Economic inequality in nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice of Iranian households: The NUTRI-KAP study.

Improper nutritional knowledge is one of the most important causes of nutritional problems, which can affect practice and cause more complications. The aim of this study was to assess the association between nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of Iranian households with socioeconomic status (SES). The study population was 14,136 households (57 clusters of 8 individuals in each province) who lived in urban and rural regions of 31 provinces of Iran.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of urban and rural households towards principles of nutrition in Iran: results of NUTRIKAP survey.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of urban and rural households toward principles of nutrition in Iran.

Methods: The study population was Iranian households who live in rural and urban areas in all provinces of the country. The sampling method at households' level in each province was single stage cluster sampling with equal size clusters.

Effect of low dose ω-3 poly unsaturated fatty acids on cognitive status among older people: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a prevalent health problem in older people and its global prevalence tends to increase parallel to the extended life expectancy in world. The beneficial effect of ω-3 PUFAs on cognitive impairment has been demonstrated in some experimental and cohort studies. In this study we aimed to assess the effect of low dose docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation on cognitive status in the elderly.

Waist circumference and insulin resistance in elderly men: an analysis of Kahrizak elderly study.

Background: Diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome (MS) is crucial for health care practitioners to identify at risk people for early treatment. Visceral obesity may make unnecessary other laborious measures of insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to see whether waist circumference (WC) can predict insulin resistance as well as MS in a group of Iranian elderly.

Correlation of serum homocysteine and previous history of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy condition. In this study, the risk of having a history of previous GDM (pGDM) on serum homocysteine level was assessed.

Methods: Biomedical parameters, serum homocysteine, Insulin, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) in women with (n = 52) and without pGDM (n = 51) were assessed.

Association of vitamin D receptor with longevity and healthy aging.

Longevity is a multifaceted trait in which variety of genes and environmental factors are involved. Newly, the role of vitamin D has been revived regarding its potential advantage on delaying the aging process. Vitamin D exerts its effect through vitamin D receptor (VDR).

Nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice of Iranian households and primary health care staff: NUTRIKAP Survey.

The aim of this study is to determine knowledge, attitude and practice of Iranian households and health staff on nutrition at province level. The sampling method in NUTRIKAP survey for households in each province is single-stage cluster sampling and the size of clusters is equal. The sampling method for health staff in each province is stratified random sampling.

Carotid intima media thickness, brachial flow mediated dilation and previous history of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Aim: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy condition with long-term complications. We examined the association between inflammatory mediators and early atherosclerosis process by measuring the flow mediated dilatation (FMD) of brachial artery and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in women with previous GDM (pGDM).

Material And Methods: Women with and without pGDM with an average of 4 years following the indexed pregnancy, participated in this study.

Older people's mortality index: development of a practical model for prediction of mortality in nursing homes (Kahrizak Elderly Study).

Aims: In the elderly, mortality prediction models are important for clinical decision-making and planning of services required.

Methods: A total of 247 Kahrizak Charity Foundation (KCF) residents aged ≥ 65 years were followed up for approximately 39 months. At the baseline, the questionnaires of Barthel Index (BI), Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini Nutritional Assessment and Norton Index was given.

Predicting the value of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) as an indicator of functional ability in older Iranian adults (Kahrizak elderly study).

Objective: We aimed to investigate the appropriateness of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) in predicting functional ability in older adults.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Participants were recruited from the Kahrizak Charity Foundation (KCF).

The effect of low-dose omega 3 fatty acids on the treatment of mild to moderate depression in the elderly: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Due to the rise in the social and economic costs of depression, new antidepressant medication with fewer side effects should be found. Several studies have shown that an association exists between ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) and depression. However, this association has not been clear enough in the elderly with mild to moderate depression.

Association of physical activity with risk of type 2 diabetes.

Background: Physical activity has shown to prevent type diabetes 2. However, the type, intensity and amount of effective physical activity as well as individuals' needs according to level of their risk for type 2 diabetes have not been clarified comprehensively. This study investigated a relation between moderate aerobic physical activity ≥150 minuets/week with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes among obese and non-obese residents of south of Tehran, Iran.

The effects of low dose n-3 fatty acids on serum lipid profiles and insulin resistance of the elderly: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Introduction: N-3 fatty acids have several beneficial effects on dyslipidemia and diabetes, conditions which are prevalent in the elderly. This study assessed the effects of low-dose n-3 fatty acids on serum lipid profile, lipoprotein(a), apolipoprotein B, fasting glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance in a group of elderly Iranians.

Materials And Methods: A 6-month randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out in 124 elderly residents of Kahrizak Charity Foundation aged >or= 65.

Low serum leptin serves as a biomarker of malnutrition in elderly patients.

Anthropometric and classical biologic markers of malnutrition, such as serum albumin, are limited because they are influenced by nonnutritional factors. We propose that a biologic parameter that both predicts nutritional status and is unaffected by nonnutritional factors would facilitate the diagnosis of malnutrition in the elderly. This cross-sectional study included 179 randomized elderly patients.

Evaluation of the Mini Nutritional Assessment in the elderly, Tehran, Iran.

Objective: To determine whether the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) can screen and diagnose for malnutrition in the Iranian elderly.

Design: The MNA was administered to all volunteers. Each patient underwent anthropometric and serum albumin measurements.

Increased risk of chronic kidney disease in elderly with metabolic syndrome and high levels of C-reactive protein: Kahrizak Elderly Study.

Background: To explore the interrelationship between metabolic syndrome (MS), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in an elderly Iranian cohort.

Methods: 122 residents of Kahrizak Charity Foundation aged >or= 60 years were enrolled in this survey. MS was defined according to the NCEP-ATPIII criteria.

Effect of short term treatment of L-carnitine on tissue ACE activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes is commonly related to the both microvascular as well as macrovascular complications. It appears that both metabolic and hemodynamic factors interact to create these problems. In this study the effects of orally administered L-carnitine, a natural amino acid, on ACE activity in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated.