IRANIAN JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM (IJEM)
Year:2012 | Volume:14 | Issue:5 (SN 65)|Papers Count:14

Introduction: Chemerin as a new adipokine has recently been studied for its crucial role in adipocyte differentiation and insulin signaling. In this study, chemerin levels were determined in the serum of pregnant women of the same gestational age with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and compared with those of healthy pregnant women for their impact on the metabolic process and incidence of gestational diabetics.Materials and Methods: After obtaining a written consent of each individual, totally 200 serum samples were collected from the healthy and gestationally diabetic pregnant women groups. In addition to chemerin, other effective biochemical and metabolic factors of carbohydrate and lipid were determined. Leptin content of cord blood was measured in 100 infants from healthy (50) and gestational diabetes (50) groups.Results: Mean serum chemerin levels of pregnant women with gestational diabetes (152.4±46.5 mg/dl) were significantly higher (p<0.001) in comparision with those of non-diabetic pregnant women (128.7±43.7mg/dl). Serum chemerin levels were significantly associated with metabolic syndromerelated parameters, including body mass index (BMI) (P<0.05), Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) (P<0.001), fasting insulin (P<0.001) and fasting blood (p<0.01) was conducted. Serum chemerin was not significantly correlated with cord blood leptin.Conclusion: Serum chemerin levels were higher in pregnant women with gestational diabetes than their nondiabetic pregnant counterparts. Serum chemerin was also independently associated with markers of insulin resistance, and body mass index. Leptin, biochemical and metabolic parameters of mother’s infants were not correlated between the two groups.

Introduction: It is suggested that high calcium diets can improve lipid profiles, blood pressure and insulin resistance. This study investigated the effects of low fat dairy or calcium supplement consumption on the components of metabolic syndrome.Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 75 healthy overweight or obese premenopausal women were randomly allocated to one of the following dietary regimen for 8 weeks: 1) a control diet; 2) a calcium- supplemented diet containing 800mg/d calcium carbonate and 3) a high milk diet containing three servings of low fat milk. All regimens provided a 500kcal/day deficit. At baseline and after 8 weeks, waist circumference (WC) blood pressure, serum triglycerides (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBS) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured.Results: After 8 weeks WC, FBS and HDL decreased in all groups (p<0.001), but there were no significant reduction in TG and blood pressure. Reduction of WC in the milk group was significantly higher than the controls (p=0.028). Also reduction of HDL in Ca and milk groups was less than the controls (p=0.023 and p=0.019 respectively).Conclusion: In conclusion we found that calcium or milk consumption affected WC and HDL, but not the other components of metabolic syndrome. Increasing Ca intake hence can reduce some metabolic syndrome complications.

Introduction: Regular exercise training plays an important role in the improvement of metabolic disorders, inflammatory markers and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of 19 weeks aerobic exercise on insulin resistance and high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in middle-aged women.Materials and Methods: Twenty-four sedentary women, (aged 43.3±10.6 years) were randomly the selected from among volunteers. The subjects were assigned to two, the obese (BMI: 32.7±4.8 kg/m2) or the non-obese (BMI: 24.3±1.3 kg/m2) groups. Exercise training consisted of 19 weeks, aerobic and resistance exercises, with a frequency of 3 days a week, and intensity corresponding to 60-80% HRmax for 60-75 minutes per session.Results: After 19 weeks, body mass index (BMI), body fat percent and hs-CRP same as Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) index was decreased in the both groups (P<0.05), and the decrease was greater in the obese compared to the non-obese group. Maximal oxygen consumption, also, increased significantly in both groups after exercise (P<0.05). For WBC, HDL-Cand LDL-C, no significant differentces were observed after intervention.Conclusion: It can be concluded that changes in HOMA-IR and hs-CRP levels are due to the improvement of the body health status composition, long duration and anti-inflammatory features of exercise training.

Introduction: Obesity, a serious risk factor for chronic diseases, especially among women, is an important worldwide public health problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of L-carnitine supplementation with or without moderate aerobic training on serum lipid profiles and body fat percentage in obese women.Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 44 obese women were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n=11 each) as follows: 1: L-carnitine supplementation (2 g/day), 2: aerobic training+placebo group, 3: L-carnitine supplementation+aerobic training and 4: placebo. All interventions had an 8 week period and subjects of aerobic training groups underwent 8-week aerobic training protocol (3 sessions a week [24 sessions]). Body mass index, body fat percentage, daily dietary intake and serum fasting free L-carnitine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels of each subjects were measured before and after interventions. Analysis of covariance was used for comparing of variables means between groups.Results: Body fat percentage decreased significantly in the aerobic training+placebo and in L-carnitine supplementation+aerobic training groups. In the L-carnitine supplementation group, aerobic training+placebo and the L-carnitine supplementation+aerobic training groups, significant reductions were observed in serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. LDL-C levels decreased significantly in the L-carnitine+aerobic training group.Conclusion: Results indicated beneficial effects of L-carnitine supplementation alone or combined with aerobic training on serum lipid profiles and effects of aerobic training in lowering of body fat percentage in obese women. L-carnitine supplementation and aerobic training may be effective in delaying onset of chronic diseases in obese subjects.

Introduction: Since body image is a person’s attitude about him/herself, a person's dissatisfaction with their body image may cause lower self esteem, depression, and result may in decreased staff efficiency. Assessing of the factors affecting body image (In this study: body image, BMI, physical activity and food groups’ daily consumption) can help prevent these problems.Materials and Methods: For this study, 188 of 203 university personnel were selected. For all subjects’, weight and height was measured and complete information was obtained by interviewers using the 4 following questionnaires: Demographic information questionnaire, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and Multidimensional Body Self Relation Questionnaire (MBSRQ).Results: BMI and body image did not differ between genders, but physical activity level in men was significantly higher than in women (P=0.016), showing a correlation between physical activity and body image in men (r=0.292), but not in women. There was a weak correlation between BMI and body image dissatisfaction (r=0.16). Body image showed no significant relation with any daily food items except milk and dairy products. Finally, we found a formula to calculate body image score from BMI and physical activity by linear regression (p=0.005).Conclusion: The only factors influencing body image (among the measured factors in this study) were BMI and physical activity. Higher levels of physical activity and low BMI led to more satisfaction of body image. Facilitating appropriate sport environments in work places and related educational physical activity programs, could improve the satisfaction of with body image among staff, there by raising their efficiency.

Introduction: Nowadays, obesity among children is rapidly increasing as a public health issue. Early detection of overweight and obesity in children during their school years is an important prevention strategy. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of obesity and its relationship with anthropometric measures and lifestyle factors.Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted between October 2010 and June 2011. Samples of students were selected from eight elementary schools in Shahryar city using multi-stage cluster sampling. A multi-section questionnaire, which consisted of three sections, including data on demographics and anthropometrics, physical activity and the 24 recall was used.Results: Totally, 325 students aged 6-12 years (49.2% boys and 50.8% girls) took part in the study. Mean age of participants was 8.53±SD=1.61. Results revealed that the mean daily energy intake in obese children, compared to healthy weight children, was 2381.74±308.95 versus 1564.52±160.567 (P<0.001). Multiple logistic regression showed that the daily energy intake, duration of night sleep, meal during passive physical activity and father body mass index were significantly related to overweight & obesity (P<0.001). However there were no significant relationships in terms of age, sex, leisure time activities and birth order in this age group of participants.Conclusion: There are various risk factors associated with obesity and overweight in children, based on which health education programs should be designed and implemented to help control obesity and overweight in this age group.

Introduction: Obesity, a major health problem worldwide, is also risk factor for some diseases. Several different reports published the prevalence of obesity in Iran, but so far no accurate estimate of the rate of obesity has been documented in women, with an emphasis on physical activity. This study determined the prevalence of obesity in women 30-50 years of Neyshabur, with emphasis on their physical activity.Materials and Methods: This 1390 descriptive analytic was cross-sectional study of 381 Neyshaburi women. In this study, two questionnaires comprising 55 questions was used to collect information in five sections: Personal characteristics, socioeconomic, nutritional status, fertility, and demographics; the other was the Baek habitual physical activity questionnaire. For analysis, we used descriptive statistics, ANOVA test and other different types of correlation coefficients.Results: Results showed that the prevalence of obesity was 30.4%, over weight 45.5% and abdominal obesity 93.2%. Furthermore, we found that the lower the age of menarche, the higher was the body mass index of women (P=0.005). Rating of physical activity incidence during work and exercise in lean women was higher than other groups.Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of obesity in Neyshabur, health authorities and relevant agencies need to implement modifications in lifestyle, nutritional status and physical activity among women.

Introduction: It has been suggested that the difference in glycemic index (GI) of honey is due to its floral sources and the fructose to glucose ratio. However, sufficient data is not available for GIs of different types of Iranian honey. In the present study the glycemic indexes of two types of Iranian honey, their floral sources and fructose to glucose ratio were determined and their postprandial blood sugar changes were compared.Materials and Methods: Ten healthy subjects, mean age 28±2.7y and a mean body mass index of 24.3±2.6 participated in this study. Subjects on 3 different days, at 1 week interval, after 10-12 hours overnight fasting referred to the laboratory and their blood sugar was measured in the fasting, state and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after taking glucose solution, thyme honey from Bushehr plain or clover honey from Khorramabad. The incremental area under the blood glucose changes curve (IAUC) was calculated, using the trapezoid frame ignoring fasting values. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and repeated measure using SPSS version 17.Results: Glycemic indexes for thyme honey and clover honey were 65.9 and 64.9, respectively, differences not statistically significant. Incremental areas under the blood glucose curve after eating thyme(140.2±36.5 mmol.min/l) and clover (137.7±47.7 mmol.min/l) honey although they were not significantly different, both were significantly lower than glucose(214.4±53.0 mmol.min/l) (P=0.001).Conclusion: Thyme honey from Bushehr and clover honey from Khorramabad had similar glycemic indexes. Neither floral sources nor the fructose to glucose ratios had any effect on their glycemic indexes.

Introduction: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons express growth hormone secretagogues receptor (GHSR-Ia). Fasting or ghrelin increases food intake by stimulating NPY gene expression via GHSR-Ia. D-Lys3 -GHRP-6, a ghrelin receptor antagonist, decreases food intakes and body weight. The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of the anorexigenic effect of D-Lys3-GHRP-6 in food deprived rats.Materials and Methods: Fifteen food deprived rats (3 groups) received central injections of saline or D-Lys3 -GHRP-6 (2 or 20nmol) respectively and mean food intake was measured at one hour after injections. Mean plasma ghrelin concentration was measured by RIA, and NPY gene expression was determined by semi quantitative RT-PCR in the hypothalamus. Fifteen rats in three groups, received central injection of saline or initiations and on the D-Lys3-GHRP-6 (2 or 20nmol) twice daily for 9 days respectively. Body weight was determined at third, 7th and 10th day of the experiment.Results: Mean plasma ghrelin concentration, mean food intake and NPY gene expression significantly increased in food deprived rats compared to fed animals. D-Lys3-GHRP-6 (2 nmol) did not significantly change ghrelin, food intake and NPY mRna levels, compared to the food deprived rats. However D-Lys3-GHRP-6 (20 nmol) significantly decreased ghrelin, food intake and NPY mRNA level compared to food deprived group.Conclusion: Results showed that D-Lys3-GHRP-6 may exert its anorexigenic effect on food intake by influencing the expression of peptides involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis, and may be suggested for the treatment of obesity.

Introduction: In traditional medicine turnip (Brassica napus), is used to reduce blood glucose. Furthermore, Turnip also has antioxidant effects and many plants with antioxidant activities are known to have antidiabetic properties. Therefore in this study, the antihyperglycemic effect of boiled turnip extract and metabolic changes on triglycerides, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in diabetic rats were investigated.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats, weighing 200 to 250g were divided in to 4 groups: control, diabetic control, diabetic group receiving cooked Turnip and diabetic group receiving Glibenclamide. Diabetes was induced by injection of 120 mg/kg alloxan monohydrate on 3 consecutive days. Rats in the third group received 16ml/kg turnip extract daily for 4 weeks after which the animals were anesthetized and blood samples were taken to measure the factors mentoned. Data were analyzed by Analysis of Variance test using SPSS software.Results: Boiled turnip extract significantly reduced serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL, and increase HDL, in diabetic rats compared to the control diabetic group (p<0.05).Conclusion: This study demonstrated that boiled turnip extract can reduce blood glucose and lipid levels in diabetic rats and may be used as complementary or alternative treatment for diabetic patients.

Introduction: The intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) plays a pivotal role in inflammation and linkage between monocytes and endothelium. LDL-induced ICAM-1 expression may include the possibility of an atherogenic stimulation due to a binding between lipoprotein and ICAM-1. To evaluate of this hypothesis, the present study investigated the effect of sICAM-1 on susceptibility of LDL and HDL to oxidation and Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity.Materials and Methods: LDL and HDL were purified from serum via ultracentrifugation and 25 and 100/mg-protein/ml of LDL and HDL, in the presence of sICAM-1 (0, 2, 5 ng/ml), were exposed to oxidative stress (5 /mM copper) and assayed through monitoring of formation of conjugated dienes using a spectrophotometer. Electrophoresis was performed to determine the mobility of incubated-lipoproteins with sICAM-1. The activity of PON-1 was assayed in the presence of of sICAM-1.Results: In presence of different concentrations of sICAM-1, Vmax increased significantly (P<0.05), while electrophoretic mobility of LDL decreased ( ¯ 25%). PON-1 activity increased at low levels of sICAM-1 but decreased at higher levels (P<0.05; P<0.005).Conclusion: The results indicate that sICAM-1 in dosages over than 2 ng/ml affects some kinetical parameters of LDL oxidation and PON-1 activity that can be interpreted as a positive stimulus in atherogenesis. Overall the results may support the hypothesis of a lipoprotein-mediated role for ICAM-1 in atherogenesis.