Background: Obesity as the excessive accumulation of adipose in adipocytes has still remained equivocal. Since diets contain many components to prevent from or promote diseases, assessing effects of the whole diet on health can be more practical. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between quality of diets through healthy eating index (HEI), and body composition parameters in Iranian adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 138 participants in the age range of 20-55 years, who referred to Endocrinology Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences to receive health care services and fulfilled the eligibility criteria to participate in this study. Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to calculate HEI scores. Body composition data included: Fat mass (FM), fat free mass (FFM), abdominal fat (AF), muscle mass (MM), and total body water (TBW) that were collected by bioelectrical impedance instrument. Results: In this study the mean HEI score was 55.26. Based on HEI-2010 values, diet quality was good in 0.7% of participants, needed improvement in 55.9%, and was poor in 43.4% of the cases. There were significant linear trends between quality of diets and body composition parameters (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to our study poor diet quality can be related to FM and obesity in Iranian adults.

Background: Substance abuse has significant impact on nutritional status. Due to the increased malnutrition during drug use and withdrawal, this study aimed at assessing the anthropometric indices in individuals referring to drug treatment centers in Qom. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 329 addicted individuals referring to addiction centers in Qom were randomly selected. A questionnaire was used with three parts including demographic characteristics, drug abuse history, and anthropometric indices including measurement of height, weight, waist circumference, arm circumference, and skinfold thickness in triceps and calf muscles. Results: The participants consisted of 328 men and only one woman, 29% of whom were in detoxification. The mean of participants age was 39.0 ± 7.1 years. The first and most-frequently used drug was opium. All anthropometric indices were associated with the consumption of opium substances and drug use was associated significantly with some parameters. With the exception of skinfold thickness in the calf, all the indices were affected by the type of consumed substances. The opium addicts had a higher body mass index compared with other drug users. Conclusions: Due to the importance of nutrition status in drug abusers and their lack of self-care, careful monitoring and evaluation of dietary intake, as well as nutrition status can play important roles in the rehabilitation of these individuals and help to prevent from reappearance of these habits.

Background: In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) the bone marrow loses its ability in the differentiation and maturation of blood cells at different stages. Zinc and copper are important co-factors for several enzymes and play an important role in maintenance of DNA integrity. Changes in serum levels of zinc and copper have been found in lymphoproliferative disorders. In the present study, the aim was to compare serum levels of zinc, copper, vitamin D, and inflammatory markers after eight courses of chemotherapy. Methods: Participants of this study included 30 ALL patients in the age range of 15 to 65 years. A 10 mL blood sample was taken before and after eight courses of chemotherapy. The concentration of Zinc, Copper, hs-CRP, vitamin D and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. Results: There was a significant increase in serum zinc (121.7 ± 18.05 µg/dL before chemotherapy and 156.6 ± 25.00 µg/dL after chemotherapy) and a significant decrease in serum copper (661.9 ± 190.1 µg/dL before chemotherapy and 402.2 ± 93.5 µg/dL after chemotherapy) and a significant decrease in Malondialdehyde and serum vitamin D were observwd. Further, no significant differences were observed in hs-CRP after chemotherapy. Conclusion: Results showed that chemotherapy could decrease the burden of disease by increasing serum zinc and decreasing serum copper.

This article has no abstract.

Background: Sexual dysfunction is an important health problem which prevalence in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is higher than other people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of L-arginine oral supplementation on sexual function in men with T2D and mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods: Eighty men with T2D, suffering from mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction participated in this double-blind clinical trial. They were randomly assigned in to two groups; receiving 5 g/day L-arginine (AG) or placebo group (PG) for 4 weeks. Sexual functions were recorded with international index of erectile function questionnaire at the beginning and end of the intervention. Total testosterone concentrations were measured too. Results: The total mean score of sexual function parameters significantly increased only in AG than PG (43.2 ± 6.2 vs. 39.4 ± 4.0, P = 0.003). Against PG, the mean of all parameters significantly improved in AG after intervention. Only the mean score of erectile function in AG had a significant increase compared to PG. Mean of other sexual activity scores between the two groups had no significant differences. The mean of testosterone concentration had a significant increase in both groups after the intervention, but the mean of changes was significantly higher in AG than in PG (1.91 µg/L vs. 0.53 µg/L, P = 0.004). Conclusions: The present trial showed that daily consumption of 5 g L-arginine for four weeks in T2D men with mild-to-moderate sexual dysfunction improved various parameters such as erectile function, sexual satisfaction, sexual desire, pleasure from sexual intercourse, and testosterone level.

This article has no abstract.

Background: Imbalanced diet, as it may cause micronutrient malnutrition has been known as a causal factor for several chronic diseases. Several studies in Iran have shown that some micro-nutrient deficiencies are prevalent and of high concern. Minerals such as calcium and iron can supply physical and mental health as well as survival, and growth development. In this study, Nutrient density analysis was used to display Iranian households diet quality. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, the diet quality of seven provinces, namely Eastern Azarbaijan, Isfahan, Tehran, Khorasan, Khouzestan, Sistan Balochestan and Fars was assessed in terms of calcium and iron. To do so, the data were obtained through national household food consumption survey conducted by National Nutrition & Food Technology Research Institute, 2000-02, in Iran. Results: Generally, 80% of households calcium density was less than the standard value and this rate was 40-70% for iron. Index of nutrition quality (INQ) for calcium and iron were respectively almost 1/2 and 1/3 of requirements in all provinces. Conclusions: There were significant differences in calcium intake density between the rural and urban households however; there were no differences between the selective provinces and all over the country.

Background: This descriptive study sought to assess the relation of anxiety, depression, and happiness with binge eating disorders (BED) among overweight and obese individuals. Methods: To conduct this study, 200 individuals who referred to Nutrition Clinics in Isfahan, were selected randomly. They were asked to complete some questionnaires which were then scored according to Gormally scale. Respondents with scores of 17 and higher were selected as BED and entered the study. Final sample size consisted of 120 participants (28 men and 92 women). The management tools were Gormally et al., the Oxford Happiness, Beck Depression Inventory, and the Kettel anxiety questionnaires. Results: Statistical assessment consisted of descriptive statistics, pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regressions, and Fisher Z test. Results showed that BED had significant and linear correlations with depression (r = 0.51), happiness (r = 0.27), and anxiety ( r = 0.24) (all P < 0.01). Depression as the only included factor for analysis explained 25% of the analysis variance. Although, BED had a positive correlation with depression, anxiety, and happiness among men (P < 0.05) and women (P < 0.01), it did not have any association with either of the three mentioned factors (Z = 0.50, Z = -1.15, and Z = 0.62, respectively). It was shown that depression, anxiety, and absence of happiness had important roles in the process of weight reduction among applicants of weight loss. Conclusions: Anxiety and depression lead to over-eating and over-eating inturn reinforces both depression and anxiety.