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Background: People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) frequently use dietary interventions such as Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and exercises to complement pharmacotherapy. Objective: To investigate the effect of adding MedDiet to a designed exercise program on quadriceps and hamstrings muscles performance, pain, C-reactive protein (CRP), handgrip strength, bodyweight, and function in females with RA. Methods: Sixty females were allocated randomly to the MedDiet plus exercise program (n = 30) or exercise program only (n = 30). The interventions continued for 6 months followed by 6 months of follow-up with no intervention. The primary outcome was the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles performance (agonist–antagonist ratio). The secondary outcomes were visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, CRP blood marker for inflammation, handheld dynamometer for handgrip strength, Health AssessmentQuestionnaire disability index (HAQ-DI) for function, and body weight. All outcomes were measured at baseline, 6-month post-intervention, and 12 months from baseline as a follow-up. Results: The MedDiet group showed statistically significant improvements in all the measured outcomes than the control group (p <.05) after 6 and 12 months. After 6 months of intervention, the mean±SD for agonist–antagonist ratio, pain, and HAQ-DI were 84.59 ± 5.33 and 69.92 ± 5.56 (p <.001, ƞ2 = 0.65), 42.33 ± 8.98 and 54.33 ± 10.06 (p <.001, ƞ2 = 0.3), 1.13 ± 0.48 and 1.9 ± 0.59 (p <.001, ƞ2 = 0.34) in the MedDiet and control groups, respectively. Conclusion: Adding MedDiet to aerobic and strengthening exercise program improved quadriceps and hamstrings muscles performance, pain, functional ability, CRP, handgrip strength, and body weight. Consequently, Mediterranean diet should be considered as adjunctive therapy in treating females with RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease with many dramatic complications. It has also been suggested that altered intestinal microbiota leads to increased intestinal permeability and mucosal immune response, contributing to the development of diabetes. We aimed to investigate the effect of introduction of probiotic products on glycemic control and inflammatory markers among patients with T2DM. Methods. The present work was carried on 150 patients with T2DM. The studied patients were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination and laboratory investigations including fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2 hours post prandial blood glucose (2hPP), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-C, LDL-C, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL6) and tumor-necrosis factor alpha (TNF a). They were divided into 3 groups each of 50 patients. They were all instructed to eat well-balanced diet. The first group was instructed to eat the well-balanced diet only, the second group received 2 cups of yogurt daily in addition to diet and the third group received one teaspoonful yeast daily in addition to diet. The effect of the intervention was evaluated after 16 weeks. Results. Patients receiving yogurt and the patients receiving yeast showed significant reduction of FBG, HbA1c, IL6, TNF-a, CRP and significant elevation of HDL-C compared to patients on diet only. The 3 groups showed significant reduction in 2hPP blood glucose and LDL-C. Conclusion. Probiotic intake in patients with T2DM has beneficial effect on glycemic control, lipid profile and inflammatory markers after 16 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: Artificial sweeteners interfere with normal physiological processes. Objective (s): The study aims at assessing the changes associated with consuming different doses of aspartame (Sugar-Match®) and sucralose (Sweetal®). Methods: A total of sixty rats were divided into two phases; phase I was categorized into 6 groups including a control group, sucralose 2 and 4 g/kg, aspartame 0.8 and 1.6 g/kg, and sucrose with dose 0.5 mg/kg given orally every day for 12 weeks. Rats were euthanized and lipid profile was measured. Phase II comprised 4 groups including the same previously mentioned doses of sucralose and aspartame which were given orally every day for 12 weeks then omitted for further 6 weeks to study the ability of body to restore the biological changes associated with their consumption. Results: The highest triglyceride level was observed in rats fed on high dose sucralose (80.83 ± 5.46 mg/dl) and aspartame (78.83 ± 4.17 mg/dl). After 12 weeks of experimentation, cholesterol was higher in all groups. LDL-C was the highest in rats supplemented with a high dose of aspartame (43.90 ± 8.41 mg/dl), followed by a low dose of aspartame (39.28 ± 2.03 mg/dl). Terminating intake of artificial sweeteners caused large drop in LDL-C in rats fed on high dose of aspartame, while HDL-C increased slightly but insignificantly. Severe histopathological changes in liver and kidney tissues were observed in rats supplemented with a high dose of aspartame. Conclusion: Supplementing rats with aspartame and sucralose for 12 weeks increased lipid profile. Pathological changes were recovered neither in the liver nor in the kidney even after terminating artificial sweeteners intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: There has been a sharp increase in caffeine consumption among the Arab youth. Objective(s): The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of caffeine consumption among Alexandria University students, to assess their caffeine daily intake, to estimate the proportion of caffeine withdrawal and intoxication among caffeine consumers and to investigate the relationship between caffeine intake with body composition, blood pressure, and caffeine withdrawal and intoxication. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, 400 students from faculties of Alexandria University were included in the study. Data were collected using a predesigned structured interviewing questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and blood pressure measurement. The daily dietary intake of caffeine in mgx/kg body weight/day was estimated for each subject and compared to the safe levels set by the EFSA. Results: Almost all students consumed caffeinated drinks, with Cola drinks ranking 1st. About 12% had caffeine withdrawal, 0.5% suffered from caffeine intoxication and 65.3% exceeded the safe level set by the EFSA. The association between the level of caffeine consumption and the anthropometric measures was not significant, while the association between the level of caffeine consumption and blood pressure was significant. Conclusion: The consumption of caffeine containing drinks among Alexandria University students was very high and exceeded the safe levels, which calls for campaigns to increase their awareness about the impact of high consumption of caffeine containing food and beverages on their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: The consumption of artificial sweeteners has increased in many countries worldwide. In the Arab world, there is little data about consumption pattern of artificial sweeteners especially among university students for their own eating practices and behaviors. Objective(s): This study aimed to identify the rate of artificial sweetener consumption among Alexandria University students, and to determine its levels in relation to acceptable daily intake (ADI) set by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out including 400 Alexandria University students of both sexes. The studied sample was equally allocated and randomly selected from four faculties. Data on demographic characteristics, medical history, dietary pattern, and pattern of artificial sweeteners usage were collected from each participant. Results: The consumption of artificial sweeteners was reported by 31% of Alexandria University students. The most commonly consumed types of artificial sweeteners were Sucralose (0.59±0.2 mg/kg body weight/day) followed by Aspartame (0.03±0.01 mg/kg body weight/day). Daily levels of consumed artificial sweeteners in relation to ADI levels were 11.86±4.2% for Sucralose and 0.05±0.02% for Aspartame. Conclusion: Daily level of consumed artificial sweeteners by Alexandria University students was less than ADI set by the FDA. Further follow up studies are needed to investigate possible side effects of long term artificial sweeteners usage. Furthermore, large epidemiological studies must be carried out to investigate artificial sweeteners consumption pattern among different age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...