Introduction: Flavonoids include a large number of plant-based polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant, anti-estrogenic, anti-mutation, and anti-proliferative effects. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between endometriosis and dietary flavonoid intake among Iranian women referring to Arash Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from May 2016 to February 2017. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 156 women (78 women diagnosed with endometriosis after laparoscopy and 78 healthy women) in Arash Hospital. The dietary data of the subjects were obtained using a 147-item semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire a year before the interview. The USDA tables were used to determine the type and amount of flavonoids per 100 g of each food item. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square, t-tests, and logistic regression model. Result: After the adjustments of the confounding variable, it was revealed that individuals who had a higher intake of total flavonoids (P=0. 001) were less likely to have endometriosis. Among the subgroups of flavonoids, the only intake of flavanone (P=0. 04) was significantly associated with endometriosis risk. Regarding different food groups, flavonoid was significantly lower in the dairy product (P=0. 02), adviser (P=0. 001), and fruit (P=0. 03), compared to that of the control group. Conclusion: Regarding the influence of flavonoid intake on endometriosis pathogenesis, it can be concluded that a higher intake of flavonoids can contribute to the prevention and control of endometriosis. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct counseling sessions about the benefits of flavonoid intake for such patients.

Background and Objectives: Regarding health effects of probiotics and prebiotics in prevention and control of diseases and the lack of standard questionnaires in this field in Iran, objective of the present study was to assess validity and reliability of questionnaires designed to assess validity and reliability of probiotics and prebiotics in individuals aged 20– 40 years in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: After verifying content validity of the questionnaires by eight experts in fields of nutrition, psychology and psychometrics, face and construct validities (in two levels of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses) were assessed and then the tool was validated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (due to the multi-value of the response spectra). Results: The sampling adequacy index was higher than 0. 7, which was the premise of exploratory analysis. For all the items, the standard loading factor was higher than 0. 3, and the T-value was higher than 1. 96. Furthermore, fit indices in confirmatory analysis were at the desired levels (0/9 and greater), and validity was verified. Cronbach's alpha value was calculated higher than 0. 7, and the reliability of the questionnaire was verified. Conclusions: Results of this study showed that the researcher-prepared food frequency questionnaire developed to assess the level of probiotic and prebiotic consumptions, especially in people aged 20– 40 years in Tehran, includes significant validity and reliability.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has become the most common cause of liver disease worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of dietary pattern in patients with NAFLD compared with data reported by clinically healthy subjects.Method: This case-control study was performed on 280 subjects (140 patients with NAFLD vs.140 healthy subjects) who were attended to nutrition clinic, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. Dietary intake was assessed using an Iranian semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), including a list of 160 items. Dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis. Regression models were fitted to assess the relation between major dietary patterns and non alcoholic fatty liver disease.Results: Two major dietary patterns- healthy and unhealthywere extracted. After adjustment for confounders, the healthy dietary pattern was associated with 52 percent lower odds of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (OR 0.48; 95 % CI 0.35-0.66; P<0.001) while the Western dietary pattern was associated with about 2 fold higher odds of the disease (OR 1.90; 95 % CI 1.30-2.79; P<0.001).Conclusion: The healthy dietary pattern was associated with lower risk of NAFLD whereas the Western dietary pattern was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the association between daily zinc intakes and reproductive characteristics in pregnant women.Materials and Methods: During May- December 2010 a cross sectional study was conducted at prenatal clinics of 10 public hospitals in Tehran-Iran. 440 pregnant women before 20 weeks of gestation with parity less than 3 and singleton pregnancy were interviewed. Daily zinc intake was measured using an Iranian version of food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), gravid, parity and abortion history were obtained. Data were analyzed using χ2 Test.Results: The mean daily zinc intake was 10.8mg/d. About %75 of the studied women had daily zinc intake less than pregnancy RDA.There was no significant relationship between daily zinc intake and gravid and parity but having an abortion or more was associated with less than RDA zinc intake (p<0.049).Conclusion: Our results suggest that women with a history of abortion need a careful nutritional plan with regards to micronutrients including zinc.

Background: Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are widely used in large studies worldwide. They usually seek to rank people according to their usual food intake rather than a specific period of time. In the present study, we aimed to develop a dish-based, semiquantitative FFQ to seek habitual diet of general population aged 9 to 65 years in Tehran. Methods: To develop the FFQ, four main steps were taken. At the beginning a list of commonly consumed Iranian foods and mixed dishes was prepared. To prevent excessive questionnaire length, some food items were grouped. Then, reference portion sizes were defined for each mixed dish in the list. The portion sizes were defined either based on the most common food portions reported in existing data or based on conventional portioning. In the third step the frequency response for consumption of food items and mixed dishes were determined. In the last step, recipes were developed for mixed dishes based on several data sources, including previous surveys. Finally, the content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by the expert panel. Results: The final food list of the FFQ comprised 142 food items and mixed dishes in six major food groups, including dairy products, breads, mixed dishes, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables, and miscellaneous food items and beverages. Nine frequency response options for all food items varying from “ never or less than once per month” to “ more than 6 times a day” were considered. A portion size was included for each item, whether food items or mixed dishes. Conclusion: As Iranian food recipes are typically characterized by various ingredients it is very difficult for the respondent to recall the amount and type of the ingredients. Likewise, information about cooking methods beside ingredients of foods are important to estimate their nutritive values, which can be explored only through asking about consumption of mixed dishes. The current FFQ was developed to overcome the mentioned problems. It can be applied in nationwide studies in which foods and/or nutrients are predominant determinant of health and/or diseases.

Objective (s): To investigate the role of low dietary intake of zinc and iron in early pregnancy on birth weight.Methods: In a prospective longitudinal study, 218 pregnant women with low risk pregnancies were studied. Using the Iranian version of food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) before 20 weeks of gestation, intake of dietary iron, zinc and energy were measured and the relationship with birth weight was assessed using linear regression model.Results: The mean age of mothers studied was 26.5 (±4.28) years, 61.9% were nulliparous. About 9% of newborns had a birth weight less than 2500 g. Inadequate dietary intake (less than 75% of the recommended daily allowance-RDA) of zinc and iron was seen in 52.8 and 86.2 mothers respectively. Linear regression analysis showed that dietary intake of zinc (P<0.001), parity (P:0.049) and gestational age at delivery (P<0.001) could predict birth weight.Conclusion: The findings indicated a relatively high rate of poor dietary intake of iron and zinc in the pregnant women that had significant impact on birth weight even in early pregnancy.

Background: Food consumption pattern and lack of some nutrients is known as main environmental risk factor of esophageal cancer. We investigated nutritional risk factor and food consumption pattern of people who live in high risk area in Golestan province.Materials and Methods: We investigated food consumption pattern of more than 30 years old Gonbad and Kalale's people who recruited in Golestan cohort study. Assessment carried out with validated 117 items semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire. We also used Iranaian data bank for nutritional analysis. Multiple linear regressions used to compare between sex, Gender, place and ethnicity.Results: From 30463 subjects, aged 52.2 women, Turkmen ethnicity and rural dweller was 57.7%, 75% and 73.6% respectively. Overweight and obesity were common among urban dweller women in compare to other groups. Energy induced from carbohydrate, fat and protein were 65%, 22% and 13% respectively.Conclusion: People in Golestan had lower intake of some nutrients such as Riboflavin, fiber and vitamin A than recommended dietary allowance by FAO/WHO.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate) daily intake and demographic characteristics (age, education, job) in pregnant women.Materials and Methods : During May- December 2010 a cross sectional study was conducted at prenatal clinics of 10 public hospitals in Tehran-Iran.440 pregnant women before 20 weeks of gestation with parity less than 3 and singleton pregnancy were interviewed. Daily intake of protein and carbohydrate was measured using an Iranian version of food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Data were analyzed by binary regression analysis.Results: The mean (SD) daily protein and carbohydrate intake in the studied women was 91.2 (90.07) g/d and 356 (269.5) g/d respectively. Dietary intake of protein and carbohydrate was less than RDA in %47 and %14 of the women in order of reference. Demographic characteristics had no effect on carbohydrate and protein intake. Conclusion: It seems that the importance of protein and its dietary sources should be more emphasized in pregnancy educations.

Background: The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), as a way to assess the dietary intake in comparison with other methods, is easierto analyze and takes less time and is less costly. Our aim in this study was to develop and validate an FFQ for estimating the intakesof selected antioxidants in elderly Iranian people. Materials and Methods: A total of 185 elderly people were randomly selected.Three-day food records were completed by the subjects and collected every 2 months and dietary intake levels of zinc, selenium, carotenes and vitamins C and E were estimated. Based on the food records data, geographic location, and age, an FFQ was designedto estimate antioxidant intakes during 1 year. In addition, for controlling energy intake, 2-day food records were also collected withthe food frequency questionnaire. To assess the reliability, 40 individuals were asked to complete the FFQ twice with an interval of 3months in between.Results: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between the two FFQs for antioxidant C, antioxidant E, carotene, selenium, and zinc were 0.62, 0.47, 0.51, 0.54, and 0.58, respectively (P<0.05). In addition, Pearson correlation coefficients betweenthe FFQ and the food records, after controlling energy for vitamin C, vitamin E, carotene, selenium, and zinc, were 0.46, 0.48, 0.38, 0.55, and 0.47 respectively (P<0.001).Conclusion: According to the results of this study, considering the fact that the FFQ wasdesigned for the elderly and the special conditions (patience, memory, etc.) and vulnerability of this age group, the questionnaire isrelatively valid and reliable to use.