Search

Objective: Recent evidence reported that some dietary compounds like quercetin and apigenin as the most well-known flavonoids with anti-inflammatory effects may inhibit SARS-CoV-2 main protease. The hypothesis of the promising effects and possible mechanisms of action of quercetin against COVID-19 were assessed in this article.Materials and Methods: Related papers on the inhibitory effects of quercetin against COVID-19 were collected using the following search strategy: “corona or coronavirus or COVID or COVID-19 or viral or virus” AND “nutrient or flavonoid or Quercetin”.Results: The findings indicated that quercetin can be considered an effective agent against COVID-19 because of its SARS-CoV-2 main protease and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitory effects. In addition, quercetin may attenuate angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptors leading to a reduction of SARS-CoV-2 ability to enter host cells. Moreover, the antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities of quercetin have been frequently reported.Conclusion: Quercetin may be an effective agent for managing the complications of COVID-19. Further longitudinal human studies are warranted.

AimThe effect of dietary lycopene on ischemic heart disease (IHD) is not clear. Hence, this study aimed to determine the association between dietary lycopene and IHD.MethodsThis case–control study was conducted on 443 patients with physician confirmed diagnosis of IHD as the case group and 443 healthy individuals as the control group. Data on demographic, medical history, anthropometric, and physical activity of the participants were collected. Food intake was evaluated using a 237-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The dietary intake of lycopene was assessed using Nutritionist IV software.ResultsA negative association was found between IHD and lycopene (OR: 0.98, CI 95%: 0.963–0.996, p = 0.02). The results remained significant after adjustment for age and sex, additional adjustment for dietary intake of calorie and fat, further adjustments for BMI, and additional adjustment for smoking, drinking alcohol, and physical activity. The risk of IHD in people with the highest quartile of dietary intake of lycopene was significantly lower than those with the lowest quartile (OR = 0.67, CI 95%: 0.46–0.97, p = 0.036).ConclusionThere was a significant inverse relationship between intake of lycopene and IHD. Further prospective studies in different populations are required to elucidate the roles of lycopene against IHD.

Objective When considering proposals to improve diets, it is important to understand how factors like price and income can affect saturated fat (SF) intake and demand. In this study, we examine and estimate the influence of price and income on intake across 160 countries, by age and sex, and derive sensitivity measures (price elasticities) that vary by age, sex and world region.Design We econometrically estimate intake responsiveness to income and prices across countries, accounting for differences by world region, age and sex. Intake data by age, sex and country were obtained from the 2018 Global Dietary Database. These data were then linked to global price data for select food groups from the World Bank International Comparison Programme and income data from the World Development Indicators Databank (World Bank).Results Intake differences due to price were highly significant, with a 1% increase in price associated with a lower SF intake (% energy/d) of about 4.3 percentage points. We also find significant differences across regions. In high-income countries, median (age 40) intake reductions were 1.4, 0.8 and 0.2 percentage points, given a 1% increase in the price of meat, dairy, and oils and fats, respectively. Price elasticities varied with age but not sex. Intake differences due to income were insignificant when regional binary variables were included in the analysis.Conclusion The results of this study show heterogeneous associations among prices and intake within and across countries. Policymakers should consider these heterogeneous effects as they address global nutrition and health challenges.

ObjectiveGenetics and dietary factors play important roles in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the underlying mechanisms of the interactions between CRC, gene polymorphisms, and dietary fat are unclear. This review study investigated the effects of polymorphisms of arachidonate lipoxygenase (ALOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX) genes in the association between CRC and dietary fat.MethodsAll the related papers published from 2000 to 2022 were collected from different databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Cochran using related keywords such as colorectal cancer, ALOX, COX, polymorphism, and dietary fat. Non-English and unrelated documents were excluded.ResultsSome single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ALOX and COX genes, such as rs2228065, rs6413416, and rs4986832 in the ALOX gene, and rs689465 in the COX gene may play significant roles in the association between the risk of CRC and dietary fats. SNPs of ALOX and COX genes may influence the effects of dietary fatty acids on the risk of CRC.ConclusionSome polymorphisms of the ALOX and COX genes may have important roles in the effects of dietary fat on the risk of CRC. If future studies confirm these results, dietary recommendations for preventing colorectal cancer may be personalized based on the genotype of the ALOX and COX genes.

Background: Despite reports on association between overweight/obesity among women and household food insecurity (FI) in developed countries, such association is not evident in developing countries. This study aimed to assess the association between household FI and weight status in adult females in Tehran, Iran.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 418 households were selected through systematic cluster sampling from 6 districts of Tehran. Height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Socio-economic status of the household was assessed by a questionnaire. Three consecutive 24-hour diet recalls were completed. FI was measured using adapted Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Logistic regression was used to test the effects of SES and food security on weight status, simultaneously. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) potential causal relationships between FI and weight status was explored.Results: Only 1.0% of women were underweight, while 40.3% were overweight and 33% were obese, respectively. Severe, moderate, and mild food insecurity was observed in 11.5, 14.7, and 17.8%, respectively. Among women in moderately food insecure households, the possibility of overweight was lower than those of food secure households (OR 0.41; CI95%:0.17-0.99), while in severely food insecure households, the risk of abdominal obesity for women was 2.82 times higher than food secures (CI95%:1.12-7.08) (P

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the validity of the adapted Radimer/Cornell questionnaire to measure food insecurity in low-income urban households in Tehran, the capital of Iran.DesignThe Radimer/Cornell questionnaire was modified and used to assess the applicability, validity and reliability of such a measure in a culturally different context of urban households in Tehran. Factor analysis and Cronbach's ? were used to assess validity and reliability, respectively. Socio-economic characteristics and food consumption frequency of the household were used to assess the criterion validity of the questionnaire.SettingDistrict 20 of Tehran.SubjectsA sample of 250 Iranian nuclear households with at least one child aged 1?18 years and a non-pregnant, non-lactating woman of reproductive age, selected through a multistage random sampling method.ResultsThree scales, labelled as household, individual and child hunger, were extracted through factor analysis using varimax rotation. Internal consistency of the scales was 0.897, 0.820 and 0.796, respectively. Individual insecurity and child hunger were inversely correlated with monthly per capita income, father's education, mother's education and father's occupational status, and positively correlated with household size, as expected. However, household insecurity did not follow the same pattern. Consumption frequency of fruits, vegetables, dairy, red meat and rice declined as food insecurity status worsened, while bread and potato consumption increased.ConclusionThe results show that a modified version of the Radimer/Cornell questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument to measure household food insecurity in a culturally different context. However, further modifications seem necessary to measure food insecurity at household level. Results lend support to the utility and applicability of experience-based measures in varying cultural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 an unconditional binary logistic regression were performed to investigate the association between sociodemographic parameters and age at menarche in months, puberty categories, and menarche age groups (