هادی عبدالله زاد

Resistant starch (RS) is a form of starch that human digestive enzymes cannot access, and it is fermented in the lower intestinal tract, modifying microbiota and producing short-chain fatty acids. Although numerous studies have investigated the impact of RS on human health, its exact mechanisms and effects on human health and diseases are not yet fully understood.

This review study was conducted using relevant keywords and electronic searches in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases.

Resistant starch type 2 (RS2), a high amylose starch (HAM-S), cannot be completely digested in the gastrointestinal tract due to its specific structure. Consequently, RS2 affects satiety, obesity, and other metabolic variables in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, a diet rich in HAM-S may have beneficial effects on gastrointestinal health and kidneys by altering gut microbiota and reducing nitrogenous waste in the body. However, several studies have shown that the intake of high amylose supplements has no positive effects on cardiometabolic variables.

This study reviewed some of the main effects of resistant starch type 2 (RS2) on obesity, gut health, chronic kidney diseases, and cardiometabolic health. Due to the beneficial effects of RS2 on human health and the absence of significant side effects from its consumption, it is probably helpful to consider HAM-S as part of daily carbohydrate intake.

Resistance exercise can reduce inflammation. On the other hand, garlic supplementation may have beneficial effects in combination with resistance training due to its wide-ranging effects, including its effect on inflammation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks’ progressive resistance training with garlic supplementation on serum hs-Crp levels and insulin resistance in overweight young women.

Forty-eight healthy age range: 20 to 40 years, randomly divided into four groups: resistance training + supplement (age=31.3 ± 3.1y, BMI=28.2 ± 2.7kg/m2), resistance training + placebo (age=30.7 ± 3.8y, BMI=26.4 ± 2.4 kg/m2), Garlic supplement (age=27.9 ± 2.5y, BMI=26.7 ± 3.9 kg/m2) and control (age=29.7 ± 3.8y, BMI=28.8 ± 3.3 kg/m2). Before and after eight weeks of training period, anthropometric data, one repetition maximum (1-RM), C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin and glucose were measured and insulin resistance (IR) was calculated. The subjects of the training group performed a progressive resistance training program for eight weeks, three sessions per week, including three sets with 10 repetitions maximum and one minute rest between sets and movements. Subjects in the supplement and placebo groups took two 500mg tablets of garlic or placebo daily in the morning and at night with a meal. Changes in the results before and after the in four research groups were examined using one-way analysis of variance. If statistical analysis were significant, the Bonferoni posthoc test was used for finding the place of differences.

Significant decrease in serum CRP levels, insulin resistance and glucose was observed in the training + supplement group compared to other groups (P < 0.05). In contrast, insulin levels did not show significant changes in all groups (P > 0.05). Regarding body composition analysis, the results were accompanied by a significant decrease in fat mass and a significant increase in lean body mass, especially in the training + garlic group (P < 0.05).

Although hs-CRP data and insulin resistance index of the present subjects were in the normal range and seemed safe, but in general, according to the results of the present study, it seems that the progressive resistance training program with garlic supplementation had double effects on CRP as important inflammatory index and insulin resistance in overweight women compared to either alone.

The prevalence of obesity is recognized as a health problem worldwide. Metabolic syndrome as the most important obesity factor is considered as one of the health problems in all societies. Supportive and complementary interventions are considered improvements in the status of individuals with metabolic syndrome. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of eight weeks of sodium alginate supplementation and high intensity interval training on lipid profiles and liver enzymes in metabolic syndrome women.

Thirty women with metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned into 4 groups: intermittent exercise (High Intensity Interval Training)+supplement (n=9), intermittent exercise (HIIT) )n=8), complementary (n=7) and control group (n=6). Subjects in HIIT and HIIT + supplementation groups performed three sessions of intermittent exercise each week for eight weeks with an intensity of 85% to 95% of the maximum heart rate. Sodium alginate supplementation was taken three times a week and 30 minutes before meals in the amount of 1.5 g of sodium alginate dissolved in 100 mg of water. Blood sampling were taken from all 4 groups 48 hours before and after the exercise program. One-way ANOVA and t-test were used for data analysis (P≤0.05).

The results showed that in the exercise+supplement group lipid profile (P=0.005) and aspartate aminotransferase (P=0.012)(17.8%), fat percentage (P=0.001)(9.7%), BMI (P=0.000) and alanine aminotransferase (P=0.035)(12.7%) compared to the other group were significantly reduced, indicating the effect of intermittent exercise and supplementation on improving the symptoms of metabolic syndrome in women participating in this study.

According to the results of this study, it seems that high intensity intermittent exercise with sodium alginate supplementation can be effective in prevention of some obesity related diseases and treatment of the metabolic syndrome.

Accumulation of iron is the most common consequences of repeated blood transfusions in β-thalassemia major patients. Iron chelating effects of alpha-lipoic acid have been reported by several studies. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid, as a chelator, on serum iron and hematological indices in these patients.

Twenty-two β-thalassemia major patients were selected to receive 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid or placebo capsules for 8 w. After a 3-week washout period, order of intervention was replaced as patients who previously received placebo were administered the supplement vise versa for another 8 w. At the end of the study, changes in serum iron, total iron binding capacity and hematological parameters between the treatments were assessed.

Serum concentrations of iron and total iron binding capacity and hematological parameters did not change within the supplementation (p > 0.05). Changes in iron, total iron binding capacity and hematological indices were not significantly different between the two interventions (p > 0.05). White blood cell counts in placebo use increased significantly in males (p = 0.04). The mean corpuscular hemoglobin in placebo patients decreased significantly in all patients and males (p = 0.02 for both).

Results of this study revealed that alpha-lipoic acid supplementation included no beneficial effects on iron, total iron binding capacity and hematological indices in β-thalassemia major patients. Further studies with more participants and longer times are indispensable.

Concurrent stunting with overweight" is one of the consequences of nutritional transition, which has worsened the outcomes more than overweight itself. The aim of this study was to determine the trend of anthropometric indices in primary to high school students in Eslam Abad-e Gharb city, Iran.

The present analytical-comparative study was conducted in 2017 in the city of Islamabad-e-Gharb, and students from 16 high schools were randomly selected and surveyed by cluster sampling. High school metrics were measured in the same year. Elementary school information was collected through school student files. In this study, "short stature at the same time with overweight" was defined as "z-score equal to + 1 and above BMI for age and z-score equal to 1- and less" height for age "based on simultaneous placement. Collected data was analyzed using Fisher and Chi-square statistical tests.

In the present study, out of 731 people, 350(47.9%) were girls and 381 (52.1%) were boys. The prevalence of short stature at the same time with overweight in primary school was 0.55%(4 people) and in high school was 3.83% (28 people), which was significant from primary school to high school among all students studied (p=0.001). In short, the index was not significant in girls (p=0.001), but not significant in boys (p = 0.506).

The prevalence of short stature has been on the rise with overweight students (especially girls) from elementary school to high school.