سعید هادی

The canning process has undesirable effects on the organoleptic and nutritional characteristics of food. Therefore, in this study, for the first time and in a comprehensive plan, the microbial safety of canned meat in different weights was evaluated and then the qualitative characteristics of these products including textural characteristics (using compression and penetration tests), sensory and nutritional characteristics (determination of vitamins riboflavin, niacin, B6, pantothenic acid and B12, as well as elements of zinc, selenium, phosphorus) were investigated. Examining the microbial characteristics of the samples showed that the samples did not contain any microbial contamination. As the weight of canned meat increased, the amounts of vitamins B5 and B2 decreased significantly. On the other hand, the amount of phosphorus, iron and selenium nutrients in the studied canned food samples did not show a statistically significant difference (p˂0.05) and the amount of zinc element increased with the increase in canned food weight. From the textural point of view, the results of the cutting and penetration tests showed that the hardness of the samples decreased with the increase in the canned weight, which was in agreement with the results obtained from the sensory test. It was also observed that with the increase in the weight of canned samples, the sensory score of color, texture and overall acceptance decreased.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality globally, with a significant prevalence in developing countries and the Middle East. Dietary patterns play a crucial role in the prevention and management of CVD. This narrative review focuses on the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet and its impact on cardiovascular health.

A comprehensive review of literature published between 2021 and 2023 was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases. Key terms included "heart disease," "CVD," "MIND diet," and "Mediterranean-DASH diet for Neurodegenerative Delay." Studies addressing the effect of the MIND diet on CVD, comprising cohort, cross-sectional, and case-control studies, were included.

The MIND diet, rich in plant-based foods, unsaturated fats from olive oil, and low in red meat and dairy, shows a significant inverse relationship with CVD risk factors. Specific components like whole grains, legumes, berries, and nuts were associated with reduced body weight, lower CRP levels, and improved cardiovascular markers. Contrasting results in some studies highlight the complexity of dietary influences on heart health.

The MIND diet presents a viable dietary strategy for reducing cardiovascular risks, with implications for clinical practice and public health policy. However, future research, particularly randomized controlled trials, must establish causality and further explore the diet's efficacy across diverse populations.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition in which triglycerides accumulate in liver cells without a history of alcohol consumption. Evidence has shown that auxiliary treatments, including the use of antioxidant compounds, can be effective in improving nonalcoholic fatty liver. Resveratrol is an antioxidant compound that has been shown to be beneficial in some diseases. This study aimed to investigate the results of research on the relationship between supplementation of resveratrol and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Randomized Clinical Trial effect of resveratrol supplementation on NAFLD was reviewed from Science direct, Pub med, Google scholar, Scopus, Web of Science between 2008 and 2012 with the keywords: Resveratrol, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis, NAFLD.

A review of various studies showed resveratrol has positive effects on improving the symptoms of non-alcoholic fatty liver through various mechanisms such as lowering total plasma cholesterol and triglycerides, reducing oxidative stress in liver cell culture medium, decreasing liver triglyceride content and finally reducing the degree of steatosis. However, some studies have different results and do not show a significant effect on resveratrol supplementation.

In most studies, the positive effects of resveratrol supplementation on non-alcoholic fatty liver have been proven, but more studies are needed because of the controversy of studies.

The effects of herbal medicine in management of chronic diseases such as diabetes are under investigation. One of the most recent herbal medicine to management of diabetes is nigella Sativa. The mechanism of the effect of nigella Sativa on diabetes is not clear. One of the mechanisms that improves insulin resistance among type 2 diabetes is an increase in adiponectin concentration and a decrease in serum leptin concentration, but few studies have examined the effect of nigella Sativa on leptin and adiponectin concentrations. The aim of this double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was to investigate the effect of nigella Sativa oil extract on serum leptin and adiponectin concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Forty-three type 2 diabetic patients, aged 30-55 years (20 women, age: 53.7±6.3 years) were randomly assigned to groups designated to the intervention (n=23) and the control (n=20) groups. Intervention group consumed 2 capsules daily, (500 mg extract of black seed oil), while control group consumed 2 capsules (500 mg, placebo), both for 8 weeks. Leptin and adiponectin concentrations were measured at baseline and again after the 8-week intervention. To calculate changes in leptin and adiponectin, baseline and end-of-intervention values were used to compare baseline and end-of-intervention values in each group, using the paired t-test.

Extract of black seed oil significantly decreased leptin concentrations in the intervention group (baseline 7.3±0.6; after intervention 5.2 ± 0.3, p < 0.005) compared to the control group (baseline 7.6 ± 0.9, after intervention 7.8 ± 0.9, p=0.41). There was no significant change in adiponectin concentrations after both Nigella Sativa Oil Extract and placebo consumption.

It seems that Nigella Sativa Oil Extract reduces serum leptin concentrations in type 2 diabetic patients, however no significant effect on adiponectin concentrations was found. 

In difficult conditions, the military needs high-energy and macronutrient and micronutrient-rich nutrition during intense physical activity to achieve optimal levels of fitness. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Compact Food Bar (CFB) designed on cardiopulmonary endurance in military athletes.

Forty-five military personnels with aging between 20 and 45 years were assigned into two groups in this randomized, single blind, controlled clinical trial. Subjects in the intervention group received three packs, 700kcal each, of CFB supplemented with Functional compounds (Caffeine, L-arginine, and Propolis) designed, each day for 10 days. The other group consumed regular food used in military training courses with the same calories as control per day for the same period of time. The conditions for performing the activities in terms of some variables such as temperature, humidity, sports coverage, sleep, type of sports, and caloric activities were the same for all samples. Maximal oxygen uptake (Vo2 Max) as a measure of cardio-respiratory endurance in vitro with cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), anthropometric indices by body composition and physical activity with a pedometer were measured and recorded at the baseline and the end of the trial. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 16 software.

In the CFB group, Vo2 max, Vo2/HR and VE/Vo2 were significantly improved at the end of the study (P<0.01). Vo2 max, Vo2/HR, and VE/Vo2 were significantly increased in the CFB group compared with the control group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the mean of VE/Vco2, and exercise ventilation (VE) (P>0/05). Body weight, body mass index (BMI), lean body mass (LBM), and body fat mass (BFM) did not alter in the CFB group at the end of the study (P>0.05).

The consumption of CFB supplemented with caffeine, L-arginine, and propolis has a more effective response to improved cardiopulmonary endurance in military athletes compared with the regular food group.

Dietary behaviors and physical activity are critical in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and reducing mortality among hemodialysis patients. The predictive ability of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in relation to dietary (sodium and potassium) and physical activity behaviors was assessed among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis at hospitals affiliated with the Iranian Army.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 62 ESRD patients who were undergoing hemodialysis. TPB questionnaires were completed via a face-to-face interview by trained researchers a week prior to the behavior assessment. Self-reported behaviors were then assessed during the weekend. Moreover, dietary sodium and potassium intakes were evaluated using 24-hour dietary recall and further analyzed with Nutritionist 4 software. Hierarchical Multiple Regression (HMR) analyses were performed using SPSS (version 18: IBM corporation).
Findings showed that the TPB explains 26.5% (22.6% adjusted), (P≤0.01), 25.7% (18.1% adjusted), (P≤0.01) and 33.6% (30.0% adjusted), (P≤0.01) of the changes in self-reported sodium restriction, potassium restriction and physical activity performance, respectively. Furthermore, TPB predicted 28.5% (21.8% adjusted), (P≤0.01) and 25.6% (19.3% adjusted), (P≤0.01) of the variances in the dietary intakes of sodium and potassium.
The present study reveals valuable findings in support of applying TPB in hemodialysis patients and paves the way for effective future educational interventions.

Background and In recent years the role of nutrition and herbal medicine are considered in the control of cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effect of nigella sativa on glycemic indices, lipid profiles, markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and anthropometric indices.
An electronic literature search was conducted on websites such as Science direct, Google scholar, SID, Iranmedex, and Scopus using the following keywords: nigella sativa, Timokinon, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, blood glucose, lipid profile, metabolic syndrome, body weight, inflammation, and antioxidant. Published articles (until August 2014) in English and Persian were selected.
Nigella sativa in various interventions improved insulin resistance, lowered blood sugar and HbA1c, increased insulin production, and decreased hepatic gluconeogenesis and glucose absorption in the intestine. Nigella sativa also showed improvements in lipid profile. It can improve the inflammatory status (by reducing the inflammatory cytokine and anti-inflammatory increase in the inhibition of NF-KB factor and Nitric oxide) and oxidative stress (by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and reducing free radicals, such as Malondialdehyde) in treatment of diabetes. Nigella sativa modifies the metabolic syndrome associated with type 2 diabetes by improving anthropometric parameters.
Nigella sativa have a favorable effect on management of cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress.

Improvement of lipid abnormalities are important in the prevention of diabetes complications. The study aimed to determine the effect of nigella sativa oil extract oil on blood lipid abnormalities in patients with type 2 diabetes. In this double blind randomized clinical trial, 43 men and women with type 2 diabetes who were randomized to the intervention (n=23) and placebo (n=20) groups were studied and compared. The intervention group received 2 capsules daily, (500 mg extract of Black Seed Oil) while the control group took 2 capsules (500 mg, placebo daily) for 8 weeks, respectively. Lipid profiles were measured at the beginning and end of the inte­rvention. Mean age and body mass index of participants was 53.7±6.0 y and 28.6±5.4 kg/m2, respectively. At the end of the eighth week, the concentrations of serum triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and LDL to HDL cholesterol of the intervention group were compared to the placebo group, and a significant reduction (P<0.05) was found. However concentrations of HDL cholesterol and total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio, at the of the end eighth week in the intervention group and the control group showed no significant difference. Black Seed Oil extract improves lipid profiles in type 2 diabetic patients.