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Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is among the most common liver diseases. In recent years, the prevalence of fatty liver disease has been mostly attributed to obesity, an unhealthy lifestyle, and poor eating habits, which, in addition to Western countries, have also been reported in Iran. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lifestyle modification (physical activity and diet) on the recovery of NAFLD in health insurance staff in Tabriz, Iran. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 42 male and female NAFLD patients aged 20 to 55. The participants were randomly divided into intervention (diet along with aerobic exercise) (n=21) and control (without diet and exercise) (n=21) groups. The level of disease recovery was evaluated by measuring the level of liver enzymes (AST and ALT), liver ultrasound (to determine the degree of fatty liver), and body mass index (BMI) before and after three months of intervention. Paired and independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon test were performed using SPSS version 22 software. The clinical significance of the study was estimated using an epidemiological tool known as the number needed to treat (NNT). Results: No significant difference was observed between the two groups in anthropometric and biochemical parameters, as well as fatty liver grade. However, the decrease in BMI index in the intervention group was insignificant compared to the control group. The degree of liver recovery in the intervention and control groups was calculated to be 69.9% and 33.3%, respectively. Also, the decrease in fatty liver grade in the intervention group was significant compared to the control group (P = 0.028). There was a statistically significant reduction in the severity of fatty liver disease in the intervention group at the end of the research (NNT = 3.5), meaning that for every 3.5 patients with NAFLD treated with diet and exercise for 3 months, one patient showed improvement. Conclusions: This study showed that lifestyle modifications, such as physical activity and dietary habits, significantly affected fatty liver in NAFLD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives In this study, the effects of food supplementation during pregnancy on maternal weight gain, hemoglobin (Hb) levels, and pregnancy outcomes were evaluated. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, we recruited 1360 pregnant women with a gestational age of 10 weeks who had BMI < 18.5 and hemoglobin < 10.5/dL from rural areas of the east Azerbaijan province in Iran. Rural areas were randomly assigned into two groups: food-supplemented and control areas. In food-supplemented areas the food supplement was provided (1500 kcal/d) from 10 weeks of pregnancy through to the end. Information on demographic data were collected and anthropometric and Hb measurements were taken using standard instruments. Results The average weight gain was 9.1 ± 1.8 kg and 7.9 ± 1.6 kg in supplemented and control groups respectively, which was significantly different (p = 0.001). Also, a significant time x treatment interaction in maternal average weight gain (p = 0.001) was observed. The mean Hb decreased from 12 mg/dl and 12.1 mg/dl in week 10 to 11.9 mg/dl and 11.7 mg/dl in week 20 in the supplemented and control groups respectively, which was significant only for the control group. Between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in the rates of low birth weight (LBW) infants (p = 0.001) and preterm births (p = 0.013). Conclusion for practice Food supplementation significantly reduced the prevalence of poor maternal weight gain, infants with low birth weight, and preterm births compared to no intervention., Author(s): Jafar Sadegh Tabrizi [sup.1] , Arezoo Asghari [sup.2] , Fatollah Pourali [sup.2] , Hamideh Kousha [sup.2] , Leila Nikniaz [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) 0000 0001 2174 8913, grid.412888.f, Tabriz [...]

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a prevalent metabolic disorder with increasing prevalence attributed to extended life expectancy. This study aims to investigate MetS prevalence and its determinants in the East-Azerbaijan population. Methods: Conducted as a cross-sectional study within the East Azerbaijan region, this research is based on a major Lifestyle Promotion Project. The study encompasses 700 participants aged 15 to 65 years, representing the general population and selected using probability proportional to size multistage stratified cluster sampling. MetS diagnoses were conducted using the adult Panel III criteria. Data on socio-demographics, smoking status, and physical activity levels were collected through questionnaires. Results: Among participants, the mean age was 42.4 ± 12.38 years, and the mean body mass index was 27.69 ± 4.94 kg/m2. The MetS group exhibited higher mean age and body mass index compared to the non-MetS group (P < 0.001). The prevalence of MetS in the population was 34.2%, with higher rates in females (37.1%) compared to males (30.5%), though this difference wasn't statistically significant (P = 0.11). Notably, a substantial distinction was observed between the two groups regarding education levels (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The study reveals a significant association between increasing age and higher prevalence of MetS. Furthermore, lower educational levels were linked to an elevated prevalence of MetS. While other socio-demographic factors didn't demonstrate statistically significant relationships, these findings emphasize the importance of targeted interventions and education in mitigating MetS risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Akkermansia muciniphila, a frequent colonizer in the gut mucous layer of individuals, has constantly been recognized as a promising candidate for the next generation of probiotics due to its biological advantages from in vitro and in vivo investigations. This manuscript comprehensively reviewed the features of A. muciniphila in terms of its function in host physiology and frequently utilized nutrition using the published peer-reviewed articles, which should present valuable and critical information to scientists, engineers, and even the general population. A. muciniphila is an important bacterium that shows host physiology. However, its physiological advantages in several clinical settings also have excellent potential to become a probiotic. Consequently, it can be stated that there is a coherent and direct relation between the biological activities of the gut microbiota, intestinal dysbiosis/eubiosis, and the population of A. muciniphila in the gut milieu, which is influenced by various genetical and nutritional factors. Current regulatory barriers, the need for large-scale clinical trials, and the feasibility of production must be removed before A muciniphila can be extensively used as a next-generation probiotic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases. It is estimated that more than 400 million people will suffer from it by 2025. This study aims to determine the prevalence of asthma in East Azerbaijan and investigate the association between asthma and some environmental and demographic factors. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on a major Lifestyle Promotion Project (LPP) conducted in the districts of East Azerbaijan, including 2641 participants aged 15 to 65 years of the general population selected through probability proportional to size (PPS) multistage stratified cluster sampling. We used the World Health Survey questionnaire about doctor-diagnosed asthma to determine the prevalence of asthma. Age, smoking status, physical activity level, socioeconomic variables such as job and education level, and body mass index (BMI) were used as covariates in regression models. A questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic information and smoking status. The short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to estimate the level of physical activity (IPAQ). Results: The mean age of participants was 40.9 ± 12.05 years including 1242 (47 %) males and 1399 (53 %) females. The prevalence of asthma was 3.3 %. The frequency of smokers was significantly higher in the asthmatic group compared with the non-asthmatic group (OR=2.33 [1.76-3.31]; p=0.03). There was no significant association between asthma and other demographic and lifestyle characteristics. Obesity has also played a significant role in the development of asthma. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, obesity and smoking have played a significant role in the development of asthma but there is no statistically significant relationship between socioeconomic and demographic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]