Background: This study described validity of Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ) for assessing energy and nutrient intake among Iranian population. Methods: A group of experienced nutritionists translated the DHQ to Farsi language and modified it based on Iranian food habits and cooking methods. We recruited 244 healthy adults with a mean age of 42.83 ± 0.75 yrs. from healthy individuals who were friends or relatives of patients in the Cancer Institute of Iran from April 2011 to February 2012. We used the DHQ to assess dietary intakes through interviews as well as at least four 24-h recalls one in every season. Reliability was estimated by comparing data of DHQ with mean intake from 24-hour recalls using deattenuated and energy-adjusted Spearman correlation coefficients. We classified dietary intakes of two methods into three groups to probe if DHQ correctly allocates subjects into different intake groups compared to reference method. The results are reported as percent of disagreement, adjacent agreement, and complete agreement. Results: Deattenuated spearman correlation ranged from 0.18 for vitamin B12 and fat to 0.60 for sugar. It ranged from 0.13 for pantothenic acid to 0.60 for sugar in men and from 0.07 for fat to 0.58 for sugar in females. The complete agreement of methods ranged from 51% for selenium to 36% for carotene in the entire sample, from 50% for energy to 31% for niacin in males and from 49% for sugar to 27% for vitamin B12 in females. Conclusion: The DHQ is a valid tool for assessing most nutrients intake among Iranian population. In addition, it is a proper instrument in categorizing individuals based on their dietary intakes.

Background: Stomach cancer (SC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. Dietary risk factors of SC are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between macronutrient intakes and the risk of SC. Study design: A hospital-based case-control study. Methods: The data were obtained from a hospital-based case-control study conducted at the Cancer Institute of Iran from 2010 to 2012. Patients were 40 years or older and were diagnosed with SC in less than one year with no history of any cancers. On the other hand, the controls were healthy subjects who were caregivers or visitors of the patients. Demographic characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire through face to face interviews by trained interviewers. Dietary data were obtained using a validated Diet History Questionnaire. The age and gender-adjusted odds ratios (ORs), as well as the adjusted ORs of age, gender, energy, education, smoking, and body mass index, were reported for continuous and tertiles of intakes. Results: Totally, 207 SC patients and 217 controls participated in this study. In the full adjusted model, after comparing the highest tertiles to the lowest ones, the intake of sucrose (OR: 2.94; 95% CI: 1.66-5.19; P-trend<0.001), protein (OR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.17-3.55; P-trend=0.011), cholesterol (OR: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.28-3.85; P-trend=0.005), and percent of calories from protein (OR: 3.09; 95% CI: 1.69-5.61; P-trend<1.001) showed a positive significant association with SC. Moreover, a significantly negative association was found between the percent of calories obtained from carbohydrates and SC (OR: 0. 57; 95% CI: 0.33-0.98; P-trend=0.015). Conclusion: The findings in this study showed that macronutrient intakes might be associated with the etiology of SC in Iran.

Background The aim of the present study was to validate the Lifestyle Behavior Checklist (LBC) questionnaire, to measure Iranian parents' perceptions of their children's weight-related behaviors and their self-efficacy in dealing with those behaviors. Methods The LBC was translated into Farsi. Face and content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by an expert panel. A total of 213 mothers of 3–12-year-old children responded to the questionnaire. Criterion validity of the questionnaire was evaluated through comparing its result with a parenting style questionnaire. Principal component analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were used to evaluate construct validity of the questionnaire. Reproducibility was measured by twice administration of LBC, one month apart and using Spearman's rho correlation test. The questionnaire's internal consistency was assessed by calculating Cronbach's α. Results LBC Problem scale was significantly correlated with authoritarian parenting style score, while the Confidence scale was significantly correlated with authoritative and negatively with permissive and authoritarian parenting styles. PCA suggested a six-factor construct, including, fussy eating, food-related problem behaviors, overeating behaviors, low interest in physical activity, poor self-image and sedentary behaviors. The results of CFA indicated acceptable fit indices for the proposed models. Both, Problem scale (Cronbach's α = 0.8) and Confidence scale (Cronbach's α = 0.95) had high internal consistency. Spearman correlation coefficients indicated acceptable reproducibility for both the Problem scale (r = 0.74) and the Confidence scale (r = 0.70). Conclusions The Farsi version of LBC questionnaire is reliable and reasonably valid to measure Iranian mothers' perception of their children's weight-related problem behavior.

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Background: The trend of increasing overweight and obesity among children is a huge burden on health systems. In this regard, the growing availability of processed foods, often energy dense and nutrient poor, has become a major concern. Changing this trend will require evidence-based policies. Aims: This systematic review aimed to identify the most common processed/ultraprocessed foods consumed by 4–12-year-old Iranian children. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of science, as well as Persian scientific search engines, including Iran Research Information System, Scientific Information Database and Mag-Iran. We also assessed grey literature, that is, national studies and papers presented at relevant Iranian congresses. All data collected from studies were converted to daily servings (S/D). Mean and standard deviations of the included results were combined by performing meta-analysis with a random effects model. The I2 test was used to compute heterogeneity. Egger’s test was used to assess publication bias. Results: Ten studies with 67 093 children were included in this review. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the highest consumption of processed foods belonged to the sugars and sweets group with 8.01 S/D, followed by oils, and biscuits and cakes with 5.58 S/D and 3.33 S/D, respectively. Conclusion: Given the high consumption of less healthy processed foods, robust policies to support healthy eating and help improve Iranian children’s food environment are recommended.

Background: This study investigated the association between vitamins intakes and risk of gastric cancer (GC) among Iranian population. Methods:In this hospital-based case-control study, 178 pathologically confirmed GC patients and 276 healthy controls were interviewed to answer a valid diet history questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression, in which potential confounders were taken into account, was applied to determine the association of vitamin intakes and odds of GC in total population and in stratums of body mass index (BMI), helicobacter pylori (H-pylori) infection, and smoking. Results: GC was directly associated with vitamin D (OR 1.59; CI 95% 1.07, 2.36) and cobalamin (OR 1.25; CI 95% 1.08, 1.44). Thiamin (OR 0.50; 95%CI 0.30, 0.83), pantothenic acid (OR 0.71; 95%CI 0.58, 0.87), folate (OR 0.99; 95%CI 0.99, 0.99) and vitamin E (OR 0.98; 95%CI 0.96, 0.99) were inversely associated with GC. In 231 H-pylori infected participants, consumption of thiamin (OR 0.3; 95% CI 0.59, 0.86), pyridoxine (OR 0.52; 95%CI 0.31, 0.85), and folate (OR 0.99; 95%CI 0.99, 0.99) reduced GC risk. In H-pylori negative participants, only vitamin­ E (OR 0.96; 95%CI 0.93, 0.99) reduced the risk and vitamin D (OR 1.99; 95%CI 1.18, 3.36), riboflavin (OR 1.91; 95%CI 1.37, 2.66), pantothenic acid(OR 1.34; 95%CI 1.13, 1.64), biotin (OR 1.03; 95%CI 1.01, 1.05), and cobalamin (OR 1.36; 95%CI 1.13, 1.64) increased the risk. In BMI stratums, only vitamin D (OR 1.81; 95%CI 1.07, 3.08) was associated with the risk of GC among normal weight participants. Vitamin E was associated with lower risk of GC in ever smokers (OR 0.97; 95%CI 0.95, 0.99) and thiamin (OR 0.41; 95%CI 0.19, 0.86) and niacin (OR 0.93; 95%CI 0.87, 0.99) were associated with lower risk in never smokers. Positive associations were observed by increasing vitamin D (OR 2.08; 95%CI 1.12, 3.85) and cobalamin (OR 1.33; 95%CI 1.08, 1.65) in never smokers. Conclusion: This study provided support for a possible protective effect of vitamin E, thiamin, pantothenic acid, and folate on GC risk. Vitamin D and cobalamin intake increased the risk.

Food insecurity (FI) is a major global health challenge despite the actions taken to combat it. Social and economic factors can affect food security. This study aimed to systematically review research evidence to investigate socioeconomic determinants of FI in the healthy Iranian population. Three databases and search engines, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science as well as Iranian scientific search engines, including Scientific Information Database (SID) and Magiran were systematically searched in English and Persian to identify relevant articles from 1990 until October 2022. A total of 6624 studies were identified. After screening, 115 cross-sectional and 6 case–control studies were included. We separated the results based on rural, urban, and suburban areas. Socioeconomic factors which were correlated to FI in both urban and rural areas were family head education level, parent’s occupation, family head occupation, occupation diversity, number of working persons in a family, marital status of the family head, family size, number of children, household’s economic status, house area, house ownership, and living facilities. Many socioeconomic determinants affect IF in the urban, rural, and suburban areas; so, policymakers should have comprehensive attention on these factors, specifically to improve food security status and support society’s health.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most prevalent cancer worldwide. At the same time, it is the third cause of death from cancer. This indicated the low survival rate of this cancer. This emphasizes the importance of prevention and early detection strategies. We found a positive association between dietary acid load and gastric cancer odds using a case-control design. Adherence to a healthy diet with an appropriate acid-base balance might help prevent cancer-related conditions.