OBJECTIVE: Zinc, an essential trace element and a component of many enzymes, is involved in the synthesis, storage and release of insulin. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of zinc supplementation on insulin resistance and components of the metabolic syndrome in prepubertal obese children. DESIGN: This triple-masked, randomized, placebocontrolled cross-over trial was conducted among 60 obese Iranian children in 2008. Pertinent clinical findings, fasting serum glucose, insulin and lipid profile were assessed. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups of equal number; one group received 20mg elemental zinc and the other group received placebo on a regular daily basis for eight weeks. After a 4-week wash-out period, the groups were crossed over. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 9.1 ± 1.1 years. After receiving zinc, the mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin and HOMA-IR decreased significantly, while body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), LDL-C and triglycerides (TG) did not significantly change. After receiving placebo, the mean FPG, insulin and HOMA-IR increased significantly, while BMI, WC, LDL-C and TG showed a non-significant increase. CONCLUSION: Besides lifestyle modification, zinc supplementation might be considered as a useful and safe additional intervention treatment for improvement of cardiometabolic risk factors related to childhood obesity.

Objective: To assess the national prevalence of short stature, underweight, overweight and obesity in 6-year-old Iranian children before school entry. Design: Cross-sectional nationwide survey. Setting: Mandatory national screening programme before entrance to elementary school in 2008 in Iran. Subjects: All Iranian children entering public and private elementary schools. Results: The study population comprised 862 433 children (48?4 % girls, 77?2 % urban resident). Overall, 6?5 % of children had short stature, 19?1 % were underweight, 12?8 % were overweight and 3?4 % were obese. There was no significant difference in terms of gender, but considerably larger differences were documented among various provinces. Conclusions: The double burden of nutritional disorders among young children warrants a multi-faceted national policy with evidence-based local programmes. Such planning needs a comprehensive surveillance system and centralized data registry for children's growth.

Background: Life satisfaction (LS) in children and adolescents is important because of its effects on their school performance and the future adulthood life. In this multicentric study, we examined some determinants of LS in the pediatric age group. Method: This multicentric study was a part of the fourth national school-based surveillance program in Iran (2011Iran ( -2012. It was conducted among 14,880 children and adolescents, aged 6-18 years, living in 30 provinces in Iran. We used the questionnaire of the World Health Organization on Global School-based Health Survey (WHO-GSHS), which was translated to Persian and validated in Iranian children and adolescents. LS was defined by a single question: 'Generally, which score between 0 (the worst) to 10 (the best) do you feel well describes your life at the moment?' The score of six and above was considered as satisfied. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the determinants of LS. Results: In total, 13,486 students completed the study (response rate 90.6%). Overall, 86.7%, 78.19%, and 71.44 of students were satisfied with their life in elementary, middle, and high schools. Students in middle school (OR 0.83; 95% CI 0.73, 0.96) and high schools (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.54, 0.72) were less satisfied with their life. Students with moderate (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.20, 1.54) and good (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.44, 1.91) socioeconomic status were more satisfied than those with low status. Those who consulted with one (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.34, 1.81) or both (OR 2.22; 95% CI 1.89, 2.60) of their parents were more satisfied with their life. Students who felt being accepted by their peers were 1.34 (95% CI 1.18, 1.52) times more satisfied with their life. Other associated variables were weekly (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.12, 1.572) or daily (OR 1.6; 95% CI 01.12, 1.57) fruit consumption, moderate (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.01, 1.29) and high (OR 1.1; 95% CI 1.02, 1.347) physical activity, good self-rated health (OR 2.11; 95% CI 1.88, 2.37), and daily tooth brushing (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.18, 1.46). Students with anxiety (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.65, 0.82) and depression (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.58, 0.74) were less satisfied with their life. Conclusion: Some demographic and lifestyle factors, including higher socioeconomic status, consultation with parents, healthy dietary, and physical activity habits, were associated with higher LS in children and adolescents. Then, interventions that focus on improving lifestyle factors and parents' support could increase LS among children and adolescents.

Until a few years ago, childhood undernutrition has been the major nutritional problem in our community and still is the focus of nutritional policies and related medical education curriculum; however the higher prevalence of overweight other than underweight obtained in the current national survey is alarming and confirms the importance of considering childhood overweight as a health priority. This should be taken into account for all Middle Eastern countries that are expected to bear one of the world's greatest increases in the burden of chronic diseases notably diabetes in the next two decades.

Motivational office-based counseling can be effective in treatment of childhood obesity and its associated cardio-metabolic risk factors. Such approach can be implemented in the primary health care system; and can be of special concern in low- and middle-income countries with limited human and financial resources. We suggest that expanding the roles of non-physician clinicians such as nurse practitioners can help to increase the amount of time available for such services.

Objective. To determine the most effective and biodegradable dispersant of spilled oil in water surrounding two Persian Gulf provinces.Methods. This study compared the effects of three dispersants, Pars 1, Pars 2, and Gamlen OD4000 on removal of oil in two Persian Gulf provinces' water. Overall, 16 stations were selected. Using the Well method, the growth rate of isolated bacteria and fungi was identified. To specify the growth rate of microorganisms and their usage of oil in the presence of the above-mentioned dispersants, as exclusive sources of carbon, the bacteria were grown in culture medium for 28 days at 120 rpm,30∘C, and their optical density was measured by spectrophotometry. Then, we tested biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in microorganisms.Results. The highest growth rate was documented for the growth of microorganisms on either Pars 1 or Pars 2 dispersants or their mixtures with oil. However, the culture having microorganisms grown on Pars 1 had higher BOD and COD than the other two dispersants (9200 and 16800 versus 500 and 960,P<0.05). Mixture of oil and Pars 2 as well as oil and Pars 1 dispersants showed the highest BODs and CODs, respectively. In the Bahregan province, microorganisms grown on Pars 2 had maximum amount of BOD and COD in comparison with Pars 1 and Gamlen dispersants (7100 and 15200 versus 6000 and 10560,P<0.05).Conclusion. Pars 1 and Pars 2 were the most effective dispersants with highest degradability comparing Gamlen. In each region, the most suitable compound for removing oil spill from offshores with least secondary contamination should be investigated.

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