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Objectives Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a clustering of metabolic abnormalities that are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We aimed to evaluate the effects of sesame oil enriched with vitamin E (vit E), sesame oil alone and sunflower oil on lipid profile, fasting blood glucose (FBG), malondialdehyde (MDA), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR), and blood pressure (BP) in patients with MetS. Subjects Overall, 75 individuals with MetS (aged 30-70 years) participated in this randomized, single-blind controlled trial. Patients were randomly allocated to: (1) Group A (n = 25): sesame oil (30 ml/day) enriched with vit E (400 mg/day), (2) Group B (n = 25): sesame oil (30 ml/day), (3) Group C (n = 25): sunflower oil (30 ml/day). Anthropometric data, dietary intake, blood pressure, and biochemical markers, including fasting serum lipids, FBG, serum insulin, MDA, and hs-CRP were measured at baseline and at week 8. Results In individuals in the sesame oil enriched with vit E group (Group A), there were significant reductions in serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), FBG, HOMA-IR, MDA, hs-CRP, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) systolic and diastolic BP (for all the comparison p < 0.02). Similarly, in Group B (taking sesame oil alone), TC, TG, FBG, HOMA-IR, MDA, systolic and diastolic BP were significantly improved (for all the comparison p < 0.025), while there were no significant changes in serum HDL (baseline = 35.9 [plus or minus] 7.2 mg/dL vs. 36.4 [plus or minus] 6.2 mg/dL, p = 0.432) and hs-CRP (baseline = 4.38 [plus or minus] 1.34 mg/dL vs. week 8 = 3.96 [plus or minus] 1.7 mg/dL, p = 0.057) in second group. No significant changes in any of the studied clinical and anthropometric data were found in Group C (on sunflower oil). Conclusion Sesame oil ([plus or minus]vit E) was shown to beneficially affect several cardiometabolic indices (including lipids, FBG, BP, HOMA-IR, and MDA) in patients with MetS., Author(s): Ali Farajbakhsh [sup.1] , Seyed Mohammad Mazloomi [sup.2] , Mohsen Mazidi [sup.3] , Peyman Rezaie [sup.4] , Marzieh Akbarzadeh [sup.1] , Saeedeh Poor Ahmad [sup.1] , G. A. Ferns [...]

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Little is known about the metabolic profile across categories of body mass index (BMI), particularly within Asian populations. We assessed the prevalence and distribution of body size phenotypes among Iranian adults from a representative sample from Mashhad. METHOD: The Mashhad Stroke Heart Atherosclerosis Disorder (MASHAD) study cohort of 9761 adults (3903 men) aged 35-65 years were cross-categorized by BMI and metabolic status into: normal-weight metabolically healthy (NWMH), normal-weight metabolically abnormal (NWMA), overweight metabolically healthy (OvMH), overweight metabolically abnormal (OvMA), obese metabolically healthy (OMH) and obese metabolically abnormal (OMA). Metabolic normality/ abnormality was defined by the presence of any two of the following: 1) elevated blood pressure or known hypertension on treatment, 2) high serum fasted triglycerides; 3) low serum HDL-cholesterol, 4) high blood glucose or the presence of diabetes mellitus, 5) serum CRP > 90th percentile. RESULTS: The distribution of obesity phenotypeswas 11.6% (NWMH), 15.6% (NWMA), 10.6% (OvMH), 31.3% (OvMA), 4.9% (OMH), and 25.5% (OMA) overall. Equivalent figures were 13.1%, 24.0%, 7.7% 37.3%, 1.5% and 16.2% in men; 10.7%, 10.2%, 12.5%, 27.4%, 7.2% and 31.8% inwomen, p < 0.001 for gender differences. Multi variables logistic regression models comprising age gender and each of the metabolic factors was associated with 3.2% to 5.3% variations in BMI categories. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that a considerable proportion normal-weight Iranians display cardiometabolic abnormalities especially men, while a significant percentage of obese individuals, particularly women are metabolically healthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A kind of growth hormone secretagogue (GHS), ghrelin, was first isolated from the rat stomach and plays a major role in the activation of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR1a) resulting the release of growth hormone (GH). The preproghrelin gene is placed on chromosome 3, at locus 3p25-2 in humans and constitutes five exons and three introns. Ghrelin is most plentifully expressed in particular cells in the oxyntic glands of the gastric epithelium, initially named X/A-like cells. Almost 60-70% of circulating ghrelin is secreted by the stomach. Plasma ghrelin concentration alters throughout the day. Ghrelin has been suggested to act as a meal initiator because of its appetitestimulating influences in free feeding rats in short period. In addition to ghrelin's function as a meal motivator, it seems to contribute in long-term energy balance and nutritional status. In addition, many studies have been carried out in order to investigate the effects of natural and medicinal plants and botanical extracts on appetite, food intake, energy hemostasis, and the level of related hormones including ghrelin. Due to the importance of ghrelin in nutritional and medical sciences, this review was performed to understand new aspects of this hormone's function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ramadan Fasting during the month of Ramadan is a religious obligation, practiced by millions of people around the world. Ramadan fasting is essentially a fundamental change in lifestyle for one lunar month. This type of fasting may have significant effects on lipid profile. Although there is no scientific consensus about the effects of fasting on cardiovascular risks such as changes in lipid profile, some studies have revealed the positive effects of Ramadan fasting (and similar religious fasting) on lipid profile and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. These effects may be related to factors such as different fasting durations (season-dependent), diets, and physical activities during Ramadan. An overall improvement in cardiovascular risk profile is noted during Ramadan fasting. Majority of studies have reported an increment in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level, decreased triglyceride level, and no change or decline in total cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. Therefore, given the lack of comprehensive literature in this field, we reviewed some related studies in order to describe the impact of Ramadan fasting on lipid profile. Conclusion: It can be inferred that Ramadan fasting alters lipid profile by improving HDLcholesterol and reducing LDL-cholesterol in some cases. However, changes in triglyceride and total cholesterol during Ramadan are not uniform or similar. Moreover, Ramadan fasting is not associated with any changes in the prevalence of CVD or frequency of hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ramadan fasting is prescribed by Quran for every able-bodied, adult Muslim and is considered an obligatory act of worship. During Ramadan, the majority of Muslims eat two major meals- one before dawn (Sahar) and another immediately after the sunset (Iftar). Islamic fasting, due to its particular nature, may cause metabolic and hormonal changes in the body, which are different from those in regular fasting. To the best of our knowledge, no comprehensive study has been conducted on changes in growth parameters during fasting periods. Therefore, the aim of this review, which is based on scientific literature review, was to describe the effects of fasting on growth parameters in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ramadan fasting is an important pillars of Islam .although patients and children expected from fasting during Ramadan, but every diabetic adolescents intends to fast should consult his diabetes management - time, and intensive monitoring of blood glucose and urine acetones .close observation by endocrinologist, and weekly follow- up and highly individualized planning for each diabetic person is essential. In this Article we described general role that should be considered by type 1 diabetic people if they want to be fast during Ramadan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article related to ramadan fasting.