Background: Developing obesity-related metabolic disturbances in spite of having normal weight is increasing in normal-weight people worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between different types of snacking and risk of individual components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in normal-weight adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on a randomized sample of 328 normal-weight individuals (18.5 = BMI = 24.9 kg/m2) older than 20 years in Ahvaz, Iran. Anthropometric indices, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipid profile and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were measured. MetS components were chosen based on the definition of international diabetes federation (IDF). Dietary intake was evaluated by a validated 50-item non-quantitative FFQ. Snacks were defined as energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods as well as low energy-dense and high-fiber foods. Results: Males had significantly higher rates of elevated FBG and triglyceride (TG), whereas higher rates of abdominal obesity and low HDL-c were observed in females. Older participants with lower education showed higher percentages in most of the MetS components. The occurrence of abdominal obesity and hypertension increased in the third compared to the first tertile category of supermarket cakes and biscuits (OR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.02 – 1.49) and chocolate (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03-1.18), respectively. However, other snacks showed no significant relationship. Conclusions: The consumption of unhealthy snacks with high fat, sugar, and refined carbohydrates in forms of supermarket cakes and biscuits as well as low-flavanol content chocolate products are the major dietary snacking habits contributing to abdominal obesity and hypertension in normal-weight adults in southwest of Iran.

nutritional status of historically disadvantaged smallholder food producers and their family members. Food Variety Scores (FVS) and Dietary Diversity Scores (DDS) are some of the indicators of nutritional status. This study sought to evaluate the nutritional status of children of historically disadvantaged agri-business smallholders at Alfred Nzo District. Methods: This study’s purposeful sample comprised of 263 agri-business households that generated annual turnover of US $11 811 – $39 370, and 327 children aged 5-14 years. A 3-day 24h dietary recall method was administered to collect information using questionnaires to assess the households’ socio-economic status and the caregivers’ nutritional practices. Descriptive, correlational, and non-parametric statistical analyses were performed. Results: The majority of caregivers’ households had a monthly non-farm income of US $78.82 - $118.11 (32.3%), and food expenditure of US $55.20 - $70.87 (23.2%). The households’ nutritional practices appeared weak. Half of the caregivers’ households (50.2%) could not afford to provide breakfast for their children every day before they go to school or church. The mean FVS was low at 23.43 ± 7.89, while the mean DDS was debatably high at 7.82 ± 4.53. The households’ non-farm income was positively and highly correlated (r = 0.55) to food expenditure (P < 0.01). In turn, food expenditure had a significant influence on FVS (P < 0.01) and DDS (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Households of historically disadvantaged agri-business smallholders had rather poor nutritional status. Staple food production-based security programs are required to improve nutrition.

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common behavioral disorders in children and youths. The prevalence of this disorder was reported between 5-10% in literature. Children with ADHD are characterized by hyperactivity, lack of attention, and impulsivity. The aim of this review was to overview the role of magnesium supplementation in the treatment of ADHD. Methods: Data bases including PubMed, Scopus, Sciencedirect, Web of science, and Google scholar were searched by using these keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, and Magnesium. The related observational and interventional studies published up to February 2017 were extracted and used. Results: Recent studies suggest that ADHD symptoms may have contribution in status of nutrients in body, such as magnesium. While most of these studies suggest a low magnesium level in children with ADHD, there have not been enough well-designed controlled clinical trials to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of magnesium supplementation or dietary magnesium interventions as a treatment. Conclusions: Considering the contradictory findings about the magnesium and ADHD, magnesium therapy in children with ADHD is not recommended until enough well-designed studies are provided.

This article has no abstract.

This article has no abstract.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the major causes of mortality in the world. Incidence of such diseases has a direct relationship with lifestyle and nutrition. So, this study was conducted to investigate and compare knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy of Kerman residents towards eating behaviors preventing CVD. Methods: In this descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study, 400 men and women aged 20 to 60 years were randomly selected. A 31-item questionnaire on knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy regarding eating behaviors affecting CVD was used to collect the data. A panel of experts confirmed validity of the questionnaire. The questionnaire internal reliability was confirmed through Cronbach alpha coefficient (0.84) and test-retest method (0.71). Results: The study population included 202 women (54.9%) and 166 men (45.1%). The overall average scores of perceived knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy out of 100, were respectively 84.15 ± 10.7, 47.84 ± 7.67, and 59.1 ± 16.57. In all three cases there was a significant difference between men and women (P < 0.05). Men with higher university education had a better attitude and knowledge about health condition; this was effective on self-efficacy of men. Being a full-time employee also increased self-efficacy of women. Conclusion: Although knowledge of the studied population was appropriate and their self-efficacy was in the middle level, attitude of the participants was poor. Self-efficacy of women was significantly higher than men and proper eating behavior was affected by attitudes, skills, and environmental factors.

Background: The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia is increasing globally. It is associated with a significant risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the current study was to explore the relationship of nutrients patterns and other lifestyle-related factors with the presence of hypercholesterolemia in a representative population of Iran. Methods: Dietary information was collected using a 24-h recall from male and female adults in the age range of 35-65 years. The relationship between adherence to different nutrients patterns and hypercholesterolemia was explored in 5700 participants from Mashhad, Iran. Results: Among the participants (n = 5700), 2195 (38.51%) were men and 3505 (61.49%) of them were women. Furthermore, 722 (32.89%) male and 1434 (40.91%) female participants had hypercholesterolemia. The group with hypercholesterolemia had significantly higher intake rates of fiber, lactose, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus, however, they had lower total energy intake than the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results showed that consumption of nutrients patterns high in lactose, calcium, phosphor, iodine, retinol, riboflavin, and cobalamin is associated with the likelihood of hypercholesterolemia. Prospective studies are required to examine the association between nutrient patterns and hypercholesterolemia

Background: Royal Jelly (RJ) is a mixture of protein, glucose, lipid, vitamins, and minerals that is widely used as a commercial medical product. Previous studies have shown that RJ has physiological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-allergic, and antioxidant. In the present study, the effects of RJ on some cardiovascular disease risk factors were investigated in patients with type 2 diabetes on an iso-caloric diet. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, patients with type 2 diabetes aged 25-65 years with body mass index (BMI) of 26-30 kg/m2 and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 7-9% were included. The patients were randomly assigned to receive 1000 mg of RJ supplement or the placebo three times daily for 8 wks. Weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c, blood pressure, and inteleukin-6 levels were measured. Results: In comparison to the placebo, FBG (P = 0.006), interleukin-6 (P = 0.017), and systolic blood pressure (P = 0.02) were significantly decreased in the RJ group at the end of the study. There were significant differences in the mean changes of systolic blood pressure at the baseline to the endpoint of systolic blood pressure between the two groups (P = 0.006). Conclusions: Royal Jelly may reduce incidence of cardiovascular disease by lowering effects on FBG, inteleukin-6, and systolic blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes.