BackgroundObesity is a worldwide health problem with increasing prevalence. Decrease in energy intake has been shown to lower the risk of coronary artery disease in obese subjects. The common form of dietary restriction is daily calorie restriction (CR). Another form is alternate-day fasting (ADF). This study examined the ability of modified ADF to facilitate weight loss and lower cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese women.Methods15 adult subjects completed an 8 weeks trial (2 weeks observed and 6 weeks ADF). All women consumed very low calorie diet on the fast day and usually diet in every other day. Body weight (BW), fat mass and blood pressure (BP) were measured. Fasting blood samples were collected at the first and 57th day of trial for biochemical analysis.ResultsDuring the course of the trial, BW of the subjects decreased (p < 0/0001) from 84/3 ± 11/44 kg to 78/3 ± 10/18 kg. Waist Circumference decreased from 87/87 ± 9/74 to 82/86 ± 9/68(p < 0/001). Reduction in systolic BP was seen from 114.8 ± 9.16 to 105.13 ± 10.19 mmHg (p < 0/001) and diastolic BP changed from 82.86 ± 10.6 to 74.5 ± 10.8 (P < 0.05). Total cholesterol decreased from 227/73 ± 49/96 to 214/67 ± 43/27, TG from 160/5 ± 46/18 to 143/9 ± 22/77, LDL from 149/46 ± 49/81 to 131/3 ± 50/97, and FBS from 102 ± 14/7 to 96 ± 11/79 mg/dl but were not significant. HDL increased from 42/32 ± 18/01 to 50/58 ± 19/46 and was not significant.ConclusionThese finding suggest that short time ADF is a viable dietary option to help obese individuals lose weight and decrease some CAD risk factors. More and longer-term studies in human subjects are needed to support this important result.

Background:The prevalence of overweight and obesity is on the increase the world over, which imposes an ever-increasing burden on societies and health care systems.Objectives:This study sought to investigate the effect of motivational interviewing (MI) on a weight-loss program based on the protection motivation theory (PMT).Patients and Methods:This randomized clinical trial study, comprising pretest-posttest with a control group, was conducted on 150 overweight and obese women attending a private nutrition clinic for the first time. Samples were randomly selected using the clinic’s records and then allocated to three groups (50 women in each group) receiving: 1) a standard weight-control program; 2) motivational interviewing; and 3) MI plus intention intervention. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire through in-person interviews and were analyzed using SPSS (version 11) and statistical tests, including the Kruskal-Wallis test, one-way analysis of variance, paired t-test, and linear regression model.Results:In the two intervention groups, the PMT construct scores, namely susceptibility (P = 0.001), severity (P = 0.001), rewards (P =0.004), self-efficacy (P = 0.001), response efficacy (P = 0.001), and costs (P = 0.014), were significantly increased compared to those in the control group. The anthropometric status was statistically significant in the MI group (P = 0.001) and the MI plus intention-intervention group (P = 0.001) at 2 months’ follow-up, while in the control group, weight was meaningfully different after the intervention (P = 0.027). Weight was different between the groups after the intervention, with the Tukey test demonstrating that the differences were statistically significant between the control group and the MI group.Conclusions:Our results demonstrated that MI, combined with the implementation of intention intervention, increased weight loss and PMT construct scores in our study population.

Introduction: Selenium (Se) is a rare element with well-demonstrated anti-oxidative effects that acts as an enzyme co-factor in physiological interactions. Low plasma Se level and malnutrition in hemodialysis (HD) patients could increase the risk of morbidity and mortality among these patients. Moreover, Se deficiency leads to oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association of plasma Se levels with malnutrition and inflammatory markers in HD patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 88 patients undergoing routine HD at dialysis unit of 5 th Azar Hospital in Gorgan, northeastern Iran. In addition, 88 healthy individuals were selected from the patients' families as controls. Level of Se, C-reactive protein (CRP), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG) and albumin were measured in the patients and controls by the atomic absorption method. Se levels were categorized into two groups of "over half-normalized" and "under half-normalized" for further analysis. Results: Hyposeleniemia was found in two patients (2.3%). The mean level of Se in HD patients was lower than in the healthy controls (P< 0.001). Among all HD subjects, 30.3% had under half-normalized Se level. In addition, 79.5% of HD patients were well nourished and 20.5% were moderately malnourished. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean level of Se in the malnourished and well-nourished subjects. Total mean level of HDL, LDL, TG and CRP had not significant correlation with plasma Se levels. There was a significant positive correlation between the mean plasma albumin and Se levels in the HD patients (P<0.05). Conclusions: The mean plasma Se level of HD patients in this area is in the normal range. There is no association between plasma Se level and malnutrition. Based on our findings, hyposelenemia is not a problem in HD patients in the Golestan Province.

Introduction: Ramadan is an Islamic month during which Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn to sunset. Ramadan is a model of prolonged intermittent fasting. Previous studies have shown that fasting has beneficial effects on human health. However, the results of these studies have been inconsistent. The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of fasting during Ramadan on biochemical parameters and inflammatory markers. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in July 2013. Thirty healthy men who were fasting during Ramadan were enrolled in the study. Anthropometric measurements were taken from each subject. Fasting venous blood samples were taken one week before Ramadan, during the last week of Ramadan and four weeks after Ramadan. Serum interleukin-6, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein levels were measured. Results: No significant change was observed in serum total cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, interleukin-6 and high sensitivity C-reactive protein. Fasting in Ramadan significantly decreased body mass index (P< 0.0001), FBS (P< 0.0001), triglycerides (P< 0.01), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P< 0.01), insulin (P< 0.02), HOMA index (P< 0.001) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: This study indicates that fasting during Ramadan has some positive effects on body mass index, serum triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, FBS, insulin and HOMA index.

No abstract

Background: It is especially true that prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing worldwide and it is probably because of changes in diet and physical behavior pattern.

No abstract

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a glycoprotein that plays an essential role in lipid transport and metabolism.The present study purposed to determine the distribution of apoE alleles in a Turkman population and its association with lipid profile. In a cross-sectional study 354 healthy Turkman were recruited. Fasting blood samples were collected for biochemical tests and DNA extracting. Genomic DNA was amplified using PCR-RFLP method. The resulting fragments of PCR product digestion were detected by  polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This study showed that ε3 allele and E3/E3 genotype are the most common allele and genotype, while ε2 and ε4 alleles had lower frequencies, respectively. Two homozygote genotypes E2E2 and E4E4 were not detected in our sample. Results didn’t confirm any association between apo E polymorphism with lipids concentration in Turkmen population.Â