Fatemehsadat Amiri’s research while affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences and other places

Objective To examine the associations between dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk factors among type 1 diabetic (T1D) patients. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 229 Iranian T1D patients. Data on dietary intakes were collected using a 168-item food frequency questionnaire. To identify major dietary patterns, we merged data on the 168 food items to obtain 23 food groups. Then, we constructed major dietary patterns using factor analysis with varimax rotation. We used binary logistic regression to assess the association between dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk factors, in which potential confounders were adjusted. Results Four dietary patterns were identified: Western, unhealthy, traditional, and semi-healthy patterns. After adjusting for confounders including demographic variables, physical activity, energy intake, and medical history, participants in the highest tertile of the Western dietary pattern had 2.53 (95 % CI: 1.03–6.22) and 3.37 (95 % CI: 1.18–9.63) times more odds of elevated HbA1c and low estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), respectively, compared with those in the lowest tertile. Such the positive association was also seen for elevated fasting blood glucose (FBG). Moreover, individuals in the top tertile of unhealthy diet had more odds of elevated LDL-c and abdominal obesity than those in the lowest tertile. Regarding the semi-healthy diet, higher adherence was associated with 51 % lower odds of elevated FBG (OR: 0.49, 95 % CI: 0.24–0.99). For other outcomes, no significant association was found. Conclusion We found that T1D patients may take benefit from adherence to a semi-healthy diet with a low amount of unhealthy and Western-related foods.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) have a momentous function in the composition of the bone marrow microenvironment because of their many valuable properties and abilities, such as immunomodulation and hematopoiesis. The features and actions of MSCs are influenced by senescence, which may be affected by various factors such as nutritional/micronutrients status, e.g., vitamin D. This study aimed to examine the effects of a high-calorie diet (HCD) with/without vitamin D on BM-MSCs senescence. In the first phase, 48 middle-aged rats were fed a normal chow diet (NCD, n = 24) and an HCD (n = 24) for 26 weeks. Afterward, the rats in each group were randomly divided into three equal subgroups. Immediately, eight-rat from each diet group were sacrificed to assess the HCD effects on the first phase measurements. In the second phase, the remaining 4 groups of rats were fed either NCD or HCD with (6 IU/g) or without vitamin D (standard intake: 1 IU/g); in other words, in this phase, the animals were fed (a) NCD, (b) NCD plus vitamin D, (c) HCD, and (d) HCD plus vitamin D for 4 months. BM-MSCs were isolated and evaluated for P16INK4a, P38 MAPK, and Bmi-1 gene expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, SA-β-gal activity, and cell cycle profile at the end of both phases. After 26 weeks (first phase), the ROS level, SA-β-gal-positive cells, and cells in the G1 phase were significantly higher in HCD-fed rats than in NCD-fed ones (P < 0.05). HCD prescription did not significantly affect cells in the S and G2 phases (p > 0.05). Compared with the NCD-fed animals, P16INK4a and P38 MAPK gene expression were up-regulated in the HCD-fed animals; also, Bmi-1 gene expression was down-regulated (P < 0.05). BM-MSCs from vitamin D-treated rats (second phase) exhibited reduced mRNA levels of P16INK4a and P38 MAPK genes and increased Bmi-1 mRNA levels (all P < 0.05). Vitamin D prescription also declined the percentage of SA-β-gal-positive cells, ROS levels, and the cells in the G1 phase and increased the cells in the S phase in both NCD and HCD-fed animals (P < 0.05). The reduction of the cells in the G2 phase in rats fed with an NCD plus vitamin D was statistically non-significant (P = 0.128) and significant in HCD plus vitamin D rats (P = 0.002). HCD accelerates BM-MSCs senescence, and vitamin D reduces BM-MSCs senescence biomarkers.

Background The associations of diet with serum levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) have been examined in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, data on patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the associations of major dietary patterns with serum levels of AGEs and hs-CRP among patients with T1DM. Methods A total of 229 patients with T1DM participated in this current cross-sectional study. We collected dietary data using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The factor analysis approach was used to determine major dietary patterns. A fasting blood sample was collected from each participant to assess serum levels of AGEs and hs-CRP. The associations of dietary patterns with elevated levels of AGEs and hs-CRP were assessed using binary logistic regression. Results Patients with T1DM in the highest tertile of a Western dietary pattern had 4.32 times higher odds of having elevated AGEs than those in the lowest tertile (OR: 4.32, 95% CI: 1.86–10.05). Additionally, adherence to the Western diet was associated with 2.97 times greater odds of having elevated hs-CRP (> 3 mg/L) (OR: 2.97, 95% CI: 1.22–7.24) in these patients. Such positive associations were not observed for unhealthy and traditional dietary patterns. Moreover, higher adherence to a semi-healthy diet (characterized by high consumption of white meat, whole grains, processed meat, and a low salt intake) was associated with 87% lower odds of having elevated hs-CRP (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.05–0.35). However, we found no significant association between the semi-healthy diet and AGEs levels. Conclusion We found that adherence to a Western dietary pattern was associated with elevated levels of AGEs/hs-CRP in patients with T1DM. Also, we discovered a significant inverse association between adherence to a semi-healthy diet and hs-CRP levels.

Background: Hematological inflammatory indices are currently suggested to assess systemic inflammation. This study aims to investigate a vitamin D supplementation effect on hematological indices of inflammation in rats. Method: Forty‑eight middle‑aged male rats were allocated into a normal diet (ND) group (10% fat) and a high‑fat diet (HFD) group (60% fat). The animals were fed for 26 weeks. After this period, each group was randomly divided into three subgroups, each of 8 rats: Group (1): animals were fed the ND and HFD containing 1 IU/g vitamin D for 4 months, group (2): animals were fed the ND and HFD containing 6 IU/g vitamin D for 4 months and group (3): animals were euthanized to evaluate the HFD effect. Serum 25‑hydroxyvitamin D level, white blood cell count (WBCs), platelet count, platelet crit (PCT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet‑to‑lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil‑to‑lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte‑to‑lymphocyte ratio (MLR) were measured. Results: The HFD, significantly increased body weight, PCT, PDW, PLR, NLR, and MLR and significantly reduced serum vitamin D levels compared to the ND (P < 0.05). There was a significant decrease in food intake, MPV, PDW, and NLR after vitamin D supplementation in the ND‑fed group (P < 0.05). A significant reduction in platelet count, PCT, and MLR was observed after vitamin D supplementation in HFD‑fed rats (P < 0.05). Conclusions: In our study, some hemogram‑derived inflammatory indices were higher in the HFD‑fed group, and vitamin D supplementation lowering effects on some hematological indices were seen in both ND and HFD groups.

Background and objectives: Anemia is the most common disorder during pregnancy and approximately 75% of it is related to iron deficiency anemia. Decreased hemoglobin levels increase premature delivery and can lead to intrauterine growth restriction. This study was performed to determine the rate of iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women referring to health centers in Fardis. Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in 2018, the health records of 402 women who referred to health centers in Fardis and completed their pregnancies were examined. The data of this study were collected according to the criteria of the World Health Organization and using the information of the Sib system. Chi-square and t-test statistics were used to investigate the relationships between variables. Results: The prevalence of anemia in this study was 5% in the first trimester of pregnancy and 13/5% in the third trimester. No significant difference was found between age, pre-pregnancy weight, and body mass index in the group with and without anemia. There was a significant inverse relationship between the distance from the last delivery and the number of pregnancies with the hemoglobin level. It was also found people who were anemic in the first trimester of pregnancy, during pregnancy had a significantly greater weight gain. Conclusion: According to the results, the prevalence of anemia was especially unpleasant in the third trimester. Because this eating disorder is preventable, it is important to pay attention to expanding pre-pregnancy care and increasing mothers' awareness of proper nutrition and supplementation as needed.

Background: Colorectal cancer is the third leading to death type of cancer in the world. The therapeutic guideline varied between different methods. As the main therapeutic guideline is chemotherapy, recent studies had shown utilization of natural products in combination with conventional medication, elevate the efficiency of chemotherapeutic methods. Kombucha is a traditional beverage obtained from the fermentation of green tea as a rich source of flavonoid medicinal plant. This study aimed to evaluate the natural potential of combination therapy of this natural product with doxorubicin as a chemotherapeutic agent. Materials and methods: The study was performed as in vitro evaluation of biological activity of kombucha on HCT-116 cell line (human colon cancer cell line). The cytotoxic effect of different kombucha beverages (fermented green tea) in comparison with green tea extract was evaluated by dimethylthiazolyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In the next step, anticancer activity of doxorubicin as a general guideline chemotherapeutic agent in combination with kombucha was evaluated by cell cycle analysis and apoptosis assay flow cytometry. Apoptotic genes expression pattern was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The experiments were designed in three independent replications and statistically analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The results show that kombucha compared with the green tea extract caused more (1.2 fold) early apoptosis induction and G0/G1 phase arrest. Moreover, kombucha increased the expression levels of p21, p53, and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X protein genes (2, 2.5, and 1.5 fold, respectively) while it decreased Bcl-2 gene expression level (5-8 fold) compared with doxorubicin alone. Combination of kombucha with doxorubicin shows 2-fold increased G0/G1 phase compared with the doxorubicin treatment. Conclusion: This result indicated that kombucha caused boosted anticancer activity of doxorubicin agent. These findings suggest that kombucha may be has an assistor and useful role in colorectal cancer treatment align with chemotherapy.

Background Diabetes is a chronic disease and the prevalence of it is rapidly increasing. Recently, the use of natural products in chronic diseases such as diabetes has gained more attention. Chlorella, a single-celled green alga, is one of them. There have been some studies on the effects of chlorella supplementation in chronic diseases such as NAFLD, prediabetes, and diabetic mice, but none of them examined the effects of chlorella in patients with T2DM. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of chlorella supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profile, and anthropometric indices in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods This study is a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. 84 patients with T2DM assigned into two groups, receiving 1500 mg/day C. vulgaris or placebo for 8 weeks. Anthropometric information, blood pressure, 24-h food intake recall, and blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of the study to determine the changes of FBS, HbA1c, insulin concentration, insulin resistance, and lipid profile.ResultsNone of the variables investigated in this study showed a significant change after 8 weeks of intervention with C. vulgaris. Conclusion According to the findings of this study, supplementation with C. vulgaris with a dosage of 1500 mg/day for 8 weeks, does not improve the anthropometric measurements, glycemic status, and lipid profile as well. Thus, it cannot be considered as a complementary therapeutic approach to common medications at this dosage and duration. However, future studies with a higher dosage of C. vulgaris and more prolonged than 8 weeks are needed to be done.

Background: Given that many Iranian were interested in the consumption of foods that are high in fats, the present study was done to determine the effect of a nutrition education intervention on knowledge, attitude, and intake of foods high in fat among a sample of women in Tehran. Materials and methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 92 female referrals to the health houses affiliated to Tehran municipal were selected and assigned to either intervention (n = 46) or control (n = 46) groups. Information (data) regarding women's knowledge, attitude, and practice in terms of foods rich in fat intake was collected by three questionnaires. Then, a nutrition education intervention included four 40-60 min training sessions over 4 weeks was designed and conducted to the study participants in the intervention group. Two groups were followed up 2 months after the intervention. Finally, all data were analyzed by using the independent-samples t-tests, Student's paired-samples t-test, and Pearson correlation analysis on the R software (version 6.3.2). Results: The results showed that there were significant reductions in a positive attitude towards food with high fat content and intake of these foods in the intervention group compared with the control group after the intervention (P < 0.001). Furthermore, following the intervention, the intervention group reported a significant increase in dietary fat nutrition knowledge than the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Developing nutrition education interventions is an effective strategy for reducing the consumption of foods rich in fat in Iranian women.

The drastic decrease in estrogen levels in menopausal women can elevate bone resorption and osteoporosis. Cornus mas extract (C. mas extract) is a potential candidate for treating menopausal‐related bone complications because of its phytoestrogen and anti‐inflammatory contents. It was an interventional double‐blind placebo‐controlled randomized study. Eighty‐four women aged 45–60 years old were randomly allocated to either the extract group receiving 3 capsules of 300 mg C. mas extract or the placebo group receiving 3 capsules of 300 mg of starch powder per day for 8 weeks. Then, venous blood was used to measure bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin (OC), C‐terminal telopeptide (TC) as well as serum levels of PTH and hsCRP. Our results indicated the decrease in alkaline phosphatase, PTH, and as an inflammation biomarker, hsCRP, between two groups at the end of the study. No statistically significant difference was observed in telopeptide C, osteocalcin, and calcium between the placebo and extract groups after 8 weeks of intervention. In conclusion, the results indicate that the C. mas extract supplement of 900 mg/day may decrease levels of BAP, PTH, and hsCRP. However, this intervention had no beneficial effect on OC and TC in healthy postmenopausal women.