from the city of Ahvaz (latitude 31.3oN, 48.6oE). Anthropometric measurements including weight and height were taken. Serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and lipid profile including triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C and HDLC were evaluated. Results: Mean circulating 25(OH)D concentration was 25.4±12.7 nmol/L, with significant difference between men and women (p=0.015). Only 6 % of the participants had sufficient levels of vitamin D (25(OH)D ≥ 50 nmol/L). Results of logistic regression analyses after controlling for gender showed that subjects with hypovitaminosis D were almost 4.38 times more likely to be overweight/obese compared with subjects with vitamin D sufficiency (OR:4.38, p:0.011). There was no significant association between serum 25(OH)D concentration and the lipid profile components. Conclusions: We found high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in apparently healthy adults in Ahvaz, a sunny city of Iran. Our findings suggest that high vitamin D concentrations among the adult population are associated with a substantial decrease in body mass index. However, there was no association with the lipid profile components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Studies have shown that many people with diabetes are fasting in the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan fasting causes several changes in metabolism, habit and lifestyle that are associated with an increased risk of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. An educational program based on behavioral science theory in the field of diet and medication changes, proper physical activity during Ramadan fasting, recognizing risks and symptoms of fasting complications and the management may improve the diabetic patients' ability in changing lifestyle, reduce the risk of fasting complications and weight and metabolic control during Ramadan. This study aimed to investigate the effect of nutritional education program based on health belief model (HBM), on the knowledge of type 2 diabetic patients who fast in Ramadan. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 53 type 2 diabetic patients referring to the Diabetes Clinic of Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and tending to fast during Ramadan, who were recruited based on the research inclusion criteria. The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups of intervention (n=28) and control (n=25). A week before Ramadan, the intervention group was educated based on HBM. In a week before and after Ramadan, the data on demography, HBM components and knowledge were collected through face-toface interview by trained nutritionists. Results: The research results revealed that the education program in the intervention group significantly increased the HBM components such as perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and self-efficacy comparing to the baseline and the control group (P<0.005). At the end of the study, there was a significant difference in the scores of knowledge about fasting conditions and medications, nutrition and physical activity between the two groups (P<0.001, P=0.049 and P=0.013, respectively). The educational intervention significantly increased the total knowledge score, as well as the fasting conditions and medications and blood glucose control scores compared to the baseline values; also in comparison with the control group, the scores of fasting conditions and medications, blood glucose control and total knowledge increased significantly in the intervention group. Conclusions: The findings showed an increase the knowledge level and improvement in the HBM components in the intervention group compared with the control group. It seems that focused Ramadan education could increase Ramadan knowledge of patients and empower them to proper management of diabetes during the holy Ramadan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the current 'Globesity' trend, there is an increasing demand for alternative natural therapies for weight management. Numerous phytoconstituents reduce body weight through suppressing appetite and reducing food intake. Caraway (Carum carvi L.) is one of the medicinal plants that is traditionally used for weight loss. In this study, the appetite-suppressing effects of caraway aqueous extract (CAE) on 70 aerobically trained, overweight, and obese women were examined in a triple-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study. Subjects were randomly allocated into placebo and experimental groups and consumed either 30 mL/day of CAE or placebo without changing their diet or physical activity over a period of 90 days. Calorie and macronutrient intake and anthropometric indices were measured before and after the intervention. In addition, appetite changes were assessed through a visual analog scale and an ad libitum pizza test. After the intervention, the results showed a significant reduction in appetite levels and carbohydrate intake of the experimental group compared with the placebo group. All of the anthropometric indices were reduced significantly in CAE compared with placebo group (p < 0.01). These preliminary outcomes suggest that a dietary CAE might be effective in weight management of physically active, adult females, reducing their body size and hunger level. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although several studies have found probiotics encouraging in prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), the evidence for the use of probiotics in diagnosed GDM is largely limited. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a probiotic supplement capsule containing four bacterial strains on glucose metabolism indices and weight changes in women with newly diagnosed GDM. Methods: Sixty-four pregnant women with GDM were enrolled into a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. They were randomly assigned to receive either a probiotic or placebo capsule along with dietary advice for eight consecutive weeks. The trend of weight gain along with glucose metabolism indices was assayed. Results: During the first 6 weeks of the study, the weight gain trend was similar between the groups. However, in the last 2 weeks of the study, the weight gain in the probiotic group was significantly lower than in the placebo group (p < 0.05). Fasting blood sugar (FBS) decreased in both intervention (from 103.7 to 88.4 mg/dl) and control (from 100.9 to 93.6 mg/dl) groups significantly, and the decrease in the probiotic group was significantly higher than in the placebo group (p < 0.05). Insulin resistance index in the probiotic group had 6.74% reduction over the study period (p < 0.05). In the placebo group, however, there was an increase in insulin resistance index (6.45%), but the observed change in insulin resistance was not statistically significant. Insulin sensitivity index was increased in both groups. The post-intervention insulin sensitivity index in the probiotic group was not significantly different from placebo when adjusted for the baseline levels. Conclusions: The probiotic supplement appeared to affect glucose metabolism and weight gain among pregnant women with GDM. This needs to be confirmed in other settings before a therapeutic value could be approved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the sixth cause of cancer death worldwide. Among the major risk factors for this disease lack of certain vitamins and minerals including antioxidant vitamins are considered. Objectives: This study examined the relationship between antioxidant vitamins including vitamins A, E and C and risk of squamous cell carcinoma in Kurdistan. Patients and Methods: This case-control study was based on dietary patterns of 143 patients including 47 cases and 96 controls. Data were collected by food frequency questionnaire and nutritional value of dietary patterns intake was determined in the two groups by using N4 (nutritionist IV) software. Statistical data analysis was performed using SPSS-16 and using independent t-test, X2 and logistic regression. Results: The result of logistic regression analysis showed an inverse relation between intake of vitamin E and risk of squamous cell carcinoma (P = 0.01). Also the risk of esophageal cancer in people who received mean of 141 mg/day of vitamin C compared with those with average intake of 125 mg/day had a 98% decrease (P = 0.01). There was no association between intake of vitamin A, beta carotene and alphatocopherol with risk of squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions: Results suggest that antioxidant vitamins can possibly play a protective role in preventing risk of squamous cell carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is emerging globally as a leading, underlying contributor to a variety of different diseases, some of which are fatal. This study aims to provide a brief review of the botanical sources which are available to serve as an alternative to modern, synthetic anti-obesity drugs, and to provide a brief discussion of their mechanism of action, and their safe and effective usage. Information was gathered from books, journals, and a variety of electronic sources published in the period of 1991 to 2014. Medicinal plants can reduce weight through five basic mechanisms: controlling appetite, stimulating thermogenesis and lipid metabolism, inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity, preventing adipogenesis, and promoting lipolysis. Based on a review of the available literature, the consumption of recommended medicinal plants in a single form, and at an optimum dosage, could be a safe and effective complementary treatment for obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Adequate calcium intake may have a crucial role with regards to prevention of many chronic diseases, including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, different types of cancer, obesity and osteoporosis. In children, sufficient calcium intake is especially important to support the accelerated growth spurt during the preteen and teenage years and to increase bone mineral mass to lay the foundation for older age. Objectives: This study aimed to assess daily calcium intake in school-age children to ensure whether they fulfill the FGP dairy serving recommendations, the recommended levels of daily calcium intake and to assess the relationship between dietary calcium intake and major bone health indicators. Patients and Methods: A total of 501 Iranian school-age children were randomly selected. Calcium intake was assessed using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Bone health indicators were also assessed. Results: Dairy products contributed to 69.3% of the total calcium intake of the children. Daily adequate intake of calcium was achieved by 17.8% of children. Only 29.8% met the Food guide pyramid recommendations for dairy intake. Dietary calcium intake was not significantly correlated with serum calcium and other selected biochemical indicators of bone health. Conclusions: The need for planning appropriate nutrition strategies for overcoming inadequate calcium intake in school age children in the city of Tehran is inevitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate patterns of students' snacks habits regarding to their schools' cafeteria status in Tehran by focus group discussion (FGD) technique. Methods: Participants were 240 students (12 15 years old), selected from12 middle schools in Tehran. The field study consisted of 24 FGDs sessions; involving 8 10 participants. Collected data were coded, categorized and analyzed using constant comparative method. Results: Over half of the students believed that snack consumption is necessary. Although, majority of students believed that their schools' cafeterias are not acceptable, they noted them as one of the necessary parts of school. Nearly half of the children were complaining of unvaried and expensive food items. The most purchased items were: Cookies, sandwiches with mayonnaise and ketchup, soft drinks and chocolate milk. Most of the students were interested in having roles in their cafeterias. Conclusions: Schools' cafeteria are significant sources of supplying adolescents' snacks, so developing hygienic stores containing healthy and nutritious food items is a key element to affect their snack selection positively. Reaching this goal requires a multi disciplinary approach through participation of students, school staff, parents, and the support of community and media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the vitamin D status of 9-12-year-old primary-school children in Tehran during autumn and winter 2007-2008. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: Primary schools of Tehran city, Iran. Subjects: A total of 1111 children aged 9-12 years (573 boys and 538 girls) from sixty primary schools were enrolled in the study. Weight, height, BMI and serum levels of Ca, P, Mg, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), osteocalcin and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase of all the participants were assessed. Dietary Ca intake was also evaluated using a quantitative FFQ for a subsample of the study population (n 503). Vitamin D sufficiency was defined on the basis of serum levels of 25(OH)D as either ≥37 nmol/l (criterion 1) or ≥50 nmol/l (criterion 2). Results: Daily intake of Ca did not differ significantly between boys and girls (929·6 (SD 436·7)mg and 909·5 (SD 465·5) mg, respectively). However, on the basis of the first criterion, approximately 86% of the children had vitamin D deficiency, with 38·3% being severely deficient (25(OH)D<12·5 nmol/l). According to the second criterion, prevalence of vitamin D deficiency rose to 91·7%. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was higher in girls than in boys by either criterion. Serum levels of 25(OH)D inversely correlated with iPTH (r=-0·154, P<0·001) and BMI (r=-0·092, P=0·002) but directly correlated with duration of sun exposure (r=-0·115, P<0·001). Conclusions: The high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among schoolchildren (especially among girls) warrants immediate interventions for proper nutritional support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Dyslipidemia is regarded as a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. Complementary and alternative medicine plays a significant role in the treatment of dyslipidemia. Controversial findings have been reported regarding the effects of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) on dyslipidemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aqueous extracts from the dried calyx of sour tea on polygenic dyslipidemia. Materials and Methods: This controlled, randomized, clinical trial was conducted on 43 adults(6 males and 37 females), aged 30-60 years with polygenic dyslipidemia and no prior history of other conditions. The subjects were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The control group was trained on lifestyle modifications at baseline. On the other hand, in addition to lifestyle modifications at baseline, the intervention group received two cups of sour tea daily between meals; the both groups were followed-up for 12 weeks. Lipid profile was measured at baseline and within 6-and 12-week intervals following the intervention. Dietary intake and physical activity were assessed at baseline and within a 12-week interval. Results: After 12 weeks of intervention, the mean concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C)significantly decreased by up to 9.46%, 8.33% and 9.80%, respectively in the intervention group, compared to the baseline values. On the other hand, LDL-C/HDL-C ratio significantly increased by up to 3.15% in the control group after 12 weeks in comparison with the baseline values. The current study revealed a significant difference in HDL-C concentration between the intervention and control groups; however, no difference was observed between the two groups regarding other lipid profiles. Conclusion: It was concluded that sour tea may have significant positive effects on lipid profile in individuals with polygenic dyslipidemia, which may be attributed to its anthocyanins and inflation factor. Therefore, sour tea intake with the recommended dietary patterns, along with physical activity, can be effective in the regulation of lipid profile in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Vitamin D has recently been given a lot of attention for its role in controlling insulin secretion. Many studies have spoken of its role in weight management, blood sugar control and many other metabolic variables. Patient and methods In a randomized double-blind clinical trial, 210 people with vitamin D deficiency were randomly allocated into two groups receiving vitamin D (50,000 units per week) or placebo for 8 weeks. Results Vitamin D levels were significantly increased in the group receiving vitamin D supplementation (13.7 ± 5.2 unit increase versus 0.8 ± 2.8). The increased levels of vitamin D lead to significant changes in fasting insulin levels (6.8 ± 8.1 unit reduction versus 2.3 ± 3.7), a 2-h insulin (31.1 ± 34.9 unit reduction versus 4.5 ± 24.6) and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) indices. Conclusion Correction of vitamin D deficiency leads to increased insulin sensitivity that was significantly able to maintain glucose in the normal range with lower levels of insulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the vitamin D status in an adult population across latitudinal gradient and to investigate its possible associations with certain cardiometabolic risk factors., Methods: A total of 1406 healthy subjects aged 19-60 years were randomly selected from six regions of Iran across latitudinal gradient from 29° N to 37.5° N. Anthropometric and biochemical assessments were performed. The combination of high body mass index (>25 kg/m 2 ), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (< 40 mg/dl in males and < 50 mg/dl in females) and high triglycerides (> 150 mg/dl) was defined as cardiometabolic risk factors., Results: The mean concentration of serum 25-hydroxycalciferol (25(OH)D) was 26.8±17.7 nmol/l. There were no significant differences in the mean serum 25(OH)D levels among different latitudes. Undesirable vitamin D status (deficiency and insufficiency) was found in 90.7% of the subjects. After adjustment for age and gender, the association between weight status and serum 25(OH)D was significant ( p< 0.04, odds ratio:1.49; confidence interval: 1.01-2.19). The prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors among the subjects with serum 25(OH)D less than 27.5 nmol/l was significantly higher than those with serum calcidiol concentrations above 27.5 nmol/l (13.3% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.033)., Conclusion: Undesirable vitamin D status is highly prevalent among Iranian adults of both sexes irrespective of latitude and even in sunny regions. The occurrence of cardiometabolic risk factors was significantly higher in those subjects with circulating calcidiol concentrations below 27.5 nmol/l.

Sleep deficiency is becoming widespread in both adults and adolescents and is accompanied by certain behaviors that can lead to obesity. This study aims to investigate differences in sleep duration of overweight/obese and normal weight groups, and the association between sleep deprivation and obesity, dietary intake and physical activity. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 226 Iranian working adults (109 men and 117 women) aged 20 to 55 years old who live in Tehran. Body weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured, and BMI was calculated. Questionnaires, including the Sleep Habit Heart Questionnaire (SHHQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and 24-hour dietary recall, were interview-administered. Subjects were categorized as normal weight (36.3%) or overweight/obese (63.7%) based on WHO standards (2000). Overweight/ obese subjects slept significantly (p<0.001) later (00:32±00:62 AM) and had shorter sleep duration (5.37±1.1 hours) than normal weight subjects (23:30±00:47 PM and 6.54±1.06 hours, respectively). Sleep duration showed significant (p<0.05) direct correlations to energy (r = 0.174), carbohydrate (r = 0.154) and fat intake (r = 0.141). This study revealed that each hour later in bedtime (going to bed later) increased the odds of being overweight or obese by 2.59-fold (95% CI: 1.61-4.16). The findings in this study confirm that people with shorter sleep duration are more likely to be overweight or obese; hence, strategies for the management of obesity should incorporate a consideration of sleep patterns.

Caraway (Carum carvi L.), a potent medicinal plant, is traditionally used for treating obesity. This study investigates the weight-lowering effects of caraway extract (CE) on physically active, overweight and obese women through a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Seventy overweight and obese, healthy, aerobic-trained, adult females were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 35 per group). Participants received either 30 mL/day of CE or placebo without changing their diet or physical activity. Subjects were examined at baseline and after 90 days for changes in body composition, anthropometric indices, and clinical and paraclinical variables. The treatment group, compared with placebo, showed a significant reduction of weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, and waist-to-hip ratio. No changes were observed in lipid profile, urine-specific gravity, and blood pressure of subjects. The results suggest that a dietary CE with no restriction in food intake, when combined with exercise, is of value in the management of obesity in women wishing to lower their weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and body size, with no clinical side effects. In conclusion, results of this study suggest a possible phytotherapeutic approach for caraway extract in the management of obesity. This trial is registered with NCT01833377.

Background: Insufficient dietary intake of chromium as an essential nutrient leads to signs and symptoms that are similar to those observed for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. We postulate that in healthy individuals, urinary chromium excretion following a high glycemic index diet is higher than after a low glycemic index diet., Methods: A sequential randomized controlled cross-over study was carried out at the Metabolic Unit of Nutrition Department of King's College London. Sixteen healthy individuals aged 18 - 60 years were recruited from 26 volunteers. A low or high glycemic index diet (as the main meals/day) was given to the volunteers over six days. Fasting blood glucose and insulin changes were determined and 24-hr urine samples were collected to measure chromium excretion before intervention and every second day within each treatment with a one wash-out period using Dynamic Reaction Cell Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer., Results: During the six-day diet study, there were no significant differences in 24-hr urinary chromium losses between the two groups following the low glycemic index (0.58+/-0.08 microg/24 hr) and high glycemic index diets (0.48+/-0.06 microg/24 hr). However, during day six there was a trend towards greater loss of chromium after the high glycemic index diet (0.73+/-0.1 microg/24 hr) in comparison with the low glycemic index diet (0.54+/-0.07 microg/24 hr)., Conclusion: Evidence that urinary chromium loses following the high glycemic index diets have not been clearly demonstrated in normal subjects. These results suggest that chromium excretion may need to be observed for longer than six days to address this question.