ابوالقاسم جزایری

Patients with chronic kidney disease often experience various complications, one of which is uremic sarcopenia. Various factors can cause uremic sarcopenia, including monotonous diets. One of the indices used to assess nutritional quality of patients includes dietary diversity score. The present study aimed to investigate relationships between dietary diversity and sarcopenia resulted from chronic kidney diseases in elderly people.

In this case-control study, 100 chronic kidney disease patients and 100 healthy individuals aged 60–75 years were examined at Nephrology Department of Shahid Labbafi Nejad Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The control group was similar to the case group for age and gender. Demographic information and 147-item food frequency questionnaires were collected through interviews. Sarcopenia assessment was carried out based on the guidelines from the Asian Working Group. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS software.

Based on the analyses, 62% of chronic kidney disease patients did not consume vitamin D. Moreover, consumption of red meat was higher in control groups than the case group. In this study, dietary diversity score included no significant associations with sarcopenia statuses. Additionally, no significant associations were observed between the total dietary diversity score and its subgroups with sarcopenia.

In this study, no statistically significant associations were detected between the chronic kidney disease-related sarcopenia and dietary diversity scores.

 The objective of this study was to determine the strategies and actions required to promote food and nutrition security and accessibility of the population to an adequate, equitable, healthy and desirable food basket.

 This was a qualitative study. The data were collected through literature review and individual interviews with policy-makers, planners and managers involved in food and nutrition security. The most important determinants of food insecurity in the country were determined using the Delphi method. MAXQDA10 software was used for data analysis.

 Based on the views of the interviewees, the most important factor influencing food and nutrition security was found to be economic access to food. This was followed by four other factors, namely, income gap; lack of a specific authority responsible for food and nutrition security at the national level; poverty and low family incomes; and not paying sufficient attention to sustainability in food production. Strategies suggested to promote food and nutrition security included physical access to food, economic access to food, food safety, access to micronutrients, promoting nutrition culture and literacy, access to food and nutrition services, and sustainable food production.

 Economic access to food, i.e., sufficient purchasing power of the people, is currently an important factor in determining food and nutrition security in a population. Food and nutrition policies should be developed in a way as to ensure increased economic access to food, sustainability in food production, production of healthy foods, and promoting the population’s food and nutrition culture and literacy.

Inflammation plays important roles in development of several chronic diseases, including cognitive functions. Neuritis in the brain can lead to decreased cognitive function in elderly people. Diet is one of the factors affecting inflammation. The empirical dietary inflammatory index is a novel tool that assesses the overall inflammatory potential of diets by generating experimental scores based on the food groups. The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between the empirical dietary inflammatory index and the cognitive function status in elderly people of Tehran, Iran.

This cross-sectional study was carried out on 173 literate (at least the end of primary school) elderly participants (60+ years), referring to the health centers of retirement houses in five districts of Tehran, 2019. General questionnaire, food frequency and mini-mental state examination were completed using interviews. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS Software.

In this study, relationships between the empirical dietary inflammatory index and the classifications of this index was assessed using the statuses of cognitive function. However, no statistically significant relationships were seen between these categories and the statuses of cognitive function. Vitamin D supplementation (monthly), waist circumference and economic status were significantly associated to cognitive function (p < 0.05).

In the present study, no statistically significant relationships were reported between the experimental inflammatory index of diets and cognitive function statuses of elderly people aged 60 years or older.

Sustainable provision of food for adequate access and benefit for population and continuous monitoring of food security is one of the main tasks of governments to ensure food and nutrition security of individual, family and community as an important right. The purpose of this review is to present strategies for improving food and nutrition security in critical situations such as the COVID-19 epidemic.

This research was prepared based on the results of series of focused group discussion of experts panels of related fields such as nutrition, food technology, agriculture, economics and epidemiology which were performed in Academy of Medaical Sciences.

In this advocacy paper, challenges and practical strategies in the short and long term for reducing all of the adverse effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on food and nutrition security of the community in various aspects of management, support, education and research, extension and supervision are discussed.

Cooperation and coordination of different sections is very important for improving food and nutrition security in the current crisis and decisions must be implemented immediately.

  Overweight and obesity are the most important risk factors for many chronic diseases. Motivational interviewing is a kind of referral-based counseling that helps to resolve doubts about changing health behaviors through creating intrinsic motivation and reinforcing the commitment of individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of motivational interview on anthropometric indices and hypertension in overweight and obese adults. 98 adult obese or overweight adults were randomly divided into two groups of motivational and control interviews through accessible and controlled sampling. Data were collected by measuring or researcher-made questionnaire at the beginning of the study, as well as 10 and 22 weeks after the intervention. Then the collected data were analyzed by SPSS (ver. 24) using Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon and Chi-square tests. The motivational interview group showed a significant improvement in weight (p=0.013) and body mass index (p=0.02) in the 22 weeks post-intervention compared to the beginning of the study. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the study group during the study. The present intervention did not have a significant effect on the blood pressure of the samples. Integration of motivational interviewing in the counseling of the therapeutic diet can lead to effective results in the anthropometric evaluation of overweight and obesity individuals.

: Executive Functions are high-level cognitive functions that affect learning, behavior and school achievement. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and behavioral indexes of executive functions in 6-8 years old children.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in 374 students from 24 schools of Qom, Iran. The mothers were asked to provide the demographic, semi-quantitative food frequency, Physical activity and behavior rating inventory of executive functions (BRIEF) questionnaires. Then Children's height and weight were measured and dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis. Binary logistics regression was used to estimate OR for having weak executive functions.
Two major dietary patterns were identified. The "healthy" dietary pattern characterized by high intake of vegetables, beans, red meat, fruits, nuts, low fat dairy, plant oil, fish, potato, doogh (yogurt drink) and olive. The second dietary pattern was high in mayonnaise, sugarydesserts, industrial juice, tomato, soda, snacks, pickles, refined grains, high fat and processed meat, tea, coffee, fried potato and low amounts of plant oil and was named the "unhealthy" dietary pattern. After adjusting for potential confounders, children in second median of healthy dietary pattern had significantly less odds of having weak performance in inhibit, emotional control and behavior regulating index (BRI). Greater adherence to "unhealthy" dietary pattern was significantly associated with a higher risk for having weak performance in emotional control.
There was a significant relationship between the healthy dietary pattern and some behavioral indexes of executive functions. Also this study showed that adherence to an unhealthy dietary pattern may be associated with problems in emotional control.

Uncontrolled metabolic status of diabetes induces multiple complications, such as liver and renal dysfunctions. Saffron as an herbal medicine may improve diabetes metabolic control.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of saffron on metabolic control parameters, liver enzymes, and renal function parameters in type 2 diabetic patients.
In this triple-blind clinical trial, 54 type 2 diabetic patients randomly consumed 15 mg saffron or placebo capsules twice a day for 8 weeks. The following measurements were made during the study: 1. Fasting and 2-hour blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, cholesterol, triglyceride, low and high density lipoproteins, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate and alanine amino transferase, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine; 2. Physical activity at the beginning and the end of the study; 3. dietary intakes at the beginning, midst, and end of the study; 4. anthropometric parameters every 2 weeks; 5. blood pressure every 2 weeks. The data were analyzed using the SPSS.18 software.
Fasting and 2-hour blood glucose, triglyceride, uric acid, and blood urea nitrogen decreased (35.5, 38.5, 0.62, and 4.5 mg/dl, respectively), and high density lipoprotein increased, significantly in the saffron group (P0.05).
Saffron hydro-alcoholic extract may improve type 2 diabetic patients’ condition through helping control blood glucose and some of the lipid profiles components. It can also improve renal function, which may be related to its antioxidant properties.

Depression and anxiety are the major public health problems worldwide, which may act synergistically. Type 2 diabetes can cause and aggravate mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Saffron as a medicinal plant may attenuate mixed depression and anxiety (MDA).
A total of 54 outpatients with mild to moderate MDA diagnosed by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) were assessed by Beck and Hamilton’s depression and anxiety questionnaires. The patients, in this randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, randomly received 15 mg saffron extract or placebo capsules twice a day for 8 weeks.
After the intervention, depression, anxiety and MDA were significantly (P The study results suggest that saffron shows attenuating effect on mild to moderate MDA in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The possible role of vitamin D receptor (VDR) genotypes in association with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations between MetS and T2D with the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene in Iranian subjects with T2D.
730 Iranian subjects (372 T2D and 358 controls) were enrolled in this case-control study. FokI, BsmI, ApaI and TaqI SNPs of the VDR gene were genotyped using the restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The statistical difference in genotype distribution among the groups was assessed by the χ2 test. Logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios for the association of the genotype frequencies between different groups with risk of MetS and T2D.
The most common genotypes for the BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI SNPs were Bb, Aa, and TT, respectively, whereas for FokI, they were FF. Adjusted χ2 test revealed no difference between the groups in the genotypes frequencies of 4 VDR polymorphisms in T2D subjects. T2D patients with Tt genotype presented a significantly higher FBS (p=0.009) than those with TT and tt genotypes in TaqI polymorphism. Logistic regression showed no association between MetS risk and VDR genotypes.
In conclusion, no evidence was found showing that VDR gene polymorphisms have a role in the risk of T2D and MetS in Iranian subjects. Further examination should be carried out on large prospective cohort studies, which apply genome wide association to evaluate the direct effect of these polymorphisms on T2D.

Emerging data suggest an association between low serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and central obesity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of daily intake of vitamin D-fortified yogurt drink (doogh) on central obesity indicators in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the possible modulation of this effect by vitamin D receptor (VDR)-Cdx-2 genotypes.
Sixty T2D subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either plain doogh (PD; n=29, containing 170 mg calcium and no vitamin D/250 mL) or vitamin D3-fortified doogh (FD; n=31, containing 500 IU/250 mL) twice a day for 12 weeks. 25(OH)D, glycemic and adiposity indicators were evaluated before and after the intervention. VDR genotypes in the extended number of T2D subjects were determined in the FD group (n=60).
After 12 weeks, in the FD compared to the PD group, serum 25(OH)D increased (.4 nmol/L vs. -4.8 nmol/L, p Daily intake of 1000 vitamin D-fortified doogh for 12 weeks improved the central obesity indices in the T2D subjects, and the improvement was more pronounced in the carriers of the AA genotype of VDR-Cdx-2.

The interaction of environmental factors and genetic determines the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The objectives were to evaluate the effects of improvement of vitamin D status on the biomarkers of oxidative stress (OS) in T2D subjects and whether vitamin D receptor (VDR)-FokI polymorphism could modulate the response to vitamin D3 intake. Subjects with T2D were allocated to one of the two groups to receive either plain doogh (PD n1= 50) or vitamin D3-fortified doogh (FD, containing 500 IU/250 ml, n= 50) twice a day for 12 weeks. Outcomes were changes in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), superoxide dismutase, glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA). VDR genotypes in 140 T2D subjects in FD were determined by FokI restriction enzyme. After 12 weeks, serum 25(OH)D increased significantly in FD (from 38.5 ± 202.2 to 72.0 ± 23.5, P=0.001) as compared with PD (from 38.8 ± 22.8 to 33.4 ± 22.8, P = 0.28). Comparisons between FD and PD revealed significant differences in changes of serum MDA (-0.54 ± 0.82 µmol/l vs +0.17 ± 1 µmol/l, P=0.001), GSH (+8.4 ± 40.1 ng/l vs - 13.1 ± 29.4 ng/l, P = 0.002) and TAC (+0.14 ± 0.43 mmol/l vs +0.02 ± 0.45 mmol/l bovine serum albumin equivalent, P = 0.03). Although there was no significant association between FokI genotypes and OS biomarkers, ff variant subgroup showed the weakest response to vitamin D. Improvement of vitamin D status via daily intake of FD ameliorates OS biomarkers in T2D subjects, and the interactive effect of FokI genotypes cannot be ruled out.

In this study، the effect of improvement of vitamin D status on glycemic status، lipid profile and endothelial biomarkers in T2D subjects was investigated. Subjects with T2D were randomly allocated to one of the two groups to receive either plain yogurt drink (PYD; containing 170 mg calcium and no vitamin D/250 mL، n= 50) or vitamin D3-fortified yogurt drink (FYD; containing 170 mg calcium and 500 IU/250 mL، n = 50) twice a day for 12 weeks. Anthropometric measures، glycemic status، lipid profile، body fat mass (FM) and endothelial biomarkers were evaluated at the beginning and after the 12-week intervention period. Intervention resulted in significant differences in changes of endothelin-1، E-selectin and MMP-9 concentrations in FD compared to PD (-0. 35 ± 0. 63 versus -0. 03 ± 0. 55، P= 0. 028; -3. 8 ± 7. 3 versus 0. 95 ± 8. 3، P = 0. 003 and -2. 3 ± 3. 7 versus 0. 44 ± 7. 1 ng/mL، respectively، P < 0. 05 for all). Even after controlling for changes of QUICKI، FM and waist circumference remained significant for endothelin-1 and MMP-9 (P = 0. 009 and P = 0. 005، respectively). Ameliorated vitamin D status was accompanied by improved glycemic status، lipid profile and endothelial biomarkers in T2D subjects. The research findings suggest both direct and indirect ameliorating effects of vitamin D on the endothelial biomarkers.

Hyperlipidemia is defined as a disorder of blood lipid profile, including triglyceride level (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-c) and high density lipoprotein (HDL-c), and known as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Vitamins C and E as antioxidants are effective on lipid profile.

This randomized double-blind study was conducted on 210 elderly people aged 60-75 during 1 year. People with full consent were classified according to sex and age groups into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received 400 and 300 mg daily of vitamin C and E in tablet form, respectively, the control group received the placebo for one year. General background information was collected through a questionnaire, and dietary intake using three-day food records was collected every two months. Lipid profile, including total TC and HDL-c levels was measured by enzymatically– colorimetry methods and LDL-c level was measured by using the formula at the beginning, and 6 and 12 months after the study.

The results of analysis of variance with covariates controlling cholesterol and fat intake, for TG, TC, LDL, and HDL showed that there was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups over time (P>0.05). Our study also showed no significant interaction between time and group (P> 0.05).

This study shows that combined supplementation with vitamins E and C did not differ significantly between the intervention and control groups in terms of lipid profile.

Eating disorders are known as obesity related syndromes، which can affect the nutritional status of individuals dramatically. The present study was conducted to determine major dietary patterns among female students with eating disorders and some of their related factors.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 515 female high school students in Tehran (231 sample with eating disorder). All participants fulfilled demographic، a modified version of the Body Shape Satisfaction Scale (BSSS) and semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires. Dietary patterns were defined by using factor analysis. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation was used to extract independent dietary patterns، and three interpretable factors were obtained. OR and 95% CI for eating disorders (dependent variable) in relation to each dietary pattern (independent variable) were calculated using logistic regression in the three models by adjusting for the effects of confounding variables.

Three major dietary patterns were obtained: High carbohydrate-high fat pattern، High proteinp-high fat pattern، and High fiber-low fat pattern. The findings showed that the odds ratio of eating disorder reduced in high protein-high fat diet significantly and after adjustment of confounding factors، this reduction still remained significant. The odds ratio of eating disorder increased in high fiber-low fat dietary pattern significantly in all models. None of the demographic characteristics، weight، or body satisfaction showed any significant relationship with eating disorders.

It seems that a high fiber–low fat (vegetarian) dietary pattern is related to eating disorders، and adolescents who follow such pattern are more likely to engage in unhealthy weight control behaviors.

Objective (s): To explore predictors of the sedentary behavior، this current descriptive، analytical study was developed among a sample of adolescents in Tabriz، Iran. Information on adolescent sedentary behaviors including TV viewing، video game playing and physical activity was collected by using A modified version of the Adolescent Physical Activity and Recall Questionnaire (APARQ). In addition an anonymous self-administrated questionnaire used to collect data on demographic characteristics، perceived family support and self-efficacy. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between sedentary behavior and independent variables including gender، psychosocial predictors and modrate، vigorouse physical activity. In all 402 adolescent students were studied. The mean age of students was 12. 93 (SD=0. 49) years; and51. 5 % was female. Overall the mean time of sedentary behaviors on adolescents was 193. 55 (SD=99. 15) minutes/day، this figure for girls and boys were 170. 25 (SD=89. 20) and 218. 25 (SD=103. 34) minutes/day (P<0. 001) respectively. The results obtained from multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that male gender (OR=3. 01، 95%CI=1. 64-4. 64، P<0. 001)، mother employment (OR=2. 36، 95%CI=1. 19-4. 67، P=0. 013)، self efficacy (OR=1. 10، 95% CI=0. 94-0. 99، P= 0. 006) were the most significant contributing factors to the high level of sedentary behavior on adolescents. Gender، mother employment and low perceived self-efficacy were recognized as the main predictors of attaching to sedentary behaviors. It seems that sedentary behaviors independent on adolescent physical activity levels are a psycho enviromental problem. Specefic preventive programe should be developed independendly on adolescent moderate، vigrouse physical activity.

Both vitamin D deficiency and inflammation have been linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the major cause of death in diabetes. In this study, the effects of daily intake of vitamin D-fortified yogurt drink (doogh) on systemic inflammatory biomarkers in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were investigated. In this 12-week randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT), T2D subjects received either plain doogh (PD containing 170mg calcium and no detectable vitamin D/250mL, n1=50) or vitamin D3-fortified doogh (FD containing 170 mg calcium and 500 IU/250mL, n2=50) twice a day. Glycemic status, body fat mass (FM) and systemic inflammatory biomarkers including serum hsCRP, serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were evaluated at the beginning and after the intervention. Data were expressed as either mean±SD or median (interquartile range [IQR]) whenever they had either normal or non-normal distribution, respectively. In the FD group, compared to the PD group, a significant increase in serum 25 (OH)D was accompanied by significant changes in TNF-α (-57.9 (-264.6) vs. +106.3 (683.2), p=0.044), IL-6 (-6.3 (-69.2), p=0.002), hsCRP (-0.39 (-1.50) vs. +0.8 (1.52), p<0.001), SAA (-14.2±44.5 vs. +5.6±37.5 mg/L, p=0.022) and IL-10 (+38.7±157.0 vs. -51.9±165.2 ng/L, p=0.013). The between-group differences of hsCRP, SAA and IL-6 changes remained significant even after controlling for changes QUICKI (p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.009 respectively). Improvement of vitamin D status of T2D subjects resulted in amelioration of the systemic inflammatory markers. This may have preventive implications against CVD and other diabetic complications. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT01236846.

The increasing trend of prevalence of diabetes mellitus, a diet-related chronic disease has prompted research to find ways to control it. Brewer's yeast may have a potential role because its glucose tolerance factor (GTF) may have beneficial effects on insulin receptors in diabetic patients. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of brewer's yeast supplementation on serum lipoproteins and blood pressure in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. In a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial 84 adults (21 men and 63 women, 46.3 ± 6.1 years old) with T2DM were recruited and divided randomly into 2 groups of 42 subjects each, one receiving brewer's yeast (six 300-mg capsules/day, total 1800 mg) and one (control group) receiving a placebo (6 capsules/day) for 12 weeks. Body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), food consumption (based on 24-hour food recall), fasting serum lipids and lipoproteins (total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-c and HDL-c), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured before and after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-Ver 18.0), the statistical tests being the independent t-test, paired t-test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and analysis of covariance. Brewer’s yeast supplementation brought about statistically significant reductions in diastolic and systolic blood pressures (5.7±0.6 mm Hg, p=0.001 and 4.1±1.5 mm Hg, p=0.007, respectively) after 12 weeks. Changes in LDL-c, HDL-c, triglycerides and total cholesterol were no-significant. Further analysis of the data showed significant differences between the brewer’s yeast and control groups with regard to diastolic (p<0.03) and systolic (p<0.05) blood pressure at the end of the period. Dietary supplementation with brewer's yeast can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in Asia, including the Middle East. Vitamin D deficiency has been found to have an inverse relationship with occurrence of type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM). In this study we assessed the vitamin D and calcium status in type-2 diabetic patients and compared it with that of healthy subjects in Tehran, Iran. This cross-sectional study included 180 Tehrani individuals, including 95 DM patients, selected randomly from among the members of Iranian Diabetes Association, and 85 healthy subjects in Tehran, Iran. Age and gender were adjusted between the two groups. Serum levels of 25(OH)-vitamin D, calcium, phosphorous, and Parathormone (PTH), as well as weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were measured. The mean and SD age and BMI of the diabetic patients were 51.26 ± 11.18 years and 26.22 ± 9.30 kg/m2, respectively; the corresponding figures for the healthy subjects were 51.55 ± 13.39 and 26.26 ± 4.55. The prevalence of calcium deficiency was close in the 2 groups, it being 55.8% in the diabetic, and 57.0% in the healthy, subjects. The data also showed that while 26.3% of the patients suffered from a poor vitamin D status, only 18.6% of the healthy subjects had this problem. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among both type-2 diabetic and healthy subjects and should be considered a public health and nutritional problem in Tehran city, Iran.

Vitamin D deficiency is a prevalent disorder in the world particularly in Asian countries including Iran. There are increasing evidences about the relationship between serum level 25 hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] and the control of diabetes. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between serum level of 25(OH)D and glycemic profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in compared to healthy subjects. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 180 people. 95 patients with type 2 DM were randomly selected among members of Iranian Diabetes Association (patients group). 85 healthy subjects were matched with patients group according their age and gender (control group). Biochemical parameters including 25(OH)D, calcium, phosphorous, parathormone (PTH), glucose, HbA1c, insulin were measured. Homeostasis model of assessment- insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index was calculated. 82% of patients group and 75.6% of healthy subjects were suffering from vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. There is an significant inverse relationship between 25(OH)D and glycemic profile except insulin concentration (FBS and HbA1c). We concluded that vitamin D deficiency has high prevalence among type 2 diabetic patients and also healthy subjects. Vitamin D has an inverse relationship with glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients.

Vitamin D receptors have been presented in the areas involved in learning and memory. This study was done to assess the effect of the vitamin D deficiency and calcitriol supplementation on spatial learning and memory. Twenty seven male rats were divided into three groups (n=9 for each): receiving normal (Contro), diminished vitamin D (C-D) and calcitriol supplement (C+D) regimens for 45 days. The animals were introduced to the Morris water maze (MWM) trials (4trials/day for 5 consecutive days). The delay in finding and distance passed to reach the target platform were measured as spatial learning. The probe test was performed on the 5th day of experiment. The C-D group needed a longer time to reach the platform than the control and C+D animals (P<0.0001), demonstrating that vitamin D deficiency negatively affected the maze learning. On the other hand, calcitriol supplementation did not significantly influence the spatial learning. The probe trial was not affected by either vitamin D deficiency or calcitriol supplementation. Although vitamin D deficiency deteriorates the maze learning it dose not affect the spatial memory consolidation. Also, calcitriol supplementation for 45 days is not effective in cognitive phenomena

Essential fatty acid deficiency has been found in diabetic patients. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation could be beneficial in alleviating diabetes complications and glycemic control. However, it may increase oxidative stress. In this study the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplements on glycemic control, total antioxidant capacity and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) activities were investigated. In a double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial, 81 type-2 diabetic patients were divided into 2 groups. The experimental group took 2714 mg/day omega-3 fatty acids (1548 mg EPA, 828 mg DHA, and 338 mg other omega-3 fatty acids), and the control group took sunflower oil as a placebo, for 8 weeks. Dietary intakes were assessed by a 24h dietary recall, before and after intervention, and analyzed using food processor II. In addition, fasting blood samples were collected for analysis and height and weight were measured, initially and at the end of the trial. At the start of the study there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with regard to mean weight, height, body mass index (BMI), daily intakes of energy, carbohydrate, protein, total fat, polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber, vitamins A, B, C, E, folate, cobalamine, zinc, or biochemical parameters. Neither were there any difference in weight, BMI and dietary intakes before and after intervention in either group. The supplementation brought about a significant decrease (P<0.00) in HbA1c% in the experimental group, while in the control group the HbA1c level actually increased (p<0.02). Furthermore, the magnitudes of HbA1c changes were significantly deferent between the two groups (P<0.00). Changes in the fasting blood sugar (163.88 ± 10 vs. 165.6 ± 7.9 mg/dl), total antioxidant capacity (3.79 ± 0.07 vs. 3.62 ± 0.7 mg/dl), and activities of super oxide dismutase (449.22 ± 14.14 vs. 417.16 ± 11.9 U/gHb) and catalase (150.72 ± 9.6 vs. 151.86 ± 12.6 k/gHb) were not statistically significant. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may be helpful in glycemic control in type-2 diabetes, but it has no significant effect on the antioxidant enzyme activities.