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Dietary nitrates are thought to confer several cardiometabolic health benefits, including improvements in blood pressure and the plasma lipid profile. However, existing data from Iran is conflicting and there is a dearth of literature focusing on non-adult populations. A total of 988 adolescent girls were recruited from schools in different areas of Mashhad and Sabzevar, Iran. Dietary nitrate intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and participants were categorized into quartiles based on this. Differences in participant characteristics between quartiles were assessed using one-way ANOVA and associations between total nitrate intake, nitrate intake from vegetables and cardiometabolic risk markers (blood lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) were assessed using linear regression. Nitrate intake from vegetables was positively correlated with triglycerides, even after adjusting for several variables (β = 0.086, 95% CI = 0.002–0.097; P = 0.043). Total nitrate intake was also significantly positively associated with serum triglycerides (β = 0.097, 95% CI = 0.010–0.084; P = 0.012); however, this relationship disappeared after adjusting for several variables. Significant interaction effects were observed between total nitrate intake, nitrate intake from vegetables, and vitamin C upon triglycerides (P < 0.01). No significant relationships were found between total nitrate intake, nitrate intake from vegetables, and other cardiometabolic risk markers. Our findings suggest there may be neutral or possibly detrimental cardiovascular effects of dietary nitrate and/or vitamin C intake which are not in agreement with contemporary literature and warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ash-Kardeh is one of the few fermented foods without a dairy base in Iran, which is traditionally prepared from cereals and plants in the presence of microorganisms (mainly lactic acid bacteria). Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effects of Ash-Kardeh consumption on blood glucose, lipid profile, and blood pressure in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: Forty-six patients with type 2 diabetes were studied in this randomized controlled clinical trial. Subjects were randomly allocated into intervention (n = 23) and control (n = 23) groups. Individuals of both groups received the usual treatment of diabetic patients, while those in the intervention group, in addition to the usual treatment, received 250 g of Ash-Kardeh daily for 6 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipid profiles were measured before and after the intervention. Results: Compared to the control group, Ash-Kardeh consumption led to a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose (P = 0.003), total cholesterol (P = 0.025), triglyceride (P = 0.003), systolic (P < 0.001), and diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.014) in the intervention group. Also, a significant increase in the concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.048) was observed after Ash-Kardeh consumption. Conclusion: It seems that Ash-Kardeh consumption could improve high blood glucose, lipid profile, and hypertension in type 2 diabetic patients but does not affect low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. This study was registered on 2019-09-15 in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (www.irct.ir) with the code number IRCT20170202032367N3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common abnormalities in women of reproductive age that can lead to a variety of metabolic and reproductive disorders. Studies reveal that a healthy diet is the most effective way for treating the risk factors associated with metabolic disorders and place greater emphasis on the consumption of prebiotic foods. The present study aims to determine the effect of resistant Dextrin on metabolic parameters, including lipid profile, fasting blood glucose (FBS) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and androgen levels, including serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and free testosterone, as the primary outcomes, and manifestations of PCOS including menstrual cycle irregularity and hirsutism, as the secondary outcomes. Methods: This randomized, controlled, triple-blind, clinical trial was conducted on 62 women aged 18–45 in Tabriz, Iran, in 2016–2017. The participants were divided into a prebiotic group and a placebo group using block randomization. The prebiotic group consumed 20 g of resistant dextrin dissolved in a glass of water and the placebo group 20 g of maltodextrin also dissolved in a glass of water on a daily basis for 3 months. To measure the serum lipid profile, FBS, hsCRP, DHEA-S and free testosterone before and 3 months after the intervention, 5-ml blood samples were collected from the participants and analyzed using the ELISA method. The Ferriman–Gallwey scale for assessing hirsutism and a checklist for assessing menstrual cycle characteristics were completed before and 3 months after the intervention. A general linear model was used to analyze the data. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and baseline values. 3 months after the intervention, based on the ANCOVA and after adjusting for the baseline values, the mean serum levels of LDL-C (adjusted mean difference = − 29.79; 95% CI = − 43.37 to − 16.21; P < 0.001), triglyceride (AMD = − 38.50; 95% CI = − 59.73 to − 17.28; P = 0.001), total cholesterol (AMD = − 29.98; 95% CI = − 40.14 to − 19.82; P < 0.001), FBS (AMD = − 11.24; 95% CI = − 15.43 to − 7.06; P < 0.001), hsCRP (AMD = − 1.75; 95% CI = − 2.92 to − 0.57; P = 0.004), DHEA-S (AMD = − 0.7; 95% CI = − 1.34 to − 0.13; P = 0.017) and free testosterone (AMD = − 0.32; 95% CI = − 0.56 to − 0.08; P = 0.010) revealed a statistically significant decrease in the intervention group compared to the placebo group, while the mean serum HDL-C showed a statistically significant increase in this group compared to the placebo group (AMD = 5.82; 95% CI = 2.27–9.37; P = 0.002). 3 months after the intervention, there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of menstrual cycle intervals and hirsutism (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Resistant dextrin consumption can regulate metabolic parameters and androgen levels and manifestations including hirsutism and menstrual cycle irregularity in women with PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dyslipidaemia is a known risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. The impact of ethnicity on variations in lipid patterns has been studied in certain racial and ethnic groups with limited data on other ethnicities, particularly Asian subgroups. This cross-sectional study evaluated the ethnic variation in lipid profile and its association with body composition and diet in ninety-one overweight and obese Australians of European (n = 32), Indian (n = 28) and Iranian (n = 31) ancestries. Different measures of total and truncal adiposity were assessed using the method of whole body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The results showed that serum total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-chol) levels in Iranians were significantly lower than in Europeans and Indians. Both Iranian and Indian groups exhibited lower mean high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-chol) relative to Europeans. Triglycerides (TG) and HDL-chol, but not TC and LDL-chol, were significantly associated with different truncal adiposity measurements; however the degree of associations varied in ethnic groups. Regression analysis showed ethnicity as a significant predictor of TC ( p = 0.01), TG ( p = 0.03) and HDL-chol ( p = 0.04), after controlling for potential confounders. However, LDL-chol was significantly associated with the intake of total ( p = 0.005), and saturated fats ( p = 0.004), which were also other significant determinants of serum TC ( p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). In conclusion, ethnicity was a strong predictor of serum lipids, except LDL-chol which was significantly determined by dietary fat intake. Prevention and management of obesity, particularly abdominal adiposity may effectively reduce the risk of low HDL-chol reported in Iranians and Indians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]