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Background and Objectives: Since vitamin D has been shown to have an important function in the regulation of metabolic pathways, this study aimed to investigate the association between serum levels of vitamin D with a number of metabolic indicators in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 122 patients with NAFLD referred to Sheikh Alreis Clinic in Tabriz, who were categorized into "vitamin D sufficient" (n=46) and "vitamin D deficient" (n=76) based on their serum vitamin D concentrations. NAFLD was diagnosed by upper abdomen ultrasonography, and the fasting serum concentrations of glucose (FBS), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) as well as Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured as metabolic markers. Serum concentration of liver transaminase enzymes and liver steatosis severity were assessed as liver function criteria. Results: Serum concentrations of insulin (p=0.024), LDL-c (p<0.001), and HOMA-IR (p=0.011) were significantly higher in the NAFLD patients with vitamin D deficiency compared to the patients with sufficient vitamin D. Moreover, vitamin D deficient patients had higher NAFLD histologic severity (p=0.042) and serum concentrations of alanine aminoteransferase (ALT) compared to the NAFLD patients with vitamin D sufficiency (p=0.005). Vitamin D-deficient patients were at higher odds for having hypercholesterolemia (p=0.009) and high LDL-c (p=0.011) than ones with sufficient vitamin D status even when adjusted for confounders. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency in the patients with NAFLD was found to be associated with higher odds of an unfavorable lipid profile and NAFLD histologic severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Received: 09/07/22 Sent for Revision: 14/08/22 Received Revised Manuscript: 18/09/22 Accepted: 20/09/22 Background and Objectives: Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic disorders with adverse effects on the liver. It is important to study the factors that improve the liver function in diabetes. The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of apple-vinegar on the liver indices of diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 28 male Wistar rats with an average weight of 200g were divided into 4 groups including control, diabetic, and diabetic groups receiving 0.5% or 5% apple-vinegar. Solutions with a volume of 4 ml/kg were administered orally for six weeks. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 50mg/kg streptozotocin. Apple-vinegar was prepared by traditional method from Malus-domestica and used fresh. At the end of treatment, serum levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total protein, albumin and aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bilirubin were measured. Liver tissue was studied by Hematoxylin-Eosin method. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post-test. Results: In the diabetic rats compared to the healthy rats, the levels of blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, AST, ALT, ALP, bilirubin serum, and fibrosis, cirrhosis, degeneration and inflammation of the liver tissue significantly increased (p<0.05), and the body weight, serum HDL, total protein, and albumin significantly decreased (p<0.05). Five or 0.5% apple-vinegar modulated these indices, and in most cases, stablished a significant difference with the diabetic group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Apple-vinegar modulated liver complications due to diabetes by regulating blood glucose and lipid profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Aerobic exercise and taking chlorella supplementation to control oxidative stress markers and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) levels in diabetic patients is of great importance. So, the aim of the present research was to investigate the effect of eight-week aerobic exercise on paraoxonase-1 and lipid hydroperoxide plasma levels in diabetic Wistar rats treated with chlorella algae. Material and Methods: The present study was an experimental research. 50 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10: control, diabetic, diabetic with taking supplement (colorella), diabetic with training, and combined diabetic (training+ supplement) groups. Training and taking supplement continued for 8 weeks after diabetes induction; at the end of the 8th week, the levels of paraoxonase-1 and lipid hydroperoxide were measured. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. Results: The results showed that there were significant differences between the groups in terms of paraoxonase1(p=0.001). Comparison between the groups of chlorella and training (p=0.001) and the combined and chlorella (p=0.001) as well as the exercise and combined (p=0.007) showed a significant difference. Also, there were significant differences between the groups in terms of lipid hydroperoxide (p=0.001). So that there was a significant difference between the training and chlorella (p=0.005) and combined groups (p=0.001) and the combined and exercise groups (p=0.029). So that in the combined group, paraoxonase -1 was further increased. Conclusion: Eight weeks of aerobic training along with taking chlorella can remarkably reduce lipid hydroperoxide and increase paraoxonase-1 in rats with diabetes; However, their separate protocls can be also useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]