In food intake studies, converting eaten foods into calories and nutrients and other food components using books and tables of food ingredients is a very time-consuming and error-prone task. ShaFA is ...new Microsoft Windows-based software for food component derivation of individual and group food intake data. This software is developed using C sharp programming language. Microsoft Access has been used to put the information of 8790 food types and their 85 food components based on the USDA-SR28 in the database of software. The user is capable to search in the database for desired food by the name or special code of the food and select them for each person. Each person’s food intake data can be stored via allocating an exclusive ID. Finally, the user can get a report of the imported data in a new window, and also can get a Microsoft Excel export which can be imported into statistical software such as SPSS and STATA. Each research project data can be stored in a file with the unique extension (ShaFA) which can be opened and edited in any system that its operating system is Microsoft Windows, and has ShaFA software installed on it. This software can provide researchers with valuable information in a short time, especially nutritional epidemiology studies. It can also be used in food industry to extract the information needed to label and complete food information table for a variety of food industry products.
Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an intestinal chronic inflammatory condition and includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). It has been proposed that Vitamin D ...supplementation may have a beneficial role in IBD. Aim: To characterize the effects of Vitamin D on cathelicidin (hCAP/LL37) gene expression, ESR, and serum hs-CRP levels. Materials and Methods: Ninety UC patients on remission were randomized to receive 300,000 IU intramuscular Vitamin D or 1 mL normal saline as placebo, respectively. Before and 90 days after intervention, serum levels of 25 (OH)-Vitamin D3, PTH, Calcium, ESR, and hs-CRP were measured. Cathelicidin gene expression was also quantified using qRT-PCR. Results: Baseline serum 25-OH-Vitamin D3 levels were not different between the two groups and after intervention, increased only in Vitamin D group (P < 0.001). Hs-CRP levels were lower in Vitamin D group after intervention (Before: 3.43 ± 3.47 vs 3.86 ± 3.55 mg/L, P = 0.56; after: 2.31 ± 2.25 vs 3.90 ± 3.97 mg/L, P= 0.023). ESR decreased significantly in Vitamin D group (Before: 12.4 ± 6.1 vs 12.1 ± 5.3 mm/h, P= 0.77; after: 6.7 ± 4.5 vs 11.4 ± 5.5 mm/h, P< 0.001). The mean fold change in hCAP18 gene expression in Vitamin D group was significantly higher than placebo group. (Mean ± SD: 3.13 ± 2.56 vs 1.09 ± 0.56; median ± interquartile range: 2.17 ± 3.81 vs 0.87 ± 0.53, P<,; 0.001).
Conclusion: Decreases in ESR and hs-CRP levels and increase in LL37 gene expression support the hypothesis that Vitamin D supplementation may have a beneficial role in UC patients.
Quarantine, an unpleasant experience, was implemented in many countries to limit the spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which it could associated whit lifestyle changes. The present study ...aimed to determine the changes in Iranian's lifestyle during COVID-19 pandemic.
In the present cross-sectional study, 2710 Iranian people completed an online researcher-made questionnaire asking lifestyle regarding COVID-19, which includes five sections about physical activity, stress and anxiety, nutrition habit, sleep disorders, and interpersonal relationship in addition to demographic data from January to February 2021, using the multistage cluster sampling method.
The participants' mean age was 33.78 ± 11.50 years and 68.3% of them were female. Traveling, sightseeing, and family visits have been eliminated from 91%, 83.5%, and 77.5% of participants' lives, respectively. There were increase in stress level (
< 0.001), weight of the participants (
< 0.001), sleep problems (
< 0.001), and healthier foods (
< 0.001) but decrease in interpersonal communication (
< 0.001) and the amount of physical activity (
< 0.001).
In summary, this study indicates some changes in lifestyle of Iranian people, including changes in some eating practices, physical activity, social communication, and sleeping habits during the pandemic. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, a comprehensive understanding of these behaviors and habits can help develop interventions to mitigate the negative lifestyle behaviors during COVID-19 pandemic.
BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease (CD), and Ulcerative colitis (UC) are autoimmune inflammatory diseases of the alimentary tract, which seems to be caused by the ...interaction of environmental and genetic factors as well as diet and nutritional factors such as vitamin D. The aim of this study was to assess the vitamin D status and its associations with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as inflammatory markers in patients with UC. METHODS In this analytical cross-sectional study 90 patients with mild to moderate UC who were resident of Tehran were assessed. 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), ESR and hs-CRP were measured. Dietary intake was assessed by 3-day 24h diet recall. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA (Version 12). RESULTS The average serum 25-OH-vitamin D3 was 33.1 ± 8.3 ng/mL and 38.9% of the patients were vitamin D deficient or insufficient (37.3% of men and 41% of women). No significant correlation between serum 25(OH)D and hs-CRP, ESR, body mass index (BMI), and disease duration was found. There were no significant differences in serum 25(OH)D between men and women. Mean daily dietary vitamin D and calcium intakes were 189.5 Iu (95% CI: 176.0 - 203.1) and 569.5 mg (95% CI: 538.8 - 600.2) respectively. CONCLUSION In this cross-sectional study 38.9% of the patients with mild to moderate UC were vitamin D deficient or insufficient and vitamin D level was not correlated to ESR and/or hs-CRP. More studies are needed to investigate the effect of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of UC or as a part of its treatment.
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic recurrent inflammation of the colon. It has been proposed that the UC pathogenesis may be related to vitamin D deficiency and/or vitamin D administration in UC ...patients may have an ameliorating effect on the intestinal inflammation. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of vitamin D on the serum levels of immune cytokines in UC patients. In this double‐blind randomized controlled trial, 90 mild‐to‐moderate UC patients were assigned to get either a single muscular injection of 7.5 mg vitamin D3 or 1 mL normal saline as placebo. Three months later serum levels of IL‐4, IL‐10, IL‐12p70, IFN‐γ, and TNF‐α were measured. Two group variables were compared using independent t‐test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). There was a significant increase in vitamin D only in the vitamin D group. Compared to placebo, vitamin D had significant decreasing effects on serum TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, and IL12p70 levels, but it had no significant effect on serum levels of IL4 and IL10. Vitamin D seems to inhibit Th1 immune responses and have no effect on Th2 responses. The findings of this study support several in vitro studies, which suggest a therapeutic immunomodulatory potential of vitamin D.
The potential risk of obesity on the severity of COVID-19 has been proposed. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of BMI on the survival rate of COVID-19 patients admitted to ...the ICU.
Patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICU were included. Gender, height, weight, BMI, age, underlying disease status, prescribed drugs and nutritional supplements, and clinical and laboratory parameters at the beginning of admission were recorded. Death or discharge from the ICU and the days elapsed to these events were also reviewed and recorded. Data analysis was performed using the Cox regression model.
assessing 193 patients showed that BMI was not related to the survival rate even after adjusting for other potential confounding variables. It was shown that arterial oxygen saturation and taking Famotidine were the significant factors determining the time to event in these patients.
The BMI at the time of ICU admission has no effect on survival rate and time to event in COVID-19 infected patients admitted to ICU.
•BMI at the time of ICU admission has no effect on survival rate and time to event in COVID-19 infected patients.•arterial oxygen saturation and taking Famotidine were the significant factors determining the time to event.•There was no significant difference in mortality rate between obese, overweight, and normal weight patients.•The mortality rate was significantly higher in men than women.•The mortality rate was not different in patients with HTN, DM or CVD compared to those without these diseases.
Background and Objectives: This study explored the association between breastfeeding vs. infant formula and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), considering parental education and employment ...as conferring variables. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was performed on 35 ASD children aged 6-12 years and 70 healthy children matched in terms of age and gender. Age, gender, postnatal nutrition, parental employment, and parental education were recorded with parental cooperation. Results: There was a statistically significant difference (P=0.005) between the two groups regarding the type of postnatal milk type. Consumption of infant formula alone or combined with breast milk and maternal employment, especially in governmental occupation, were associated with the risk of ASD incidence. Conclusion: This study provides further evidence of the possible protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding against ASD. In addition, child-mother physical distance due to maternal employment seemed to play a considerable role in the risk of ASD incidence.
Background and Objectives: Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are at risk of insufficient nutrient intake due to inappropriate eating habits, problems in sensory perception, and choosing ...monotonous foods. Minerals play an essential role in the central nervous system, and their deficiency or excess can cause a variety of health issues and can contribute to the development of ASD. This study aimed to compare the dietary intake of zinc, copper, selenium, and manganese in two groups of children, with ASD and healthy controls, in Gorgan City, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this study, the food intake of 35 ASD children aged 6 to 12 years and 70 healthy children was recorded using the semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. The average daily intake of zinc, copper, selenium, and manganese was estimated using ShaFA software. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the dietary intake of zinc, copper, and selenium; however, the intake of manganese was significantly lower in ASD children (median±IQR: 2.39±1.83) than in healthy children (median±IQR: 3.24±1.94; P=0.03). Conclusion: Considering the existence of problems related to eating habits in children with ASD, the results of this study showed the necessity of frequent and regular nutrition assessment for ASD children. Studies with larger sample sizes are recommended.
Background and Objective: Nutritional knowledge can affect food choices and, as a result, sports performance. The study of nutritional knowledge, attitude, and performance in athletes can play a ...fundamental role in choosing the type of training and adapting suitable dietary interventions. This study was done to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and nutritional performance of male bodybuilding athletes in Gorgan, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done on 104 male bodybuilding athletes over 18 years old with a history of at least three months of continuous bodybuilding who were randomly selected from 13 bodybuilding clubs in Gorgan, Iran during 2020. Parmenter and Wardle’s standard questionnaire measured athletes’ nutritional knowledge, attitude, and performance. The questionnaire was completed by the athletes with the guidance of the researcher. A trained nutritionist collected anthropometric and body composition data using an Omron BF511 device. Results: Poor nutritional knowledge, poor dietary attitude and poor nutritional performance was observed in 67.3%, 33.65% and 77.88% of the athletes respectively. A significant correlation was observed between nutritional knowledge with weight (r=0.23, P=0.02), BMI (r=0.27, P=0.01), and body fat percentage (r=0.22, P=0.02). Also A significant correlation was determined between nutritional performance with body weight (r=0.31, P<0.001), BMI (r=0.27, P<0.001), exercise time per week (r=0.22, P=0.02), and exercise timespan (r=0.32, P<0.001). Conclusion: The level of knowledge, attitude, and nutritional performance of bodybuilding athletes was weak.
Background and Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial disorder that is affected by genetic and environmental factors, including nutritional factors. Recently, the role of ...nutrients, especially vitamin A, in the pathophysiology and treatment of ASD has received increasing attention. In addition, ASD affects the nutritional pattern and therefore some nutrients may not be received enough. This study was conducted to investigate and compare the intake of different forms of vitamin A in children with ASD and healthy children as a control group in Gorgan City (Northeast of Iran). Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 35 children aged 6 to 12 years with ASD and 70 healthy children who were matched in terms of age and gender were included. Food intake information was recorded using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). To calculate the dietary intake of vitamin A, the FFQ information was entered into ShaFA software. Results: The age difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P=0.27). The total intake of vitamin A was significantly higher in the control group than in the ASD group. The intake levels of retinol, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene were higher in the control group than in the ASD group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of total intake of lutein and zeaxanthin. Conclusion: Although the average intake of the two groups was higher than the average values recommended for the corresponding age and gender populations, the lower intake of various food sources of vitamin A in the ASD group indicated the need to pay attention to the food intake of these children, especially that according to the evidence, this disease directly or indirectly affected eating habits and patterns.
PDF
