Background: Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) is the most prevalent human infection in half of the world population. Few studies investigated the reasons of infection to H pylori in societies. The current study was designed i to examine the relationship of food insecurity and quality of life with H pylori infection. Methods: In this case- control study, 200 candidates were selected among the people who referred to Shiraz Imam Reza Clinic. They were asked to complete the general questionnaire, food security, and quality of life questionnaires. The H pylori excremental diagnosis test was also taken from them.
Results: The prevalence of H pylori infection was 28%. No relationship was observed between H pylori and age, gender, household size, and body mass index. However, the prevalence of H pylori infection was significantly higher in married individuals and housewives and volunteers with lower educations and those who took digestive medications. In addition, food insecurity (P = 0.04) and low quality of life (P < 0.001) were significantly high in individuals with H pylori infection. However, the possibility of suffering from H pylori infection in individuals who consume digestive medicines was 3.97 times higher than other individuals (95% CI: 2.11-7.40). Furthermore, with reduction of quality of life, the possibility of suffering from H pylori infection increased 1.77 times (95% CI: 1.203-2.591).
Conclusion: The data indicated a statistically significant increased risk of H pylori in marital status, occupation, educational level, quality of life, and food insecurity in the affected individuals. The association of food insecurity and quality of life with H pylori infection should be examined in future studies in different populations
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of methyl donor supplementation on anthropometric indices, body composition, glycemic control, lipid profile, homocysteine and appetite regulatory hormones in overweight and obese subjects.
Design/methodology/approach
This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted on overweight and obese subjects in Shiraz, Iran, in 2018. The 25 participants in each intervention and control group were required to take methyl donor supplement and placebo, respectively, for eight weeks. A variety of measurements was collected at baseline and the end of the study. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21 software.
Findings
The results indicated a significant reduction in weight, body mass index, body fat and waist and hip circumference (p < 0.001 for all parameters) within both groups and a significant improvement in skeletal muscle (p = 0.005), fat-free mass (p = 0.006), visceral fat area (p < 0.001) and body cell mass (p = 0.004) in the intervention group. Also, the results showed a significant difference between the two groups regarding serum homocysteine concentration at the end of the intervention (p < 0.001).
Originality/value
The results demonstrated that methyl donor supplementation might have effects on the improvement of anthropometric indices, body composition, glycemic and lipid profile status and appetite regulatory hormones among obese and overweight individuals. These effects might be attributed to their roles in energy metabolism, protein synthesis and epigenetics regulation.
Background: Excessive inflammatory response is associated with several diseases. Recently, there has been an increasing trend for investigation of the acute or short-term effects of whey protein alone or in combination with carbohydrates on inflammatory status, especially in athletes. This systematic review aimed to clarify these effects. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from January 1990 to September 2021, without language restriction. Adult studies examining the effects of whey protein alone or together with carbohydrates on interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and C-reactive protein levels with a maximum duration of 15 days and with at least one comparison group were included. The quality of studies was analyzed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results: Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. Significant reductions in inflammatory markers was observed in seven out of 25 studies (28%). However, one out of 25 studies (4%) reported a significant increase in inflammatory status. Among those studies comparing the effects of whey protein alone with non-protein or protein-containing groups, 18.18% (two out of 11) and 10% (one out of ten) of the trials revealed a significant decrease in the markers, respectively. Moreover, of those studies comparing whey protein plus carbohydrate with non-protein or protein-containing groups, 33.33% (two out of six) and 40% (two out of five) of them showed a significant reduction in the inflammatory response, respectively. The quality of the majority of studies (84%) was poor. Conclusion: It seems that whey protein alone or the combination of it with carbohydrates may not affect the inflammatory markers in the short run (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021273915).[GMJ.2023;12:e2441]
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