Journal of Nutrition, Fasting and Health
Year:2019 | Volume:7 | Issue:3|Papers Count:9

Ramadan is the holy month of obligatory fasting for all the healthy Muslims who have reached puberty. In Ramadan, fasting individuals consume two meals per day, the first of which is before down to prepare for fasting (Sahur), and second meal is at sunset (Iftar). Fasting is a ritual and religious obligation with numerous beneficial health effects, especially in patients with diet-dependent diseases. Fasting could significantly reduce peptic and duodenal ulcers in combination with H2 blockers and improve the lipid profile, especially through the regulation of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and lo-density lipoprotein, which may be involved in the incidence of heart failure. Furthermore, fasting could enhance the systolic and diastolic blood pressure more significantly compared to the use of drugs such as perindopril/indapamide. Evidence suggests that ischemic stroke and cancer could also be improved by intermitted fasting via multiple pathways and factors such as BDNF, bFGF, GRP78, Hsp70, tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB), fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), and ketosis. The present study aimed to systematically review the published literature regarding the effects of Ramadan fasting on the mentioned diseases.

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder, which is characterized by the presence of abdominal pain or discomfort associated with altered bowel habits. This systematic review aimed to assess the nutritional factors (dietary patterns and food groups) associated with IBS. Methods: Articles were collected via searching in databases such as Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords and phrases, including irritable bowel syndrome, pattern, intake, behavior, habit, meal, nutrition, food, lifestyle, and prevalence. The articles were confined to the original human studies that were published in English since 2010. Duplicates and unrelated materials were excluded. Results: Consumption of processed meat, fast foods, and legumes has been reported to increase the risk of IBS. However, the correlation between the consumption of milk, fruits, and vegetables has not been conclusive. Moreover, the association between cereal intake and risk of IBS varies depending on the type of cereals. The results also indicated that fast food dietary patterns increased the risk of IBS, while lacto-vegetarian dietary patterns reduced the risk of IBS. Conclusion: According to the results, the effects of some food groups on IBS are unclear. In addition, research in this regard is limited to food patterns, and further investigations are required in order to reach conclusive results.

Introduction: Diabetes is a metabolic disease, which is directly correlated with increased physical disabilities and muscle tissue damage. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-apoptotic effects of interval and continued training and crocin on diabetic rats. Methods: In this study, 49 adult rats aged eight weeks with diabetes inducaed by a high-fat diet and venous injection of streptozotocin were randomly assigned to seven groups, including high-intensity interval training (HIIT), low-intensity continued training (LICT), HIIT with crocin consumption, LICT with crocin consumption, crocin consumption, sham, and control. The animals in the HIIT and LICT groups ran on a treadmill three sessions per week for eight weeks at the intensity of 80-85% and 50-55% of the maximum speed, respectively. The animals in the crocin consumption groups received 25 mg/kg of crocin weekly for eight weeks. Results: HIIT and LICT could significantly increase Bcl-2 and decrease Bax and p53, as well as the ratio of Bax and Bcl-2 (P≤ 0. 05). In addition, crocin consumption could significantly increase Bcl-2 and decrease Bax (P≤ 0. 05). Training with crocin consumption had interactive effects on the increase of Bcl-2 and decrease of p53 and ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 (P≤ 0. 05). Conclusion: According to the results, continued and interval training along with the consumption of crocin exerted interactive anti-apoptotic effects on the rats with diabetes induced by a high-fat diet.

Introduction: The demand for antimicrobial compound alternatives to replace synthetic additives is on the rise. In food commodities, use of synthetic antimicrobials based on herbal extracts is attracted attention. The present study aimed to assess the chemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of the yogurt samples treated with oregano extract (0%, 0. 75%, 1%, and 1. 5%) during storage for 30 days at refrigerated temperature. Methods: The in-vitro antibacterial effect of oregano extract was evaluated using agar disk-diffusion assay. Natural yogurt was prepared using a combination mixture of whole milk and 4% skimmed milk powder. Various concentrations of the oregano extract (0%, 0. 75%, 1%, and 1. 5%) were added to the samples. During 30 days of refrigerated storage, various parameters were evaluated, including titratable acidity, pH, mold and yeast counts, total coliforms, and sensory attributes (overall liking, appearance, and aroma). Results: The descending order of the in-vitro antibacterial effect of the oregano extract was as follows: Listeria monocytogenes>Staphylococcus aureus>Bacillus subtilis>Bacillus cereus>Salmonella typhimurium>Escherichia coli O157: H7. Differences were observed in the counts of mold and yeast in the samples over time. Accordingly, bioactive yogurt had lower mold and yeast counts (1-1. 5 log CFU/g) after 30 days of storage compared to the control (P<0. 05). In addition, significant differences were observed in the hedonic scores of aroma and appearance between the samples containing the oregano extract compared to the control group (P<0. 05). Conclusion: According to the results, oregano extract could be used as a natural compound to improve the shelf life of yogurt at refrigerated temperatures for 30 days. Furthermore, oregano extract is considered to be an effective inhibitory compound against L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, B. subtilis, B. cereus, S. typhimurium, and E. coli O157: H7.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be a severe health threat across the world, the prevalence of which has significantly increased in recent years. Considering the role of diet in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, the present study aimed to evaluate and compare the dietary intakes of patients with NAFLD with healthy subjects. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 120 participants aged more than 18 years. The case group included 60 patients who were diagnosed with NAFLD based on Fibroscan assessment. The diet records of the subjects were analyzed using a three-day dietary record questionnaire. Results: After modulation based on energy intake, the total intakes of energy, fiber, vitamin D, and vitamin E were significantly lower in the patients with NAFLD compared to the control group. In addition, the level of trans-fatty acids after energy adjustment was significantly higher in NAFLD patients compared to the controls. However, analysis after the energy adjustment indicated no significant difference between the case and control groups in terms of protein, carbohydrate, saturated fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acid, and polyunsaturated fatty acid intakes. Conclusion: According to the results, the diet records of the patients with NAFLD and healthy subjects differed in terms of the intakes of energy, fiber, trans-fatty acids, vitamin D, and vitamin E. Therefore, special attention must be paid to the dietary patterns of these individuals in order to improve their lifestyle and prevent the occurrence and progression of NAFLD.

Introduction: Dietary diversity score (DDS) and Food variety score (FVS) are the appropriate measures used to evaluate the overall quality of dietary patterns. However, their associations with the serum levels of micronutrients remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the correlations between DDS/FVS and serum ferritin and magnesium status in the non-athlete females joining the sports clubs in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted on 397 non-athlete women, who were members of the sports clubs in Tehran, Iran in 2013. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour recall questionnaire. DDS and FVS were calculated and classified into two groups based on the guidelines of the minimum dietary diversity of women (MDD-W) and median, respectively. Serum ferritin was measured using the ELISA assay, and serum magnesium was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: Mean DDS and FVS was 5. 7± 1. 4 (range: 2-9) and 15. 3± 4. 7 (range: 5-32), respectively. After adjustment for the confounding factors, serum magnesium in the group with high FVS was significantly higher compared to the other group (P=0. 01). In the group with high FVS, serum ferritin was also higher, and the difference was considered significant (P=0. 058). In addition, linear regression analysis indicated a significant association between high FVS and serum magnesium level (P=0. 02). However, no significant correlations were observed between the serum levels of micronutrients and DDS. Conclusion: According to the results, higher FVS may be associated with higher serum magnesium and ferritin levels. Further investigations are required to assess the correlations between DDS, FVS, and the status of serum micronutrients.

Introduction: Muscle inflammation and atrophy are among the main complications of diabetes, which lead to motor disability in the patients. Studies have shown that physical exercise with various intensities and use of herbal medicines could positively affect diabetes. The present study aimed to evaluate the interactive effects of continuous and interval training with crocin consumption on the levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in the soleus muscle of rates with type II diabetes. Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 49 adult diabetic rats, which were randomly assigned to seven groups, including: high-intensity interval training (HIIT), low-intensity continuous training (LICT), HIIT with crocin consumption, LICT with crocin consumption, crocin consumption, sham, and control. The HIIT and LICT groups received training for eight weeks using a rodent treadmill. The crocin consumption groups were intraperitoneally administered with crocin (25 mg/kg) daily for eight weeks. The gene expression levels of IL-17 and IL-18 were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: HIIT increased IL-17 and IL-18 in the soleus muscle tissue of the diabetic rates (P≤ 0. 05), while LICT had no significant effects on the levels of IL-17 and IL-18 (P≥ 0. 05). On the other hand, crocin consumption decreased the expression of IL-18 and increased the expression of IL-17 in the soleus muscle tissue (P≤ 0. 05), and the interactive effects of LICT and crocin consumption were considered significant in increasing IL-17 and IL-18 (P≤ 0. 05). Conclusion: According to the results, HIIT may exert inflammatory effects on the muscle tissue of rats with type II diabetes. However, the interactive effects of LICT and crocin were significant on increasing IL-17 and IL-18 in the soleus muscle tissue of diabetic rats.

During recent years, there has been an emerging, upward trend in research and publication of studies on the effects of Ramadan fasting on the healthy population as well as on the populace diagnosed with various diseases and conditions. To publicize the outcomes of these research works, many awareness programs, symposia and conferences are being organized globally. International coordination groups, such as ‘ Diabetes and Ramadan: International Alliance’ have been established to coordinate the efforts and investigations of researchers involved in this work...

Introduction: The Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC) Lenten fasting (Abiy Tsom) is a seven-week period of fasting before Easter. It is a religious fasting practice, which has been less documented in the scientific literature. The present study aimed to investigate effect of EOC fasting with vegan diet practices on body composition parameters. Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 98 subjects (40 females and 58 males) aged 18-40 years, who were willing for Lenten fasting for seven weeks. Several parameters were evaluated and measured, including body weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). In addition, body fat percentage (BF %) was determined based on skinfold thickness at three sites, including the abdomen, triceps, and suprailiac using a caliper (Holtian Ltd., UK). Results: Weight, BMI, BF%, and fat mass significantly decreased (P< 0. 05) during eight weeks of Lenten fasting compared to eight weeks after fasting. The male subjects experienced a more significant reduction in this regard compared to the female subjects. Conclusion: According to the results, adherence to the Lenten diet (vegan diet) decreased anthropometric and body composition parameters more significantly compared to regular mixed diets, which could be potentially associated with improved cardiometabolic health.