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Background: Consecutive droughts and quantitative and qualitative reduction of surface and underground water resources have caused an increase in greenhouse and hydroponic cultivation for most garden crops, including strawberries, in Iran. On the other hand, most of the inputs of greenhouse crops in Iran are imported. To possibility of replacing vermicompost with peat moss under hydroponic cultivation, an experiment was done in a split plot based on randomized complete blocks design in three replications in Isfahan (Iran) Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center in 2019. The main treatment was substrate at four levels included different levels of vermicompost (30 and 50%) and peat moss (30 and 50%) in combination with perlite and sub-treatment were Selva and Camarosa cultivars. Results: The results showed that Camarosa cultivar and Selva cultivar in (perlite/ peat moss 50:50) and Selva cultivar in (perlite / vermicompost 70:30) had maximum yield. Leaf number and chlorophyll index were maximum in Camarosa cultivar in peat moss substrates. Strawberry cultivars had the highest root fresh weight, the content of vitamin C and total soluble solids (TSS) in substrates containing vermicompost. Camarosa cultivar in (perlite / peat moss50:50) and Selva cultivar in (perlite /vermicompost 50:50) had maximum root dry weight. Also, the highest number of inflorescences was related to substrates containing peat moss and (perlite /vermicompost 70:30). Maximum amount of fresh and dry weight of shoots were observed in (perlite/ peat moss70:30). Selva cultivar had more inflorescences (16.5%) than Camarosa cultivar and Camarosa cultivar produced more fresh and dry weight of shoots (16.5%, 23.01%) than Selva cultivar. Conclusion: Expriment results highlighted the importance of considering both main and sub-treatments in agricultural research, as they interacted to influence various growth and yield parameters. 50% vermicompost treatment combined with perlite had a positive impact on plant growth and in quality index such as vitamin C content and TSS was highest. while the choice of cultivar affected different aspects of plant development. Selva cultivar was known to be more tolerant to salinity caused by vermicompost. Vermicompost is local and more economical, also salt resistant cultivars are recommended in a controlled (30%) amount of vermicompost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resources pose a considerable limitation in arid and semi-arid regions like Iran, primarily due to the scarcity of rainfall and heightened evaporation rates. Within open hydroponic systems, a significant concern arises from the depletion of nutrient solutions utilized for crop fertigation. This predicament subsequently gives rise to environmental issues of note and a discernible surge in production expenses. Application of humic acid (HA), as a plant biostimulant, enhances plant tolerance to reduced water supply and counterbalances the effects of diluted nutrient solutions. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of applying HA (600 ppm) in conjunction with three nutrient solution concentrations (complete nutrient solution (NSc), 75% NSc (NS1), and 50% NSc (NS2)), as well as two irrigation levels (100 and 50% of plant water requirement, IL100 and IL50, respectively). The treatment under IL50 was referred to as ½ NSc, ½ NS1, and ½ NS2. The findings showed that almost all of the traits studied were significantly affected by the applied treatments. The highest yield (409.4 g m−2), leaf area (34.67 cm−2 plant), biomass (1.092 g−1 plant), membrane stability index (90.47%), chlorophyll a (0.99 mg g−1 FW), chlorophyll b (0.413 mg g−1 FW), total chlorophyll (1.54 mg g−1 FW), carotenoid (0.437 mg g−1 FW), vitamin C (730.7 mg ascorbic acid kg−1 FW), amino acid (236.8 µg g−1 FW) and nitrate reductase activity (102.8 µg NO2- mg Protein−1 h−1) were observed in NSc + HA. In addition, the highest carbohydrate (46.99 mg g−1 FW), phenol (1129 mg GAE Kg−1 FW), and flavonoid content (1133 mg Catechin Kg−1 FW) and antioxidant activity (74.75%) were observed in ½ NS1 + HA. In addition, the highest relative water content (86.62%) and nitrate content (1106 mg kg−1 FW) were recorded in NS2 + HA and NSc, respectively. The application of HA combined with different concentrations of the nutrient solution under both irrigation levels caused an increase in most of the parameters studied in rocket plants compared to respective treatments without HA application. In addition, the results obtained confirmed that HA could compensate for the stress caused by a shortage of nutrients and water in the nutrient solution in this crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Verbascum, belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae, has a significant center of diversity in Iran. Two of its species, V. erianthum and V. stachydiforme, originate in the Iranian-Turanian region, but no studies have been conducted on the induction of their hairy roots. This genus is a valuable source of biologically active compounds such as iridoid glycosides and flavonoids. Hairy root culture is a suitable technique for the production and accumulation of secondary metabolites. Three different studies were conducted to optimize the induction and establishment of hairy roots. In the first experiment, the influence of explant type (leaf and hypocotyl), six infection methods, and co-culture time (48 and 72 h) on the efficiency of hairy root induction was investigated. The results showed that the highest hairy root induction (68.18%) was observed in the leaf explants inoculated by direct infection with three wounds within 72 h co-culture time. In the second experiment, the effect of four Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains (ATCC 15834, A4, A7, and A13) and leaf age (14, 21, and 28 days) on transformation efficiency and some morphological traits examined in both species were studied. The high transformation efficiency of hairy root (80.55%) was detected in the 21-day-old leaf explant of V. erianthum species that was inoculated with the A13 strain. The transformed hairy root colons were confirmed by PCR using rolB gene-specific primers. To optimize hairy root growth and avoid tissue browning, hairy roots were cultured in various media containing different antioxidants and improver agents (including ascorbic acid, citric acid, and NAA). The results showed that the highest fresh growth index (20.42) and the lowest tissue browning (9%) as well as total phenol (8.51 mg GA/g DW), and total flavonoid content (4.42 mg QUE/g DW) were obtained in medium B5 with 1.5 mg/l NAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Consecutive droughts and quantitative and qualitative reduction of surface and underground water resources have caused an increase in greenhouse and hydroponic cultivation for most garden crops, including strawberries, in Iran. On the other hand, most of the inputs of greenhouse crops in Iran are imported. To possibility of replacing vermicompost with peat moss under hydroponic cultivation, an experiment was done in a split plot based on randomized complete blocks design in three replications in Isfahan (Iran) Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center in 2019. The main treatment was substrate at four levels included different levels of vermicompost (30 and 50%) and peat moss (30 and 50%) in combination with perlite and sub-treatment were Selva and Camarosa cultivars. Results: The results showed that Camarosa cultivar and Selva cultivar in (perlite/ peat moss 50:50) and Selva cultivar in (perlite / vermicompost 70:30) had maximum yield. Leaf number and chlorophyll index were maximum in Camarosa cultivar in peat moss substrates. Strawberry cultivars had the highest root fresh weight, the content of vitamin C and total soluble solids (TSS) in substrates containing vermicompost. Camarosa cultivar in (perlite / peat moss50:50) and Selva cultivar in (perlite /vermicompost 50:50) had maximum root dry weight. Also, the highest number of inflorescences was related to substrates containing peat moss and (perlite /vermicompost 70:30). Maximum amount of fresh and dry weight of shoots were observed in (perlite/ peat moss70:30). Selva cultivar had more inflorescences (16.5%) than Camarosa cultivar and Camarosa cultivar produced more fresh and dry weight of shoots (16.5%, 23.01%) than Selva cultivar. Conclusion: Expriment results highlighted the importance of considering both main and sub-treatments in agricultural research, as they interacted to influence various growth and yield parameters. 50% vermicompost treatment combined with perlite had a positive impact on plant growth and in quality index such as vitamin C content and TSS was highest. while the choice of cultivar affected different aspects of plant development. Selva cultivar was known to be more tolerant to salinity caused by vermicompost. Vermicompost is local and more economical, also salt resistant cultivars are recommended in a controlled (30%) amount of vermicompost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) is one of the medicinal plants of Anacardiaceae family and widely used as a spice in Iran and Arab countries. Rhus coriaria var. zebaria is a small tree or large shrub, wildly growing in Iraq and described as a new variety with special characteristics. These increase the importance of studying sumac in these areas. Here, the phytochemical variations and the antibacterial activity of 50 accessions of this variety from five different climatic conditions was evaluated in order to identify the best accession to use and the best area for its cultivation. This is the most comprehensive study on this plant. Essential oil compounds were identified using GC–MS method and according to the results, Z, E-2,13-octadecadien, caryophyllene oxide, 2,4-decadienal, E-caryophyllene and nonanoic acid were among the main compounds. Also, the variety is a rich source of minerals including K, Ca, Mg, Na, P, and N. Sumac fruit extract from Akre Xerds had the highest anthocyanin and the lowest amount was from Kavilca region. The radical scavenging effect of extract from Dostic area in the concentration of 400 µg/mL is closer to the effect of ascorbic acid. The largest inhibition was found in the sumac extracted oil of Xasto Zhere area against S. aureus in compared with penicillin and amoxicillin and enrofloxacin antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Coriandrum sativum L. leaves and seeds have been used for medicinal purposes in Iran. • Beet curly top virus reduced plant biomass in the leaf stage, and flowering stem did not form in the infected plant. • Vitamin C, total phenol, flavonoid, protein, and proline decreased under virus infection. • Change in aroma and phytochemical properties of coriander leaves probably will affect their reported biological activity. Leaves and seeds of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) are edible and have been used for culinary and medicinal purposes. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of the beet curly top virus-sever on the physical and chemical properties of coriander leaves. Plants were inoculated at the three-five leaf stage with the infectious clone of the virus, and for mock inoculation, plants were treated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing binary vectors without virus sequence. Infected plants had a reduction in height (35 %) and in fresh and dry mass (21 and 30 %) respectively. In addition, in plants with high infestation intensity, flowering stems did not form, and seed production stopped completely. The total content of flavonoids, phenolic, and vitamin C decreased in the leaves of infected plants. The essential oil content did not significantly differ between the two treatments. Analysis of GC and GC–MS showed that the production of alcoholic compounds (33.02–36.03 %) and estragole (11.35–13.27 %) as a phenyl propene compound were reduced in essential oils of infected plants, but terpenoids (3.5–2.13 %) and aldehydes (35.9–40.68 %) were increased in their essential oils. n -tetradecanol, 2 E -dodecenal, estragole, 2 E -decenal, decanal, dodecanal, tetradecanal, and 2 E -decenyl acetate were the main identified essential oil compound in both treatments. Virus infection changed the quality and quantity of chemical compounds; therefore, it is probable that the medicinal and culinary quality of coriander would be affected. Due to these chemical changes and, more importantly, the severe reduction in seed production of infected plants, it is recommended to investigate and evaluate the resistance of commercial cultivars and domestic coriander genotypes to the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoporosis, a prevalent bone malady, is prevalent in Iran. Several studies have represented the role of dietary antioxidants on osteoporosis. The dietary antioxidant index (DAI) is a valid and reliable index, which indicates a comprehensive view of dietary antioxidant capacity. This study aimed to survey the relationship of the DAI with the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in Iran. This research aimed to examine the association between the DAI and the risk of osteoporosis among postmenopausal women in Iran. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 440 postmenopausal women (220 cases and 220 controls) were enrolled. The dietary intake of contributors was evaluated using a 147-item food frequency questionnaire. To estimate the DAI, the amount of six antioxidant micronutrients such as Vitamins A, C, and E, selenium, manganese, and zinc was standardized. Then, the DAI was estimated by collecting the standardized consumption of these antioxidant micronutrients. Results: Our findings represented the participants in the first (crude odds ratio [OR] = 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-2.85, P = 0.013) and second (crude OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.01-2.55, P = 0.043) tertiles of the DAI scores had significantly higher odds of osteoporosis compared to those in the third one; while after modifying for confounding factors, this significant reverse relationship was observed just between women in the first and third tertiles of the DAI scores (adjusted OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.34-3.18, P = 0.015). Conclusion: The consequence of this study suggested that adherence to a diet rich in antioxidant compounds may have protective effects against osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginitis in childbearing women. Despite the availability of various treatments, recurrence rates are high. This study investigated the effects and side effects of vitamin C vaginal tablets in patients with Gardnerella vaginalis infection based on Amsel criteria and the culture. Methods: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted on 48 non-pregnant women aged 15-40 years referred to Alawi Hospital in Ardabil Province, Iran. After the diagnosis of G. vaginalis infection based on Amsel criteria and culture methods, the patients were randomly assigned to receive either intravaginal 250 mg vitamin C (intervention group, n=24) or 250 mg metronidazole tablets (control group, n=24) for eight nights. The patients were evaluated 10 ± 2 and 30 ± 2 days before and after the treatment. Results: Culture and Amsel criteria showed significant improvement in both groups during the first and fourth weeks of treatment. However, the intervention group that received vitamin C showed a more substantial improvement (P<0.002, P<0.001). Intravaginal vitamin tablets were more effective than metronidazole tablets in treating G. vaginalis infection. Furthermore, vitamin C tablets improved the abnormal growth of vaginal microflora and reduced the abnormally high pH of the vagina. This treatment effectively prevented the recurrence of G. vaginalis infection for one month. Conclusion: Vitamin C vaginal tablets showed to be a promising alternative treatment for G. vaginalis infection, but further research is needed to confirm these findings and address potential limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the application of Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy as a noninvasive technique combined with chemometric methods has been widely noted for quality evaluation of agricultural products. Mulberry (Morus alba var. nigra L.) is a native fruit of Iran and there is limited information about its quality characteristics. The present study aims at assessing a nondestructive optical method for determining the internal quality of mulberry juice. To do so, first, FT‐IR spectra were acquired in the spectral range 1000–8333 nm. Then, the principal component analysis (PCA) was used to extract the principal components (PCs) which were given as inputs to three predictive models (support vector regression (SVR), partial least square (PLS), and artificial neural network (ANN)) to predict the internal parameters of the mulberry juice. The performance of predictive models showed that SVR got better results for the prediction of ascorbic acid (R2 =.84, RMSE = 0.29), acidity (R2 =.71, RMSE = 0.0004), phenol (R2 =.35, RMSE = 0.19), total anthocyanin (R2 =.93, RMSE = 5.85), and browning (R2 =.89, RMSE = 0.062) compared to PLS and ANN. However, the ANN predicted the parameters TSS (R2 =.98, RMSE = 0.003) and pH (R2 =.99, RMSE = 0.0009) better than the other two models. The results indicated that a good prediction performance was obtained using the FT‐IR technique along with SVR and this method could be easily adapted to detect the quality parameters of mulberry juice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that adherence to dietary patterns rich in plant-based foods may reduce the odds of osteoarthritis; however, limited data are available on the association of consumption of diets rich in phytochemicals and odds of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). In this case–control study conducted in Iran, we aimed to investigate whether a higher dietary phytochemical index (DPI) is associated with decreased odds of having KOA. A total of 124 cases aged 20–60 years diagnosed with bilateral primary KOA according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria and 124 controls frequency-matched on age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were included in the study. A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect information on dietary intakes. To calculate DPI scores, the dietary energy derived from foods rich in phytochemicals (kcal) was divided by the participant's total daily energy intake (kcal). Patients with KOA had lower intakes of dietary fiber (P = 0.004), vitamin A (P = 0.007), vitamin C (P = 0.001), and folate (P = 0.021) compared to controls. In the crude model, individuals in the third tertile of DPI had 65% lower odds of having KOA compared to those in the first tertile (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.67, P-trend = 0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders, including age, sex, physical activity, smoking, and supplement use, this inverse association remained significant (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.73, P-trend = 0.004). After further adjustment for BMI, this inverse association between DPI and odds of KOA also remained significant (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.69, P-trend = 0.003). These findings suggest that adherence to a phytochemical-rich diet, as indicated by the increasing DPI score, is associated with lower odds of KOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caprifig is a valuable candidate for fig breeding programs as it typically grows naturally under nonoptimal conditions. The present study was carried out to evaluate the biochemical/morphological characteristics of 18 caprifig cultivars indigenous to the Darab region/southern Iran with 4 replications in a completely randomized block design. From each cultivar, healthy uniform leaf samples and spring fruits were taken and analyzed. Our results showed that 'Naneghasem' had the highest leaf atocopherol and polyphenol concentration. The highest leaf ascorbic acid concentration was obtained from the Gol Khengi cultivar (17.03 µg g1 fresh weight). Also, the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanins were significantly different among the studied cultivars. Various cultivars had different absorption potentials for essential elements as macro and micronutrients concentration in the leaves were statistically different in various caprifigs; 'Naneghasem' had the highest Ca (4.46 mg g1 dry weight) and Fe (67.71 mg kg1 dry weight) concentration and the highest leaf K concentration (22.46 mg g1 dry weight) was observed in 'Mahali Layzengan'. In conclusion, 'Naneghasem' was evaluated as a cultivar which seems to be more morphologicallyand biochemicallydistant from other studied caprifig varieties and probably more adaptable/tolerant to environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important problems in the field of cultivation and production of garden products, especially oranges, is the irrigation of the plant and its amount. Iran has many challenges in growing and producing orange fruit due to its diverse climate and being located in a dry region. Based on, in the present study, the effect of water stress and storage time of the product in cold storage (fruits of Thomson Novell cultivar after harvest in cold storage at 5 ° C and 85% humidity for 90 days and Valencia oranges at 20 ° C for Stored for 30 days) on chemical properties (antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid content), physical (weight, width, length, volume, volume, weight and weight of the extract), color characteristics and sensory properties were evaluated. The physical changes of Thomson and Valencia oranges in the samples without water stress on the first day were not significantly different, although minor reduction in storage time. According to the results, the highest weight loss, extract weight, antioxidant, ascorbic acid and volume of orange varieties during storage were in samples under dehydration stress. The color components include brightness, a * and b * decreased in Thomson orange samples under water stress and during storage, but the Valencia orange but did not significant difference was observed. Sensory properties of bad taste and bitterness were higher in oranges under water stress and scored lower in terms of sensory evaluators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The post -harvest techniques of medicinal plants such as drying, is very important in their production cycle. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different drying methods on some phytochemical traits of Chuchak in the spring of 2020 based on the completely randomized design with three replications. The chuchak samples were collected in the vegetative stage from the gardens of Noor city, Iran. The drying treatments were shade -drying at room temperature (25 ±3°C), sun -drying, oven -drying (45, 55 and 65°C), vacuum oven -drying (45, 55 and 65°C), microwave -drying (200, 500 and 800 watts), and fresh samples. The studied traits were moisture content based on fresh and dry weight, drying time and speed, ascorbic acid content, protein content, total carbohydrate content, total phenol and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity. The results of the variance analysis showed the significant effect of drying methods on all studied properties of the samples (P ≤0.01). The mean comparison showed that the minimum drying time and the maximum speed drying were related to the microwave (800watts). The highest amount of ascorbic acid (385.72 µg/mg), protein (19.72%), total phenol (47.19 mg GA per 1 g dry matter), total flavonoids (50.96 mg quercetin per 1 g dry matter) as well as antioxidant activity (76.02%) was observed in the fresh plant and then in the oven -drying (55°C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that adherence to dietary patterns rich in plant-based foods may reduce the odds of osteoarthritis; however, limited data are available on the association of consumption of diets rich in phytochemicals and odds of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). In this case–control study conducted in Iran, we aimed to investigate whether a higher dietary phytochemical index (DPI) is associated with decreased odds of having KOA. A total of 124 cases aged 20–60 years diagnosed with bilateral primary KOA according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria and 124 controls frequency-matched on age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were included in the study. A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect information on dietary intakes. To calculate DPI scores, the dietary energy derived from foods rich in phytochemicals (kcal) was divided by the participant's total daily energy intake (kcal). Patients with KOA had lower intakes of dietary fiber (P = 0.004), vitamin A (P = 0.007), vitamin C (P = 0.001), and folate (P = 0.021) compared to controls. In the crude model, individuals in the third tertile of DPI had 65% lower odds of having KOA compared to those in the first tertile (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.67, P-trend = 0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders, including age, sex, physical activity, smoking, and supplement use, this inverse association remained significant (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.73, P-trend = 0.004). After further adjustment for BMI, this inverse association between DPI and odds of KOA also remained significant (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.69, P-trend = 0.003). These findings suggest that adherence to a phytochemical-rich diet, as indicated by the increasing DPI score, is associated with lower odds of KOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The healthy diet is important to maintain immunity against infection. This study aimed to assess and compare the consumption of functional foods, some antioxidants, and dietary inflammatory index between Iranian COVID-19 patients and healthy persons. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted between 1000 (500 cases and 500 controls) adults aged 18–65years in Iran, that were sampling based on the snowball method and their information was collected electronically. The dietary intake was assessed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). RESULTS: There was a significant difference (p = 0.044) in vitamin D consumption between healthy people and COVID-19 patients. Vitamin E intake in healthy participants was significantly (p = 0.041) more than COVID-19 patients. There was a significant difference in Zinc (p = 0.011), selenium (p = 0.021), and vitamin C (p = 0.023) between healthy persons and COVID-19 patients. Healthy participants' consumption of onion (56.5±7.82 g/day), garlic (4.32±0.01 g/day) and oat (6.32±0.71 g/day) was significantly (p≤0.05) more than COVID-19 patients. With the increase of each unit in the score of the dietary inflammatory index, the risk of COVID-19 incidence increased 1.63 times (OR = 1.63 95% CI: 1.54–1.72). There was an inverse association between the consumption of antioxidants and functional foods with the risk of COVID-19 incidence in the study population (p≤0.05). CONCLUSION: Healthy people consumption of antioxidants and functional foods was more than COVID-19 patients and there was a significant inverse association between the risk of COVID- 19 incidence with the consumption of functional foods and antioxidants. Increasing the dietary inflammatory index score increased the risk of COVID- 19 incidence. There is a need for further clinical trials to confirm the effect of consuming functional foods and antioxidants on the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The strawberry is an important commercial crop, the improvement of its yield and quality is an imperative task. OBJECTIVE: The present research aimed to study the effect of colored netting and foliar application of amino acids on the physiological characteristics of strawberries subjected to different irrigation intervals. METHODS: The study was carried out as a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three factors including colored net at 4 levels (no netting, green, red, and yellow netting), organic acids at 4 levels (control, humic acid, glutamine, and arginine), and three levels of irrigation intervals (2, 4, and 6 days) in the greenhouse of Lahijan Agricultural Research Station, Iran. RESULTS: The results showed that the highest leaf number, shoot weight, chlorophyll and carotenoid content were related to yellow netting. The highest fruit yield, anthocyanins, and flavonoids were observed in the treatments of no-netting, green netting, and red netting, respectively. Data for the effect of organic acids showed that the glutamine-treated plants exhibited the highest yield, the humic acid-treated plants displayed the highest anthocyanin and carotenoid content, and the arginine-treated plants demonstrated the highest vitamin C content. The irrigation interval of 6 days caused to the lowest leaf number, flower and fruit number, shoot weight, fruit yield, and carotenoid content. Data for the trilateral effect of 'netting×organic acid×irrigation' showed that the highest flower number and fruit yield were obtained from 'green netting×glutamine×4 days', the highest anthocyanin content was obtained from 'green netting×humic acid×2 days', and the highest chlorophyll content was obtained from 'green netting×control×6 days'. The treatment of 'yellow netting×control×2 days' was related to the highest flavonoid content. CONCLUSIONS: The application of colored nets provides the strawberry with more optimal vegetative and reproductive growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of modern and safe techniques to increase plant growth and yield is of significance. There is little data, to our knowledge, on the use of organic fertilization and ozonated water (ozone (O3) affecting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) growth and quality. Different tomato growth and fruit quality parameters including yield, fruit number, leaf fresh and dry weight, leaf and inflorescence number, plant height and stem diameter, distance from the first inflorescence to the collar, total soluble solids, total acidity, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total were determined. O3 treatment resulted in significant affects in all tomato parameters. One of the interesting results of the present research is the increased concentration of the antioxidant ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in response to ozonation, which can also improve tomato quality. However, organic fertilization and its interaction with the O3 treatment significantly affected only some of the measured tomato parameters. Ozonated water, at proper concentrations, may improve tomato growth and fruit quality, and if combined with organic fertilization, its positive effects may increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigates the effects of humic acid concentration, its application methods as well as nitrogen ratios on the morphological, yield and biochemical characteristics of strawberry cv. Paros, during 2014–2015 in Ardabil Province, Iran. The study has been conducted within the framework of a double split plot randomized complete block design with three replications and density of 10 plants per replications. Different nitrogen levels (50, 100 and 150 kg ha−1) were examined in the main plots while application methods of humic acid (foliar and soil) and its different concentrations (0, 2, 4 and 6 kg ha−1) were considered in the subplots and sub-sub plots, respectively. The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the interaction effects of different concentrations of nitrogen, humic acid and its application methods are significant on most of the measured variables at 5% probability level. Mean comparisons showed that the highest values for the leaf area, fruit yield, chlorophyll a, carotenoids and titratable acidity are associated with the combined treatments of nitrogen and humic acid with concentrations of 100 kg ha−1 and 4 kg ha−1, respectively. In three-way interactions, the highest shoot and root biomass and total chlorophyll content were obtained from the application of 100 kg ha−1nitrogen and 4 kg ha−1 foliar humic acid, while the highest nitrogen and protein contents of leaf and root were achieved upon applying 2 kg ha−1 foliar humic acid and 150 kg ha−1 nitrogen. Moreover, the highest amounts of ascorbic acid and total soluble solids were found at a concentration level of 100 kg ha−1 nitrogen along with applying 2 and 6 kg ha−1 foliar and soil humic acids, respectively. Finally, the best results of most of the studied traits were observed at 100 kg ha−1 nitrogen and 4 kg ha−1 foliar humic acid application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the relation between dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and risk of glioma among Iranian adults. Design: A hospital-based case-control study. Setting: This case-control investigation was done in 2011. Usual dietary intakes of participants during the preceding year were examined using a food frequency questionnaire. Data on dietary TAC from foods was gathered from published databases that provided the antioxidant capacity for each food item, measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power. Participants: Cases were individuals with pathologically confirmed glioma that were diagnosed during the last month (n = 128). Controls were individuals, aged between 20 and 75 years, who were hospitalized or were outpatients referred to other wards of the same hospitals (n = 256). Results: Compared with participants in the lowest quartile, those in the highest quartile of dietary TAC had a lower odds of glioma (OR: 0.28, 95%CI: 0.15–0.45). This association was strengthened when potential confounders were taken into account (OR: 0.13; 95%CI: 0.05–0.35). Such inverse association was also seen for men (OR: 0.05, 95%CI: 0.01–0.19), but not for women. Furthermore, significant inverse associations were seen between dietary intakes of vitamin C (OR for Q4 vs. Q1: 0.14, 95%CI: 0.05–0.36; P-trend < 0.01), vitamin B6 (OR for Q4 vs. Q1: 0.35, 95%CI: 0.13–0.97; P-trend = 0.02) and β-carotene (OR for Q3 vs. Q1: 0.43, 95%CI: 0.19–0.98; P-trend = 0.57) and glioma, after controlling for potential covariates. Conclusions: We found that dietary TAC as well as dietary intake of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and β-carotene was inversely associated with odds of glioma in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the cross-sectional association between dietary intakes of antioxidants and fibre and depressive symptoms among Iranian adolescent girls. Design: A cross-sectional population-based study. Setting: Primary schools in two different cities located in northeastern Iran (Mashhad and Sabzevar). Participants: A total of 988 adolescent girls aged 12–18 years were included in the study. Results: Subjects with no or minimal depression symptoms had significantly higher dietary intakes of α-carotene (P = 0·01), β-carotene (P = 0·006), lutein (P = 0·03) and vitamin C (P = 0·04) when compared with subjects with mild-to-severe depression symptoms. Soluble dietary fibre and insoluble dietary fibre intakes were also significantly higher in healthy adolescents compared with those with depression symptoms (P < 0·001). In multivariate-adjusted model 2, the OR (95 % CI) of depressive symptoms were 0·61 (95 % CI 0·37, 1·01), 0·42 (95 % CI 0·26, 0·69), 0·50 (95 % CI 0·31, 0·79), 0·71 (95 % CI 0·44, 1·15), 0·51 (95 % CI 0·32, 0·82) and 0·42 (95 % CI 0·25, 0·68) for the highest v. lowest quartile of vitamin C, β-carotene, α-carotene, lutein, soluble dietary fibre and insoluble dietary fibre cereal intakes, respectively. Conclusions: Dietary intake of some antioxidants and dietary fibre intake was inversely associated with depression symptoms among Iranian adolescent girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease and is one of the most costly medical conditions that imposed families with catastrophic health expenditures. There is an increasing trend in using alternative medicines including, dietary supplements, herbs, vitamins, and minerals. To date, the association between dietary as well as herbal supplements and QoL in MS patients is under researched; thus, this study aimed to assess the association between the self-reported supplement used and QoL between MS patients.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with MS referring to Shahid Kazemi Pharmacy, based in the city of Tehran, Iran, as a national pharmacy providing specialized pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical care to patients. The Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQoL-54) tools was performed to evaluate MS patients QoL.Results: A total number of 382 patients with MS participated in this study. They include 89 (23.3%) men and 293 (76.7%) women, aged 40 ± 10.9 years old. The overall score of the MSQoL-54 questionnaire was 41.58 out of 100. Physical health composite (PHC) and mental health composite (MHC) were 69.60 and 62.99 from 100, respectively. This study revealed that 76.4% of patients used at least one vitamin daily; 92.4% of patients do not receive any herbal product. Vitamin D is the most widely used supplement, followed by calcium, while vitamin C is the least consumed. No correlation was observed regarding supplement use and overall QoL, PHC, or MHC. There were no significant differences between QoL's dimensions score in patients who used supplements. The results showed that increasing the number of supplements used did not relate to overall QoL, PHC, or MHC. In addition, there was not any correlation between the duration used of supplements and QoL's dimensions score in MS patients (p-value> 0.05).Conclusions: The dietary supplement appears to be popular among MS patients. The study results showed that the number of supplementations and their long-term use in patients with MS were not associated with higher QoL. Similarly, the herbal supplements have failed to improve QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is one of the most important factors limiting crop yield and foliar application of phytoprotectants is an important management strategy for increasing crop resistance to drought stress. This research was conducted at Rice Research Station of Tonekabon, Iran, in 2018 by using a split-plot based on a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Main plots were irrigation regimes [common irrigation (control), and irrigation withold from tillering stage (45 days after transplanting)] and subplots were foliar application of phytoprotectants (control, selenium, silicon, ascorbic acid, salicylic acid). The results showed that irrigation withold from tillering stage caused a 29.3% reduction in grain yield in the absence of foliar application. Drought stress decreased plant height, tiller number and 1000-grain weight by 15.5, 14.95 and 3.34%, respectively. Drought stress increased proline content by 115%. Also, in the irrigation withold from tillering stage, foliar application with selenium, silicon, ascorbic acid, and salicylic acid led to increase in floret fertility percentage and 1000-grain weight, thereby increasing the grain yield up to 32.6, 31.9, 35.3 and 33.3%, respectively, compared to no foliar application (control). In general, the results of this study showed that foliar application of phytoprotectants can reduce the adverse effects of drought stress and improve the grain yield of rice under drought stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Piyarom' dates are one of the most important commercial date cultivars grown in Iran but fruit quality and postharvest losses can be a problem. Thinning and the use of bunch covers were examined to improve the date fruit quality. Three different levels of fruit thinning were applied (without thinning, removal of one third of total strands from terminal tips during pollination and removal of one third of terminal tips of central strands in early kimri). In addition, the effects of bunch covers were assessed with the use of polyethylene bunch covers that were applied in the early stages of Khalal. The results showed that bunch covering reduced the lightness of the fruit but increased bunch weight, fruit length, total antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds compared to the control. Thinning during pollination increased the weight of the fruit compared to the control. The thinning during Kimri stage increased the percentage of Tamar and ascorbic acid content. These results show that the use of covers play a positive role in increasing quality and bunch weight and thinning at both pollination and Kimri ripening stage is recommended to produce high quality 'Piyarom' dates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three independent experiments on peach and nectarine cultivars and genotypes in Iran showed significant variations in growth, yield, and biochemical behaviors. • 'Henri' was found to have superior yield, tissue firmness, and total soluble solids. • Specific cultivars were found to have higher yield efficiency and nutrient levels compared to control cultivars, and the study recommends 'Flamino', 'Nectared', and 'Henri' as the best nectarine cultivars and 'Shasta', 'Sorkho-Sefid Mashhad', 'Suncrest', 'Fayette', and 'Shandabad-Hasteh-Joda' peaches as superior cultivars for specific locations. • These findings emphasize the importance of selecting appropriate cultivars for optimal growth and yield and continued research in stone fruit breeding. Stone fruit breeders face a significant challenge in obtaining new and high-yielding cultivars, and utilizing unknown ones. Among stone fruit, peaches and nectarines are the most prominent fruits. To address this issue, three independent experiments were conducted on various peach and nectarine cultivars and genotypes at two locations in Iran during 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed significant variations in growth, yield, and biochemical behaviors among the different genotypes and cultivars. 'Henri' was found to have superior yield, tissue firmness, and total soluble solids. Additionally, certain peach cultivars, such as 'Fayette', 'Sorkho-Sefid-Mashhad', and 'Shandabad', had higher yield efficiency than the control cultivar 'J.H. Hale'. Furthermore, 'PMsh-5′ had higher levels of ascorbic acid, antioxidant capacity, and carotenoids. 'Haj-Kazemi' had the tallest average tree height, trunk diameter, and crown of the tree in Golmakan, while 'Anjiri-Zaferani' had the highest levels of total soluble solids, flavor index, and pH. Based on these findings, 'Flamino', 'Nectared', and 'Henri' are recommended as the best nectarine cultivars in Mashhad due to their high pomological and phenological traits. 'Shasta', 'Sorkho-Sefid Mashhad', and 'Suncrest', as well as 'Fayette' and 'Shandabad-Hasteh-Joda' peaches, are recommended as superior cultivars for Mashhad and Golmakan, respectively. This study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate cultivars for optimal growth and yield and emphasizes the need for further research in stone fruit breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strawberry is small fleshy fruit, with high values of biochemical contents. The essential effects of strawberry in human health have been approved due to significant amount of its vitamin C, antioxidant, phenolic compounds and anthocyanin. Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.), from Rosaceae family, grows wildly in some north regions of Iran and have been traditionally used for food and medicinal purposes. In this study, five wild strawberry populations from Gilan province in the north of Iran, were used to investigate the value of chemical traits including; total soluble solid (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C and bioactive content; antioxidant activity, total anthocyanin and total phenolic content. Among these five populations, Masoleh population showed the highest value of assessing factors while Ardeh population had the lowest. The total phenolic content was statistically correlated to the antioxidant activity (r = + 0.99; p < 0.05) and total anthocyanin content (r = +0.93; p < 0.05). Correlation matrix of biochemical contents showed that the climate condition (altitude, longitude, latitude) of collected fruits can be related to the biochemical quantity. According to the results, high concentration of the antioxidant activity was presented in the Iranian wild strawberries. Current study suggests that environmental factors can change the antioxidant capacity and biochemical compositions of wild strawberry. To sum it up, wild strawberry populations of Iran can be considered as a good source for breeding program, plus it may be introduced as a fruit with great value for human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study will evaluate the main hypothesis that supplementation with vitamins A, B, C, D, and E significantly improves the severity and mortality rate in ICU patients with COVID-19.Trial Design: This study is a randomized, single-blinded, two-arm (1:1 ratio) parallel group clinical trial.Participants: We are conducting this study in patients with COVID-19 admitted to intensive care units at the Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex in Tehran, Iran. The inclusion criteria are as follows: (1) aged between 20 and 60 years, (2) both male and female patients with COVID-19, (3) clinical or definitive diagnosis (using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test), (4) patients have not participated in other clinical trials, and (5) no renal or hepatic abnormalities. The exclusion criteria are as follows: (1) patients with specific and rare viral diseases such as HIV and (2) patients who have been undergoing chemotherapy for the past month.Intervention and Comparator: Duration of intervention: 7 days from randomization Intervention in the treatment group: Vitamin A 25,000 IU daily Vitamin D 600,000 IU once during study Vitamin E 300 IU twice daily Vitamin C is taken four times per day B vitamins are taken as a daily Soluvit [which included thiamine nitrate 3.1 mg, sodium riboflavin phosphate 4.9 mg (corresponding to vitamin B2 3.6 mg), nicotinamide 40 mg, pyridoxine hydrochloride 4.9 mg (corresponding to vitamin B6 4.0 mg), sodium pantothenate 16.5 mg (corresponding to pantothenic acid 15 mg), sodium ascorbate 113 mg (corresponding to vitamin C 100 mg), biotin 60 μg, folic acid 400 μg, and cyanocobalamin 5 μg] The control group will not receive any supplements or placebo. All supplements are made in Iran except for Soluvit (from Fresenius Kabi, New Zealand).Main Outcomes: 1. Weight, height, and BMI 2. Severity of pulmonary involvement according to CT scan 3. Respiratory support (invasive or non-invasive) 4. Percentage of oxygen saturation (SpO2 level) 5. Serum levels of WBC, CRP, ESR, IL6, IFN-G, and TNF-α 6. The patient's body temperature 7. The presence or absence of involvement of organs other than the lungs (e.g., heart, liver, kidneys) 8. Duration of hospitalization 9. Mortality rate RANDOMIZATION: At baseline, eligible patients were randomly assigned to a 1:1 ratio to one of two groups: intervention and control. Block randomization is used based on the gender of patients.Blinding (masking): Patients are unaware of being placed in the intervention or control groups after signing consent. All treatment staff will be aware of which group each of the patients is in due to the specific conditions of the ICU and the absence of placebo for the control group.Numbers To Be Randomized (sample Size): The researchers plan to include 60 patients in total, with 30 patients in each group.Trial Status: This is the first version of the protocol which started on April 2, 2020. Recruitment began April 2, 2020, and is expected to be complete by July 4, 2020.Trial Registration: The Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20200319046819N1 . Registered on April 4, 2020 FULL PROTOCOL: The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol (Fig. 1, Table 1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder associated with pregnancy and is the leading cause of both maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Recent reports suggest that free radical-induced endothelial cell injury might be an etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effects of vitamins C and E for the prevention of preeclampsia. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted in the year 2018 in the clinical centers of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences. One hundred and sixty nulliparous women aged 18–38 years without any risk factors for preeclampsia were divided into two groups. The first group received a 400-IU/day dose of vitamin E orally and a 1000-mg/day dose of vitamin C with iron tablets during 20–24 weeks of pregnancy, while the control group received only iron tablets. Finally, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and frequency distribution tables. Results: The incidence of preeclampsia in the control group was 17.5% and in the intervention group was 5%, which was significantly different. The mean systolic pressures before and after intervention were 99.43 ± 7.8 and 12.44 ± 19.1, respectively, in the control group, and 99.3 ± 8.3 and 106.12 ± 13.25, respectively, in the intervention group (P < 0.001). The mean diastolic pressures before and after intervention in the control group were 62.7 ± 13.6 and 62.7 ± 4.7 (P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study show that vitamins C and E have protective effects against preeclampsia by alleviating the overall blood pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seedless barberry (Berberis vulgaris L. var. asperma) is cultivated in arid and semi-arid areas of Iran. It is widely used as a food additive. Thirty-nine morphological characteristics were evaluated to estimate the genetic variability among 42 barberry accessions during 2010–2012. Analysis of variance showed that all of the variables tested in examined accessions were significant (P ≤ 0.05), with a high level of variability. There were significant negative and positive correlations among some of the characteristics of the accessions. Ten major factors that accounted for 79% of variation were identified. Cluster analysis divided the accessions into five major groups based on all of variables analyzed. The three main groups were berry size, seedlessness, and vitamin C level. Using three main factors, the accessions were plotted in three dimensions; 'R2N1' had larger berries with a higher dry weight, while 'R12N2' had smaller leaves, a less dry weight, and more thorns. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the berries such as color, size, and shape, the number of seeds per 100 berries, and the number of berries per bunch, taste, and acidity showed a high level of variation among the studied accessions. The high genetic diversity among barberry accessions in our collection indicates that it is a valuable resource that can be used in barberry breeding programs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Among the plants with multiple healing properties and a long and common history of use in Iranian traditional medicine, is dog-rose plant with the scientific name of “Rosa canina” that belongs to the Rosaceae family. This study aimed to review the effectiveness of Rosa canina in treatment of different body organs and tissues and emphasizes its therapeutic mechanism. Methods & Materials This is a review study. About 176 papers published from 2010 to 2018 were extracted from PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, Ovid, MagIran, and SID databases using related keywords and entered into study. Ethical Considerations Ethical issues (including plagiarism, misconduct, data fabrication, falsification, double publication or submission, redundancy) have been completely observed by the authors. Results Different studies had indicated the importance of Rosa canina as a medicinal plant protecting liver, lowering glucose and lipid levels, and having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The highest flavonoid activity in the Rosaceae family is related to Rosa canina. The use of herbal extracts in the treatment of common diseases, such as diabetes, fatty liver, urinary tract and Alzheimer's, has been recommended. Conclusion High qualitative and quantitative diversity of effective ingredients, ease of access, absence of adverse effects of consumption and endemic nature of Rosa canina plant make it necessary to use it for the control and treatment of common human diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Cupressus belonging to Cupressaceae family has twelve species worldwide. In Iran, Cupressus consists of only one species with two varieties C. sempervirens. var. horizentalis and C. sempervirens. var. sempervirens which has a cultivar namely C. sempervirens. cv. Cereiformis. In this study, the potential antioxidant activities of the oils of different parts of Cupressus sempervirens, C. sempervirens cv. Cereiformis and C. sempervirens var. horizentalis were examined.The qualitative and quantitative compositions of the oils were studied by GC/FID and GC/MS. Then the obtained essential oils, their main components as well as positive controls (Quercetin, DMSO, vitamin E and ascorbic acid) were subjected to different antioxidant tests including Rapid Thin-layer Chromatography method, diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, deoxyribose degradation test, and modified deoxyribose degradation test. While all the essential oils and pure compounds showed activity in rapid TLC screening, only the leaf oil of C. sempervirens var. sempervirens (38.4 %) and C. sempervirens cv. Cereiformis (77.9 %) exhibited moderate activity in DPPH assay. In deoxyribose degradation test, the low concentrations (0.05-0.2 μL/mL) of these two plants showed moderate activity while the fruit oil of C. sempervirens var. horizentalis showed the highest activity (17.7 %). These essential oils may be considered as natural preservatives in low concentrations provided that their organoleptic, cytotoxicity and allergic effects would be examined. Thus, complementary studies are recommended to be established. Moreover, it is suggested to examine the antioxidant activity of these oils by using non-polar or less polar solvent systems before any final conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are limited data on the role of nutrient patterns in development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of the study is to document the relationship between nutrient patterns and PCOS. Methods: In this study, 281 incident PCOS women and 472 controls were interviewed through the endocrine clinics between February 2013 and March 2015 in Tehran, Iran. Usual dietary intakes were obtained using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Factor analysis was conducted on the basis of 32 nutrients. Unconditional logistic regression was performed to ascertain odds ratios. The p<0.05 was considered for significance level. Results: In principal component analysis two nutrient patterns emerged. Factor 1 had high loadings for riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, thiamin, magnesium, pantothenic acid, cobalamin, vitamin C, folate, vitamin D, total fiber, selenium, phosphorus, vitamin E, manganese, vitamin K, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, potassium and vegetable protein. Factor 2 characterized by high loadings for carbohydrate, animal protein, fat, cholesterol, saturated fatty acid, sodium, biotin, copper, iron, fluoride, zinc, and calcium. After adjusting for potential confounders, the risk of PCOS was significantly higher in the highest tertile of factor 2 (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.69-3.21). Conversely, being in the highest tertile of factor 1 was associated with a lower risk of PCOS (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.21-0.82). Conclusion: Our results provide a possible new insight into the interactions between nutrient intakes and PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the association of dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) with incidence of CKD in subjects with dysglycemia.Methods: We followed-up 1179 subjects aged ≥30 years with dysglycemia from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) for 3 years, who were initially free of CKD. Dietary intakes of TAC, vitamin C, vitamin E, and β-carotene were assessed by a food-frequency questionnaire at the baseline. Dietary TAC was estimated using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity method. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated, using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation and CKD was defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Odds ratios (ORs) using multivariable logistic regression were reported for the association of incident CKD with dietary TAC.Results: A total of 197 (16.7%) cases of incident CKD were recorded after 3 years of follow-up. After adjustment for age, sex, smoking, physical activity, body mass index, hypertension, and total energy intake, the top tertile of dietary TAC compared to the bottom was associated with 39% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.40-0.93] lower risk of incident CKD (P for trend = 0.025). Furthermore, the highest tertile of vitamin C intake compared to the lowest risk of incident CKD was decreased (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.38-0.93, P trend 0.023). Intakes of vitamin E and β-carotene were not significantly associated with incident CKD risk.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that diets high in TAC are associated with a lower risk of incident CKD among subjects with hyperglycemia after 3 years of follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kidney and urinary tract stones are the major health issues; in addition, proper nutrition is probably an important factor in kidney stones formation. The current study aimed at evaluating nutritional factors in kidney stones formation in children. Methods: The current cross sectional study, using the random sampling method, was conducted on 2 - 12-year-old children referred to Amir Kabir hospital. The data were collected by a 24-hour dietary recall; and calcium, oxalate, vitamin C, animal protein, and water contents in each food was calculated by a food processing software (Nutritionist4). Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t test, and regression logistic analysis with SPSS version 21. Results: Animal protein (P = 0.0001), meal water (P = 0.023) and total liquid amounts (P = 0.011) in the case group was higher than those of the control group; in addition, daily vitamin C intake was higher in the control group, but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The relationship between kidney stones formation and nutritional factors was approved. Therefore, it maybe effective to examine and treat the stone formation by considering the nutritional factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), as a way to assess the dietary intake in comparison with other methods, is easier to analyze and takes less time and is less costly. Our aim in this study was to develop and validate an FFQ for estimating the intakes of 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 designed to estimate antioxidant intakes during 1 year. In addition, for controlling energy intake, 2-day food records were also collected with the food frequency questionnaire. To assess the reliability, 40 individuals were asked to complete the FFQ twice with an interval of 3 months 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 between the 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 was designed for the elderly and the special conditions (patience, memory, etc.) and vulnerability of this age group, the questionnaire is relatively valid and reliable to use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin E and C are well‑known antioxidant vitamins. Oxidative stress is common in chronic kidney diseases. We evaluated 43 dialysis subjects prospectively in a cross‑sectional survey. Serum vitamin E concentration was checked in all subjects; 37 cases underwent blood sampling for measurement of serum vitamin C. The enrolled subjects consisted of 12 (27.9%) peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 25 (58.1%) hemodialysis (HD) patients. Six (13.9%) patients were switched from PD to HD or vice versa. Serum concentration of vitamin E was normal, low and high in 9 (20.9%), 31 (72%) and 3 (7.1%) patients, respectively. There were no significant differences regarding age, gender, modality and duration of dialysis, and characteristics of dialysis sessions, mean serum blood urea nitrogen, and albumin levels between vitamin E deficient cases with those with normal serum vitamin E concentration (P > 0.05 for all). The serum vitamin C levels were low in 5 (13.5%) and normal in 32 (86.5%) patients. vitamin C deficiency was more prevalent in HD versus continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients (P = 0.128). Mean serum vitamin C concentration was higher in patients who were supplemented by vitamin C compared with those who didn't receive the vitamin supplement (P = 0.043). Vitamin E deficiency was a prevalent finding and supplementary vitamin C 30-60 mg/day was sufficient to prevent deficiency. Regular assessments of serum vitamin E level may be needed in dialysis centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improvement of endothelial dysfunction could prevent or delay the occurrence of the atherosclerosis process in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). It is suggested that Vitamin C could improve endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we investigated whether administration of Vitamin C as a water-soluble antioxidant could be effective in this regard among patients with KD. Materials and Methods: In this case control analytic-experimental study, children aged 3-18 years with KD, and a group of healthy children evaluated. Vitamin C (250 mg/daily) administrated for the two studied groups for 1 month. Endothelial function evaluated by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and intima-media thickness (IMT) measurement using vascular Doppler ultrasonography, before and after trial. Results: In this study, 16 patients with KD and 19 normal children were studied. At baseline mean of IMT and FMD was not different in the two studied groups (P > 0.05). After Vitamin C administration IMT decreased significantly in two studied groups (from 27.06 ± 6.27 to 21.56 ± 3.77 in KD group and from 27.66 ± 5.66 to 23.33 ± 3.66 in control group [P < 0.05]). FMD increased in two studied groups, but the difference was significant in the control group (from 6.84 ± 2.51 to 7.03 ± 2.87 in KD group and from 6.53 ± 2.36 to 7.82 ± 2.14 in the control group). Conclusion: Vitamin C might improve the endothelial function of patients with KD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of vitamins E and C on cognitive performance among the elderly in Iran. Methods: About 256 elderly with mild cognitive impairment, aged 60-75 years, received 300 mg of vitamin E plus 400 mg of vitamin C or placebo daily just for 1 year. Background: Demographic characteristics, anthropometric variables food consumption, cognitive function by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and some of the oxidative stress biomarkers were examined. Results: Antioxidant supplementation reduced malondialdehyde level ( P < 0.001) and raised total antioxidant capacity ( P < 0.001) and glutathione ( P < 0.01). The serum 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine remained unchanged ( P < 0.4). After adjusting for the covariates effects, MMSE scores following 6- (25.88 ± 0.17) and 12-month antioxidant supplementation (26.8 ± 0.17) did not differ from control group (25.86 ± 0.18 and 26.59 ± 0.18, respectively). Conclusion: Despite significant improvement in most of the oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidants' supplementation was not observed to enhance cognitive performance. A large number of kinetic and/or dynamic factors could be suspected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In order to provide better advice for prevention of obesity and eating disorders among children, there is a need to have more knowledge of their dietary patterns. This study examined meal and snacking patterns of primary school children in Tehran. Methods: A total of 761 male and female primary school children from all educational areas in Tehran were recruited in a cross-sectional survey. The data was collected by interviewing the students and their mothers or caregivers. Information on food consumption patterns was collected by one 24-h-recall and one snack-oriented food frequency questionnaire which covered a period of 1 month. Means, standard deviations, frequencies, percentages, energy and nutrient analyzes and nutrient densities were reported. Results: All of the students snacked at least once on the day of the survey. Snacks provided 38% of total energy intake by the students. Fruits and sweet snacks were consumed by almost all of the students during a week. Energy and most nutrient intakes from meals were greater than those consumed from snacks. Snacks had a higher density of fiber, carbohydrate, calcium, iron, vitamin C, riboflavin and thiamin and had a lower density of protein, fat and niacin, compared with main meals. Salty snacks such as extruded cheese curls (Cheetos) and chips were not consumed so often. Conclusions: Results provide detailed information about dietary patterns, which in turn enable development of targeted messages and/or interventions to improve nutritional status of school children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that not only stimulates and protects collagen synthesis but also plays an important role in maintaining cellular integrity in a normal pregnancy. This study surveyed the effects of ascorbic acid on the serum level of unconjugated estriol and the relationship between unconjugated estriol and preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM). Methods: This double-blind, randomized clinical trial recruited 60 patients with predisposing factors to PPROM. The women were randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control and received vitamin C and placebo, respectively. The intervention group received 250 mg vitamin C twice a day and the controls received the placebo only. Unconjugated estriol was measured using the ELISA. All data were extracted and recorded in a checklist and compared using descriptive statistics as well as the x2, Fisher exact, and t tests. Results: The demographic data showed no difference between the two groups. The mean level of serum unconjugated estriol was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (P=0.044). Also, the frequency of PPROM was lower in the intervention group, but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). Unconjugated estriol levels were not significantly different between the healthy women and the PPROM patients. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that vitamin C administration decreased unconjugated estriol levels in the patients with PPROM. The findings of this study also indicated that administration of ascorbic acid was a safe and effective method to reduce the incidence of PPROM. Alteration in unconjugated estriol is an active mediator for this effect. Trial Registration Number: IRCT201012083580N3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A student's lifestyle can change notably in a foreign country. The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with the body weight status of Iranian postgraduate students in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) 2009. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was administered to 210 Iranian postgraduate students at UPM. Anthropometric factors also were measured using standard procedures. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) also were calculated. The chi-squared test, Spearman's rho, and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient were used to determine the associations between the variables that were studied. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to measure the amount of influence a predictor variable had on a outcome variable. Results: There was no significant correlation between nutritional knowledge (P > 0.05), weight-management knowledge (P > 0.05), and smoking (P > 0.05) and BMI. There were statistically significant correlations between gender (P < 0.01), physical activity (P < 0.05), protein (P < 0.01), carbohydrate (P < 0.01), fat (P < 0.01), fiber (P < 0.01), vitamin C (P < 0.05), calcium (P < 0.01), and iron (P < 0.01) and BMI. There were also relationships between body fat (P < 0.01), waist circumference (P < 0.01), hip circumference (P < 0.01) and WHR (P < 0.01) and BMI. Conclusion: Our findings showed the need for a nutrition promotion program for the Iranian students to help them change their negative food habits and improve their lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The nephroprotective effect of vitamins E and C or losartan against cisplatin (CP)- induced nephrotoxicity when they are accompanied by estrogen was investigated. Methods. The ovariectomized rats received estradiol valerate for two weeks. At the end of the first week, a single dose of CP (7 mg/kg, IP) was also administered, and they received placebo (group 1), vitamin E (group 2), vitamin C (group 3), or losartan (group 4) every day during the second week, and they were compared with another three control groups. Results. CP alone increased the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), and kidney tissue damage score (KTDS), significantly (P < 0.05), however at the presence of estradiol and CP, vitamin C, vitamin E, or losartan not only did not decrease these parameters, but also increased them significantly (P < 0.05). The serum level of superoxidase dismutase (SOD) was reduced by CP (P < 0.05), but it was increased when estradiol or estradiol plus vitamin C or losartan were added (P < 0.05). Conclusion. The particular pharmacological dose of estrogen used in this study abolish the nephroprotective effects vitamins C and E or losartan against CP-induced nephrotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s) Bone is a dynamic tissue that is continuously renewed throughout life by the process of bone remodeling. Antioxidant system might be involved in the pathogenesis of bone loss, so the aim of this study was to evaluate the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), vitamin C and vitamin E levels of plasma besides measuring enzymatic antioxidants, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) enzymes activity in Iranian osteoporotic women comparing to the control group. Materials and Methods Bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck and lumbar spine was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry. The participants were divided into groups: a) total participants (-3.9 ≤ T-score ≤ 3.6) including 192 women, b) the control group (T-score ≥ -1) including 76 women, c) the total patients (T-score < -1) including 76 women. Then, plasma TAC, vitamin C levels, SOD and GR activities, erythrocyte CAT were measured using spectrophotometrical methods separately, and for vitamin E by HPLC analysis. Results Comparing the control group and osteoporotic women showed that: a) plasma levels for vitamin C and erythrocyte CAT were markedly lower in the patients than in the controls, but plasma activity of TAC, SOD and GR were significantly higher, respectively. b) the differences were higher between control and patients with severe disease (T-score <-1.7) comparing to patients in the group with milder disease (-1.7 ≤ T-score <-1). c) Femoral neck BMD adjusted with age and BMI showed a positive and significant correlation with plasma levels of vitamin C in all subjects, but this relation was reverse or negative for TAC, SOD and GR. Conclusion It seems that a physiologic increase in the amount of some antioxidants occurs in osteoporosis; even though this amount may not be sufficient for the human body requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study was conducted to determine the effect of vitamins C and E administration on the outcome of therapy in patients with paraquat intoxication admitted in the Poisoning Emergency Department (PED) of Noor Teaching General Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. Methods: We studied retrospectively medical records of 186 patients admitted to the PED in two different study periods: 157 patients were evaluated from 1985 to 2001 (first study period) in which patients received conventional treatment protocol consisting of fluid replacement, oral absorbents, haemodialysis, etc, Also, 29 other patients were assessed from 2001 to 2005 (second study period) in which vitamins C and E had been administered to the patients, in addition to the conventional protocol. The patients' mortality rate after the first study period was compared to that of the second one, with regard to the impact of the additional therapeutic intervention (use of antioxidant vitamins). Results: Most of the patients (40.5 %) had ingested more than 20 mL of 20 % paraquat solution and were admitted to the hospital during the first 4 h after exposure. Paraquat poisoning was more common in men (76.6 %), young adults in the age group 19 - 34 (47 %) and during summer (43.3 %). Mean (± SE) length of hospital stay was 62.6 ± 15.6 h. Overall mortality rates were 31 and 55.2 % in the first and second periods, respectively. Conclusion: Although the addition of antioxidants (vitamins C and E) to the conventional therapy did not reduce the mortality rate, other dependent variables including different doses of antioxidants may be considered for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that investigates polyphenol and vitamin contents of Iranian fruits. It examines the major compounds associated with antioxidant activity on the total phenolic and vitamin C contents of 66 fruits from 22 families which were chosen for the study. The result reveals that various fruit provides a good source of nutritious compounds which are effective in enhancing health status despite the difference in polyphenol and vitamin C contents.

Introduction. We assessed whether cosupplementation of vitamins C and E has additive beneficial effects on reducing the kidney damage and attenuation of the arterial pressure elevation compared to administration of either vitamin C or vitamin E alone in deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt-induced hypertension. Materials and Methods. Forty rats were divided into 4 study groups and 1 sham-operated group. Unilateral nephrectomy was carried out in the study groups and hypertension was induced by deoxycorticosterone injection and 1% sodium chloride and 0.2% potassium chloride added to the drinking water. Vitamins C and E (200 mg/kg/day) or combination of them were administered with DOCA-salt for 4 weeks in 3 study groups. The effects of DOCA and salt and treatment with vitamins were compared in terms of blood pressure, urinary protein excretion, antioxidant activity of the kidneys, and renal histological changes. Results. Four weeks of supplementations of vitamins C, vitamin E, and both in the DOCA-salt-treated rats had comparable significant effects in decreasing systolic blood pressure. Urinary protein excretion and histological damage did not significantly change with the combination therapy of vitamins C and E compared to the vitamin C or E alone. The renal levels of glutathione and ferric reducing/antioxidant power in combination therapy group were similar to the two other treatment groups and were significantly higher than non-treated group. Conclusions. Co-administration of vitamin C and E does not have an additive beneficial effect on reducing the kidney damage and hypertension compared to either vitamin C or E alone in DOCA-salt-induced hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]