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Given the role of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance in tumor initiation, we hypothesized that following a diet that reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes could also reduce the risk of breast cancer. Herein, we conducted a case-control study to investigate the association between dietary diabetes risk reduction score and breast cancer risk in Iranian women. We recruited 136 newly diagnosed cases and 272 age-matched hospitalized controls from referral hospitals. A valid and reliable 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect the data on dietary intake. We used Multivariate Logistic regression to assess the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of breast cancer by the dietary diabetes risk reduction score tertiles. After adjusting for confounding variables, no association was seen between dietary diabetes risk reduction score and breast cancer risk (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.37–1.14). However, after stratification by menopausal status, a decreased risk was observed between adherence to dietary diabetes risk reduction score and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal individuals (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.19–0.99). The present study states that there is no significant relationship between the dietary diabetes risk reduction score and the risk of breast cancer. However, adherence to dietary diabetes risk reduction score could have a preventive role for breast cancer among postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the association between nutrient patterns (NP) and the risk of bladder cancer (BC) in the Iranian population, this Hospital-based case-control study was conducted with 306 participants (106 cases and 200 controls). The cases were newly diagnosed with BC (transitional cell carcinoma). Participants' past year's dietary intake was obtained via a valid 168-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Principal Component Analysis was applied to derive NPs considering the intake of the nutrients. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (ORs) and 95%CIs. Two main NPs were obtained - Mineral Dominant (NP1) and Fat Dominant (NP2). NP1 was characterized by a high loading of folate, total carbohydrate, iron, phosphorus, fiber, total protein, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. NP2 had high loadings of trans-fatty acid (TFA), poly-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), total fat, saturated fatty acid (SFA), sodium, and cholesterol. Higher adherence to NP1 pattern significantly decreased the odds of BC (OR = 0.24, 95%CI: 0.09-0.67). In contrast, high adherence to NP2 resulted in almost a five-fold increase in the odds of BC (OR = 5.41, 95%CI: 2.26, 12.95). Variability in nutrient patterns has significant associations with the risk of BC, further highlighting the need to study patterns of nutrient intake rather than single nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few dietary patterns are related to reduce the Bladder Cancer (BC) risk. One of the well-known dietary patterns is the Mediterranean diet (MD). This case-control study investigated the association between MD and the odds of BC among Iranian population. The present case-control study was performed on 103 eligible cases and 200 controls age 45 to 92 years. Diet of participants was assessed by a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Adherence to MD was measured by Mediterranean-Style Dietary Pattern Score (MSDPS). Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the relationship between MSDPS and risk of BC. After controlling for potential confounders, a negative association was observed between MSDPS and risk of BC (OR = 0.22; 95%CI = 0.09–0.52; p trend = 0.001). Furthermore, significant negative associations were observed for dairy, fish and other seafood, whole-grain, bread intake and risk of BC (p for trend < 0.05). In contrast, the risk of BC increased for high intake of poultry (OR = 1.09; 95%CI = 1.03–1.15; p trend = 0.003), sweets (OR = 1.24; 95%CI = 1.03–1.48; p trend = 0.018) and egg (p for trend = 0.01). Our results suggested that dietary habit in concordance with the principles of the Mediterranean dietary pattern may protect against BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent and the second fatal cancer in the world. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are suggested to be related to various non-communicable diseases including cancers. However, studies on the relationship between UPFs and CRC are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the association between consumption of UPFs and CRC. In a case-control study conducted in four hospitals in Tehran, Iran, consumption of UPFs in 71 CRC patients and 142 controls (patients with non-neoplastic diseases) were compared. Using 125-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, dietary intakes were assessed. We used Multivariate logistic regression to estimate the association between UPFs intake and risk of CRC. Intake of nondairy beverages (P = 0.009), processed meat and fast food (P = 0.04) was significantly higher in those in the highest tertile of UPFs intake compared to the lowest tertile. In addition, intake of UPFs was associated with higher risk of CRC. The association remained constant after adjustment for BMI, income, smoking, type of job, educational level, and physical activity (OR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.44–7.61; P = 0.003). Results of this study indicate that the intake of UPFs is associated with increased odds of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed female cancer worldwide. It has been shown that oxidative stress can contribute to cancer development. Therefore, we investigated the association between dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and breast cancer risk in a case-control study. This study was conducted on 136 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and 272 hospitalized controls in Tehran, Iran. Participant habitual diet was obtained using a 168-item validated food frequency questionnaire. Dietary TAC scores were computed using two different methods: the dietary ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) method and oxygen radical scavenging capacity (ORAC). The association between dietary TAC and breast cancer risk was estimated by logistic regression. The score of DTAC calculated by ORAC method was associated with lower odds of BC, especially among premenopausal women. However, this association was not significant after controlling potential confounders (ORAC: OR Q4–Q1 = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.42–2.44, p-trend = 0.96). Estimation of DTAC by FRAP method was not associated with the risk of BC (FRAP: OR Q4–Q1 = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.53–2.05, p-trend = 0.8). There were no association detected based on menopausal status. In this study, dietary TAC was not significantly related to the odds of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the association between dietary patterns (DPs) and bladder cancer (BC) using principal component analysis (PCA) and reduced rank regression (RRR). This case-control study comprised 102 BC patients and 197 controls aged ≥ 45 years. Dietary intakes were assessed using a food-frequency questionnaire. The response variables for RRR were nitrite and trans-fatty acid consumption. The following DPs were retained using PCA: "high fat and high carbohydrate", "healthy", and "ready-to-eat". The first pattern was positively (OR = 5.78, 95% CI: 3.14, 10.6) and the healthy was negatively (OR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.42, 0.86) associated with BC risk in the fully adjusted model. The first RRR pattern, "high trans-fatty acids and high nitrite", was positively correlated with trans-fatty acids and nitrite. A higher score on this pattern was associated with a more likely to have BC (OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.71). The second one, "high trans-fatty acids and low nitrite", was positively correlated with trans-fatty acids but negatively correlated with nitrite. More adherence to this pattern increased BC risk (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.50). We identified DPs positively linked to BC. Furthermore, a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, seafood, and olive oil was inversely associated with BC. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2022.2047739. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive peptides (BPs) content of dairy products is suggested to be a significant ingredient for reducing breast cancer (BC) risk. There is no observational study regarding the correlation between BPs and the risk of chronic disease because BPs' content of food items has not been evaluated in any study. The goal of the current study was to assess the association of dairy-originated BPs with BC risk. One hundred thirty-four women with BC and 267 cancer-free controls were selected from referral hospitals in Tehran, Iran. The development of an in-silico model for estimation of the bioactive and digestion-resistant peptides content of dairy products was done in our previous research. The risk assessment for BPs and BC association was performed across the tertiles of the peptide's intake. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated by logistic regression. The negative association of all bioactive and digestion-resistant peptides except for peptides with high hydrophilicity and low bioactivity was seen in all models. In PR-negative subjects only the association of total dairy intake (OR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.26-1.45; P for trend: 0.276), peptides with low bioactivity (OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.16-1.02; P for trend: 0.0.052), antidiabetic peptides (OR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.17-1.05; P for trend: 0.0.062) and di-peptides (OR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.17-1.05; P for trend: 0.0.062) were not significant in the final model. Also, no significant association between ER-negative subjects and total dairy intake (OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.16-1.07; P for trend: 0.0.068) was noted. Our findings deduced that milk-derived BPs negatively associate with the risk of ER/PR/HER2 negative BC among Iranian women. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2021.2009884 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bladder cancer (BC) is the ninth most common cancer in the world. Dietary patterns and diet quality could reduce exposure to carcinogenic factors postulated to increase the risk of BC. The main objective of this study was to investigate the associations of Recommended Food Score (RFS) and Non-Recommended Food Score (n-RFS) with the risk of BC among Iranian adults. This is a hospital-based case-control study, conducted at three referral hospitals in Tehran, the capital of Iran. Cases consisted of 103 histologically confirmed BC patients, aged greater than 45 years. Age-matched controls (n = 200) were selected from the same hospital where cases were recruited. Controls were patients with non-neoplastic diseases that are not related to smoking, or long-term diet modification. Dietary intake was assessed by a 168-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), which was validated in Iran. Logistic regression tests were used to estimate the relationship between RFS and n-RFS with BC. The risk of BC decreased by 69% (OR = 0.31; 95% CI:0.13-0.71) among participants belonging to the highest compared with the lowest quartile of RFS. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking, and total energy, a significant inverse trend was observed between the risk of BC and quartile of RFS. Regarding the n-RFS, also expressed as quartiles, subjects in the fourth quartile were at 2.7 times higher risk of having BC compared to participants in the first quartile (OR = 2.7; 95%CI: 1.07-6.78). The findings of this study suggested that, adherence to RFS decreased the risk of BC. Additionally, a higher score of n-RFS may lead to an increased risk of BC. These findings could be used to develop evidence-based recommendations for the prevention of BC in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have presented a few evidences on the relationship between dietary carbohydrate intake, glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), with the prostate cancer risk. We performed a case-control study to evaluate these associations in 50 men with histologically confirmed prostate cancer and 100 control men. Odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were derived using logistic regression. The fully adjusted ORs for the top vs. the bottom quartile were 15.02 (P trend = 0.004), 1.04 (P trend = 0.003), and 10.35 (P trend = 0.002) for carbohydrate intake, GI and GL, respectively. Significant associations with prostate cancer remained only among men with reduced fiber intake for carbohydrate intake, GI and GL and among those had increased fiber intake for GI. These findings support the hypothesis that diet with high carbohydrate, GI and GL enhance risk of prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary patterns may be an important predictor of breast cancer risk. However, they cannot completely explain the pairwise correlations among foods. The purpose of this study is to compare food intake networks derived by Gaussian Graphical Models (GGMs) for women with and without breast cancer to better understand how foods are consumed in relation to each other according to disease status. A total of 134 women with breast cancer and 267 hospital controls were selected from referral hospitals of Tehran, Iran. Dietary intakes were evaluated by using a validated 168 food-items semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. GGMs were applied to log-transformed intakes of 28 food groups to construct outcome-specific food networks. Among cases, a main network containing intakes of 12 central food groups (vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, olive oil and olive, processed meat, sweets, salt, soft drinks, fried potatoes, pickles, low-fat dairy, pizza) was detected. In controls, a main network including six central food groups (liquid oils, vegetables, fruits, sweets, fried potatoes and soft drinks) was identified. The findings of this study revealed a difference in GGM-identified networks graphs between cases and controls. Overall, GGM may provide additional understanding of relationships between diet and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited studies have conducted on the association between carbohydrate intake, glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), and BC risk among Middle Eastern women. Our objective was to examine whether intake of carbohydrates, GI and GL would lead to more risk of BC among Iranian women. In this case-control study, 136 women with histologically confirmed BC and 272 control women were recruited. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) from which GI and GL were estimated. We calculated Odds ratios (OR) using logistic regression. The multivariate OR for the highest vs. the lowest quartile was 2.49 (95% CI 1.28–4.82; P trend = 0.005) for GI with a significant trend. OR for GI and GL among postmenopausal women were 4.45 (95% CI 1.59–12.47; P trend = 0.002) and 4.15 (95% CI 0.87–19.67; P trend = 0.03), respectively. OR for GI among women with reduced vegetable intake was 13.55 (95% CI 3.90–46.99; P trend <0.001). Our data suggest that high GI and GL play an important role in the risk of BC particularly among postmenopausal woman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have examined the relationship between diet quality indices and colorectal cancer (CRC). However, data on the association of these indices and colorectal adenomas (CRA) as a precursor of CRC are scarce. Our objective was to investigate the association of Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2010) and Mediterranean-Style Dietary Pattern Score (MSDPS) with CRC and CRA risk. Methods: This is a hospital-based case–control study including 259 cases (129 CRC and 130 CRA patients) and 240 controls with non-neoplastic conditions. Dietary intake of subjects was examined using a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire. The HEI-2010 and MSDPS were then calculated based on a-priori methods. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the relationship between HEI-2010 and MSDPS and the risk of CRC and CRA. Results: After adjustment for confounders, compared with the first tertiles, the highest tertiles of HEI-2010 and MSDPS were significantly associated with lower odds of CRC (OR = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.01–0.12, OR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.09–0.38, respectively). Similarly, the highest tertiles of HEI-2010 (OR = 0.04; 95% CI = 0.08–0.32) and MSDPS (OR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.17–0.58) were associated with reduced odds of CRA compared to the lowest tertiles. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggested that a high-quality diet assessed by HEI-2010 and MSDPS is inversely associated with the risk of CRC and CRA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The possible relationship between diet-related inflammation and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) requires further investigation, especially in non-Western populations. We examined the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) scores and GDM in a case-control study conducted in Iran. Methods: This study included 122 GDM cases and 266 controls hospitalized for acute non-neoplastic diseases. Cases were pregnant women aged 18-40 years, who visited major general hospitals in different regions of Tehran. Pregnant women were screened for gestational diabetes between the 24th and 28th week of gestation with a 50-g, 1-hour glucose challenge test (GCT). Cases were diagnosed positive for GDM. Controls were pregnant women who had normal GCT test. DII scores were computed from dietary intake assessed by a previously validated 147-item food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression models adjusted age, gestational age, energy, exercise, BMI, smoking exposure, family history of diabetes, and history of multivitamin intake were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Subjects with higher DII scores (i.e. indicating a more proinflammatory diet) had a higher odd of GDM with the DII being used as both a continuous (OR = 1.20; 95% CI = 0.94-1.54) and as categorical (ORtertile 3vs1 = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.02-4.34, p-trend = .03). Conclusions: These results indicate that a proinflammatory diet, as evidenced by higher DII scores, is associated with increased odds of GDM among Iranian women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Various aspects of diet have been implicated to play a role in the etiology of bladder cancer. Studies examining this association have been conducted primarily in Western countries but none in Middle Eastern Countries. Method: We examined the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII®) and bladder cancer in an Iranian case-control study. A total of 56 incident cases with a mean age of 60 years and 109 controls with a mean age of 57 years, attending the same hospital as the cases during the same time period, were recruited. The DII is a literature-derived index developed to determine the inflammatory potential of diet and was computed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios, with DII fit as continuous and as a dichotomous variable. Results: Multivariate analyses revealed that subjects with higher DII score (>–0.12) are at higher risk of bladder cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 2.46; 95% CI = 1.12–5.41, P value = 0.02)] compared to subjects with lower DII scores (≤–0.12). Stratified results showed stronger association was among current/ex-smokers (ORDII (>–0.12/≤–0.12) = 3.30; 95% CI = 1.07–10.16). Conclusion: These data suggest a pro-inflammatory diet may be a risk factor for bladder cancer among Iranians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been shown recently that metabolic syndrome is associated with gut dysbiosis. The gut microbiota may be the main target for prevention or treatment of metabolic syndrome. We investigated the effects of synbiotic supplementation on metabolic syndrome. In this triple-blinded clinical trial, 46 Iranian patients with metabolic syndrome, from both sexes, aged 25-70 years, who fulfilled inclusion criteria were randomly categorized to receive either the synbiotic or a placebo capsule, twice a day for three months, plus a weight-loss diet using stratified random sampling based on body mass index (BMI). Each synbiotic capsule consisted of seven strains probiotic bacteria (2× 108) plus fructooligosaccharide as a prebiotic. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical tests were assessed at baseline and at the end of week 12 for fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, lipid profile, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), peptide YY (PYY), and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The mean changes of weight, BMI, FBS, insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and GLP-1 between the two groups was statistically significant (p <.001). Furthermore, peptide YY (PYY) increased significantly in the synbiotic group (p ≤.05). The trend of weight loss in the synbiotic group was significant until the end of the study (p <.001) while it stopped at week 6 in the placebo group. Synbiotic treatment may improve the status of BMI, FBS, insulin resistance, HOMA-IR, GLP-1, and PYY in patients with metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic inflammation is implicated in breast cancer (BrCa) development; however, studies on the association of the inflammatory potential of diet and breast cancer have produced conflicting results. With this as background, we investigated the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII®) scores and BrCa risk in an Iranian case-control study. In this study, 136 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and 272 hospitalized controls were recruited using convenience sampling. DII scores were computed from dietary intake data collected through a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between the DII and BrCa risk were estimated by logistic regression. After controlling for multiple potential confounders, a significantly increased BrCa odds was observed in the highest quartile of DII score compared to the lowest quartile (ORquartile 4 vs. 1 = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.12-6.25; Ptrend = 0.01). In subanalysis based on menopausal status, a positive association was observed between the DII and BrCa risk among premenopausal women (ORquartile 4 vs. 1 = 5.51, 95% CI: 1.45-20.93; Ptrend = 0.005); however, no association was detected in postmenopausal women. Our findings suggest that more proinflammatory diets, indicated by higher DII scores, may increase the odds of BrCa, especially among premenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The role of dietary quality indexes for predicting breast cancer (BrCa) risk remains inconclusive. We aimed to assess the relation between healthy eating index 2010 (HEI-2010) and BrCa risk in a case-control study in Iranian women. Method: The 272 hospitalized controls and 136 newly diagnosed BrCa cases were recruited from two major hospitals. Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data were then utilized to calculate the HEI-2010 scores. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between tertiles of HEI-2010 and BrCa risk, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: We found that higher HEI-2010 scores were associated with lower risk of BrCa only among premenopausal women (multivariate adjusted OR= 0.27, 95% [CI]: 0.10-0.69; P for trend =0.02). However, this inverse association was not the results of a link with any specific component of the HEI-2010. Among postmenopausal women, lower intake from empty calories was associated with lower risk of BrCa by 13% (OR =0.87, 95% CI: 0.77-0.99). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that adherence to HEI-2010 might be associated with lower risk of BrCa only among premenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diet and inflammation have been suggested to be important risk factors for ulcerative colitis (UC). In this case–control study conducted in Iran, we examined the ability of the dietary inflammatory index (DII) to predict UC. This study included 62 UC cases and 124 controls hospitalized for acute non-neoplastic diseases. The DII was computed based on dietary intake assessed by a previously validated food frequency questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and the DII was analyzed as both continuous and as tertiles. Energy was adjusted using the residual method. Subjects with higher DII scores (i.e., with a more pro-inflammatory diet) had a higher risk of UC, with the DII being used as both a continuous variable (ORcontinuous1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–2.32; one unit increase corresponding to ≈8% of its range in the current study) and as tertiles (ORtertile3vstertile12.58, 95% CI 1.03–6.48, Ptrend|= |0.04). These results indicate that a pro-inflammatory diet is associated with increased risk of UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this case-control study was to examine the relationship between dietary patterns and asthenozoospermia risk.Methods: In total, 107 incident asthenozoospermic men and 235 age-matched controls were interviewed through the infertility clinics in Tehran, Iran, from January 2012 to November 2013. Usual dietary intakes were collected using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and semen quality data were analyzed according to the fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Dietary patterns were derived using factor analysis. The first tertile served as the reference category for regression analyses.Results: In principal component analysis, 2 dietary patterns emerged: a "prudent pattern" (leafy green vegetables, yellow vegetables, other vegetables, tomatoes, fish and other seafood, fruits and natural fruit juices, legumes, whole grains, poultry, tea and coffee, low-fat dairy products, and vegetable oils) and a "Western pattern" (organ meats, red and processed meats, sugar, soft drinks and confectionary, pasta, rice and refined grains, potatoes, french fries and fast foods, high-fat dairy products, hydrogenated fats, mayonnaise and fatty sauces, and snacks). After adjustment for potential confounders, participants in the highest tertile of the prudent pattern scores had 54% lower risk of asthenozoospermia compared to those in the lowest (p for trend: 0.003). Being in the highest tertile of the Western pattern was positively associated with asthenozoospermia risk (odds ratio [OR] = 2.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.83-2.97).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that adherence to the Western pattern is potentially an unfavorable indicator of asthenozoospermia risk and a diet composed mainly of plant-based foods may be associated with a reduced risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diet and inflammation have been suggested to be important risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In this study, we examined the ability of the dietary inflammatory index (DII) to predict ESCC in a case-control study conducted in Iran. This study included 47 ESCC cases and 96 controls hospitalized for acute nonneoplastic diseases. The DII was computed based on dietary intake assessed by a previously validated food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for age, energy, sex, body mass index, years of education, physical activity, smoking and gastroesophageal reflux. Subjects with higher DII scores (i.e., with a more proinflammatory diet) had a higher risk of ESCC, with the DII being used as both a continuous variable [ORcontinuous= 3.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.76–7.26; one unit increase corresponding to ≈16% of its range in the current study] and a categorical variable (ORdii>1.20 vs ≤1.20= 8.24, 95% CI: 2.03–33.47). These results indicate that a proinflammatory diet is associated with increased risk of ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Zinc is found in abundance in the human brain. Patients with depression may have decreased consumption of food sources rich in zinc, and zinc supplementation may have a potential influence on depressive symptoms. However, clinical trials on the effect of zinc supplementation in depression are limited. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of zinc supplementation on efficacy of antidepressant therapy. Furthermore, the effect of zinc on plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor-a (BDNF-α) were assessed. Design: A single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of zinc supplementation was conducted in patients with DSM-IV major depression. Forty-four patients of both sexes aged 18-55 years were recruited for this study from a university hospital. The zinc-supplemented group received zinc sulfate (25 mg elemental Zn/day) orally in addition to their selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants for 12 weeks. Symptoms were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) on arrival, weeks 6 and 12. Plasma levels of IL-6, TNF-α and BDNF-a were measured at baseline and at the end of study. Results: Twenty patients in zinc group and 17 patients in placebo groups completed the study. At baseline, there were no significant differences in any variable between the patients allocated to receive placebo and those taking zinc supplement. Zinc supplementation significantly reduced HDRS compared to placebo (P < 0.01 at 12th week). No significant differences were observed in plasma levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and BDNF-a between zinc-supplemented and placebo-supplemented group. Conclusion: Zinc supplementation in conjunction with antidepressant drugs might be beneficial for reducing depressive symptoms. However, its effect does not appear to be mediated through impact of zinc on inflammatory processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current epidemiologic data lack consistent evidence for an association between consumption of dairy products and breast cancer risk. In this study we assessed the relationship between consumption of dairy products and the odds of breast cancer. This case-control study was conducted on 275 women (100 cases and 175 controls). Data regarding sociodemographic factors, medical history, medications, and anthropometric measurements were collected. Dietary data were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. The odds [95% confidence interval (CI)] of breast cancer were estimated across quartile categories of energy-adjusted dairy intake using multiple logistic regression models with adjustment for confounders. We observed that higher consumption of total dairy intake was accompanied with reduced breast cancer risk [odds ratio (OR) = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.04–0.38]. A similar inverse association was also observed for higher intakes of low-fat and fermented dairy products (Pfor trend <0.05). Lower intake of high-fat dairy was associated with reduced odds of breast cancer, and no significant association was found between nonfermented dairy and breast cancer risk. Our study demonstrates the protective effects of high intakes of total dairy, low-fat and fermented dairy, as well as low intakes of high-fat dairy products against breast cancer risk and shows no association with nonfermented dairy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article focuses on a case-control study in Iran that explores the benefits of adherence to a Mediterranean- Style dietary pattern in relation to the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). It is noted that ESCC occurs more frequently in certain regions of the world known as the esophageal cancer belt like Iran, China and northern France. Results showed that preventive strategies to reduce ESCC risk in high-risk nations should focus on overall dietary patterns to be effective.

The authors examined the association of food group intakes and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a hospital-based case-control study in Iran. In total, 47 patients with esophageal SCC and 96 controls underwent face-to-face private interviews. Usual dietary intake was assessed using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Cases had higher tobacco consumption and symptomatic gastresophageal reflux, whereas controls had higher mean body mass index (25.3 vs. 20.4) and years of education. A protective independent effect was observed for the highest tertile of total fruit consumption (OR: 0.13, CI: 0.04-0.45, P value = 0.001). Within the group of fruits, a significant inverse association was observed for bananas and kiwis (P for trends: 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). The risk of SCC decreased monotonically with increasing intake frequency of oranges (P value for trend = 0.01). The effect of total vegetable consumption on esophageal SCC was not significant, although a reduction in risk was observed in the highest tertile of intake (OR: 0.66, CI: 0.23-1.87, P value = 0.43). The results of the present study suggest a reasonable association between fruit consumption and esophageal SCC in a Middle Eastern high-risk population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]