Iranian Journal of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology
Year:2006 | Volume:1 | Issue:1|Papers Count:9

Background: Presence of cholesterol in the diet is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. One of the most effective methods for lowering the incidences of these diseases is removal of cholesterol from foods including animal fats. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of refining process and b-cyclodextrin (b-CD) treatment of tallow on the reduction of cholesterol, as well as changes in other physical and chemical characteristics of this fat in the laboratory scale.Materials and methods: After preliminary preparation of fresh beef tallow ,rendering and filtration, the refining process employed to the resultant fat similar to the common industrial conditions and also for the removal of cholesterol, b-CD treatment was applied between bleaching and deodorization processes. The physical and chemical characteristics of crude and refined fats were determined. The results obtained for acid value, peroxide value and cholesterol content were compared for three different processes: (a) refining, (b) b-CD treatment, and (c) combined refining and b-CD treatment. Changes in the fatty acid composition of tallow before and after processing were also investigated. All determinations were performed in triplicate and mean values reported.Results: The results showed that b-CD treatment alone can reduce cholesterol content to 81%,and refining process also reduced this factor to 22%. Refining and b-CD treatment together reduced cholesterol content significantly and satisfactorily in tallow to 90%, without any change in the fatty acid composition (p<0.05). The results showed that b-CD treatment, deodorization, neutralization, phosphoric acid treatment, and bleaching are the most effective in cholesterol reduction, respectively. Statistical analyses indicated that there are significant differences between cholesterol contents of tallow in three different processes and also during refining process (p<0.05).Also b-CD treatment reduced acid value of tallow significantly and satisfactorily but slightly increased peroxide value of this fat but not significantly.Conclusion: According to our results, combined refining and b-CD treatment is recommended in order to reduce the cholesterol content and maintaining quality characteristics of tallow which is not used in oil industry in Iran. Consequently, application of this technology will lead to a product with appropriate nutritional quality, either for direct use or as a blend with other oils. This will be economically justified, as well as being hygienic and preventing environmental contamination.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and especially atherosclerosis, Frequency of hyperhomocysteinemia in hemodialysis patients is higher than the general population. Thus near to 50 percent of the patients die due to CVD. The objective of this study is to determine the frequency of hyperhomocysteinemia in hemodialysis patients receiving 5 mg/d oral folic acid supplements in Imam Hossein hospital in Tehran. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and serum folic acid and vitamin B12 were measured in 40 hemodialysis patients receiving 5 mg/d folic acid supplements from at least three months before. Correlation between these three factors and their correlation with other confounders were determined using non-parametric tests. Dietary intake of B vitamins related to tHcy metabolism, were assessed using 24 hour recall method for 3 consecutive days.Results: Median (median±IQR) of plasma tHcy and serum folic acid and vitamin B12were 20.95 ±12.17 mmol/l, 101.55±113.92 ng/ml, 945±526.5 pg/ml relatively. 75% of patients had high values for tHcy, 15% borderline values and only 10% normal values. Respectively, 12.5% and 37.5% were in normal range of serum folic acid and vitamin B12 and 87.5 % and 62.5% had abovenormallevels. There was a significant, negative correlation between plasma tHcy and height, serum folic acid and dietary intake of vitamins B6 and B2. Mean tHcy levels were higher in women than in men. The correlation between plasma tHcy and other factors, like age, dialysis duration, dialysis efficiency, cigarette smoking, tea and coffee consumption, menopausal status, diagnosed diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, albumin, creatinin, urea and dietary intake of folic acid and vitamin B12 was not significant.Conclusion: Despite supplementation with folic acid, only a small proportion of patients reached normal levels of homocysteine This, shows the necessity of supplementation with higher doses of folic acid combined with other B-vitamins like B12 and B6. Elevated serum level of folic acid is probably due to the effect of uremic environment on intracellular availability of folic acid. High level of serum B12 is the result of it's restricted conversion to the active form, in the most important conversion site, the kidneys.

Date is a middle stoned fruit from the Palmaceae family. Dates have higher caloric content and more essential minerals and vitamins as compared to other fruits. According to the data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Iran was ranked third in the production of dates in year 2003. Though a wide area is cultivated for date palms, unfortunately, only 11 - 12 percent of this amount is processed and packaged. In such a situation, improvement of the process for the production of date concentrate and liquid date sugar is important in order to increase the production of these products and thus reviving the national economical status.In this research we studied the enzymatic treatment of grade III date of the Mazafati variety with pectolytic and cellulytic enzymes on improvement of sugar extraction. The following indicators were measured in the raw material: pH, weight percentage of the stone, humidity, total sugar, reducing sugars, ash, fiber and pectin. In order to provide for the best condition for the function of pectolytic and celulolytic enzymes and their combination we used the Taguchi and Response Surface methods (R.S.M) to design the experiments and predict the results. After defining the optimal functioning situation for the above-mentioned enzymes, the effect of pectolytic and cellulolytic enzymes and their combinations was compared on the total sugar, reducing sugars, transparency, soluble solid materials and the productivity of sugar extraction of date. Results showed that using the combination of pectolytic and cellulolytic enzymes with a ratio of 2: 1 with a concentration of 0.017 percent (v/v) in 62°C, pH 5.75, significantly affected the total sugar, reducing sugars, soluble solid material and production ratio compared to each enzyme individually and to the control sample. There was no significant change in transparency. Results showed that with enzymatic treatment total sugar in date juice increased 3.33% and reducing sugars, soluble solid materials and production ratio increased in 3.22%, 3.6% and 15.05% respectively. In-house sensory evaluators confirmed that the product of the combined enzyme process was sweeter than the control sample.According to the results obtained in this study, enzymatic treatment in the process of producing date syrup and date liquid sugar is recommended under the above-mentioned conditions.

Objective: The present study designed to assess the effect of Mg+Zn, vitamin C+E, and combination of these micronutrients on blood pressure in type 2 diabetic patients.Materials and Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial, 69 type 2 diabetic patients were randomly divided into four groups. Each group receiving one of the following daily supplement for 3 months; group M: 200 mg Mg and 30 mg Zn (n=16), group V: 200 mg vitamin C and 150 mg vitamin E (n=18), group MV: minerals plus vitamins (n=17), group P: placebo (n=18). Blood pressure was measured at the beginning and at the end of the trial. Results: Results indicate that after 3 months of supplementation levels of systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure decreased significantly in the MV group by 8 mmHg (122±16vs. 130±19 mmHg), 6 mmHg (77±9vs. 83±11 mmHg), and 7 mmHg (92±9vs. 99±13mmHg), respectively (p<0.05). Combination of vitamin and mineral supplementation had significantly effects in increasing serum potassium and sodium to potassium ratio (p<0.05). There was no significant change in the levels of these parameters in the other 3 groups. Also serum malondialdehyde decreased significantly in group M and MV (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively).Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that in type 2 diabetic patients, combination of vitamins and minerals rather than vitamin C and E, or Mg and Zn, might decrease blood pressure.

Background and objectives: Several factors, including natural disasters can affect food chain and thus the nutritional status. On December 2002 a devastating earthquake hit the city of Barn and the surrounding areas. Due to the lack of direct information on the nutritional status of children in the area, this study was performed to assess prevalence of malnutrition and a number of related factors in children 6 to 59 months of age in Barn and surrounding rural areas, to be a basis for further planning.Methods and materials: This survey was carried out on November 2003 in the city of Barn, Baravaat, and the surrounding affected villages on a sample of 500 children 6 to 50 months old. Weight (Kg) and height (Cm) were obtained and weight for height, weight for age and height for age Z scores were calculated for children and BMI (Kg/m2) for mothers was calculated. Information on child and the caregiver characteristics, child food patterns, socio-economic status of the household, family access to health care and hygienic potable water and environmental health and sanitation of the living places were collected by a questionnaire.Results: The prevalence of moderate and severe underweight, stunting and wasting (WAZ, HAZ and WHZ under -2SD NCHS 1978) was 15.2, 8.9 and 5.6 percent, respectively. Prevalence of wasting in children 6 to 24 months of age was larger than older children (P=0.005), while stunting was more prevalent in those aged 24 months and older (P=0.007). Children who had been born with low birth weight (LBW), were more susceptible to wasting (P=0.001 and OR=7.50) and underweight (P£0.001 and OR=4.45). Children who were breastfed for more than 18 months, were 2.09 times more susceptible to stunting (P=0.023).Conclusion: The findings indicate that the main nutritional problem in this area is moderate to severe underweight, as well as stunting. The nutritional status of children in the area is still better than the Kerman province. It is necessary to address the nutritional status and food habits of women during pregnancy and to carry out interventions to reduce the risk of LBW: Therefore, improving the food patterns of preschool children can guarantee better health status following natural or manmade disasters.

The influence of stabilizers on the stability of UHT (Ultra High Temperature) dairy cream was studied. Dairy cream, at 30% fat, with and without stabilizers, was ultra-high temperature sterilized (140°C/4s) with 2-stage homogenization pressure at 150/20 bar. The stabilizers added to the cream were carrageen an (0.01%w/w & 0.03% w/w), trisodium citrate (0.1% w/w & 0.2% w/w), and a commercial stabilizer (0.2% w/w). UHT cream samples were stored at 20-25 °c for 8 weeks. The Stability of cream was weekly determined by centrifugation of samples at 180 * g (l058 rpm) for 5 min., and by measuring the volume of the serum phase separeted during centrifugation. As a result, stabilizer addition led to a significant reduction (p<0.05)in serum separation during storage time. In addition, increasing the amount of stabilizer significantly correlated with the stability of the UHT cream.

Background: Vitamin A deficiency has been considered as one of the prevalent public health problems in different societies, especially developing countries. Children are the most vulnerable group affected by the problem. According to the WHO, vitamin A deficiency exists at moderate sub-clinical level in Iran. This study was aimed to determine serum retinol concentrations and anthropometrical indicators in primary school children studying in the 7th educational zone of Tehran city, 2000.Materials and Methods: Using a systematic sampling method, 91 school boys and girls students studying at the 1st and the 2st educational grads were selected from 4 primary schools in the 7th educational zone of Tehran city. After getting informed consent from parents, children's height and weight were measured and SCC venous blood was taken from each child. Retinol concentrations were measured by a HPLC method. Student T and Pearson correlation coefficient tests were employed to analyze the data using SPSS software.Result: Present and chronic malnutrition was the main problem of the studying children, 19.8 percent of children were under the 10th percentile of weight for age and. weight for height.Meanwhile, under nutrition was considered as significant problem among female student. Vitamin A deficiency was prevalent among boys and a significant positive correlation was seen between serum retinol concentrations and height for age (ro=0.25, p=0.02).Conclusion: Vitamin A deficiency seems as a health problem mainly among rapidly growing boys which might affect the height measures. Despite moderate socio-economic status of children in the studied zone, malnutrition among girls was significant. The situation might be therefore worse among underprivileged students. It is expected that improving students' nutritional status can make the educational investments more effective.

Background and purpose: The issue of ascorbic acid megadoses and the useful effects of it and also its easy availability as well as low price resulted undue use of this vitamin by the public but there are worries about some of the harmful effects of this vitamin. This study was carried out to examine the effects of two vitamin C doses on copper of serum and ceruloplasmin enzyme activity in healthy men.Material and methods: The study was carried out in 1999 in Institute of Nutrition and Food Science Research of Iran with a double- blind clinical trial method in 36 healthy male volunteers with mean age 22±3 years residing in a dormitory. Volunteers were devided at random to 3 groups of 500 mg/day (1st group) and 1000 mg/day (2nd group) ascorbic acid dosage intake and control group (3rd group). Fasting blood samples were gathered at the beginning and at the end of the study period (6th week).Concentration of copper was determined by atomic absorption, and concentration of ceruloplasmin enzyme and ascorbic acid by cholormetric method. Dietary consumption pattern in the beginning and the end of the study period were recorded by means of using 24hr dietary recall questionnaire for one day. The data were analysed by wilcoxon sign and kruskal walis exams.Results: Mean ascorbic acid blood concentration in groups 1,2,3 were 0.73+0.17, 0.74+0.22, 0.75+0.24mg/dl respectively. This observed increases at the end of the study were 67% (p=0.001), 76% (P=0.001), 23%(P=0.04) respectively that were statistically significant. Mean ceruloplasmin enzyme activity in the beginning of the study were 20.69+2.13, 21.04+1.98, 21.10+4.83mg/dl in groups 1, 2, 3 respectively and the observed reduction at the 6thweek 17(P=0.004) percent in group 1000 mg/day was statistically significant. The beginning of the study mean copper concentrations were 86.04+ 16.83, 78.04+8.14, 88.25+ 15.26mg/dl at in the groups 1,2,3 respectively. Serum reduction of copper were not statistically significant in every of three groups at the 6th week.Conclusion: Ascorbic acid intake caused a reduction depended on dose in ceruloplas min enzyme activity, therefore with the present data vitamin supplementation at 500 and 1000 mg/day dose cannot be recommended and further studies are needed in this regard.