International Journal of Nutrition Sciences
Volume:5 Issue: 4, Dec 2020

The seed of Nigella sativa commonly called ‘black seed’ has been used in different civilizations for centuries to treat various animal and human diseases. Thymoquinone is chemically 2-methyl-5-isopropyl-1, 4-benzoquinone monoterpene molecule and it is the main constituent in black seeds responsible for most of the pharmacological characteristics. The current review aims to discuss the effect of thymoquinone based on experimental evidence in reducing the risk of certain chronic issues such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, hepatopathy, hypertension, and obesity in the shadow of available literature. However, clinical trials are recommended to prove the studied effects of thymoquinone in humans.

Argan oil is a natural vegetable oil recently received much attention because of ingredients such as tocopherols, particularly in its γ-isoform, polyphenols, and phytosterols which are rich sources of antioxidants with therapeutic effects on cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, hepatic disease, cancer, acne, sebum, and aging. One half tablespoon per day was shown to be effective to prevent metabolic diseases. The current systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effect of argan oil on cardiovascular health. PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were searched from their beginning to August 2019. All clinical trials studied the effect of argan oil on the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), vitamin E, apolipoprotein A (Apo A) and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) levels for at least two weeks were included. Five studies underwent meta-analysis techniques using random-effects models. Collective outcomes showed that argan oil increased the vitamin E level (SMD: 2.98, 95%CI: -0.51, 6.48, p=0.09) non-significantly compared with control group. Argan oil could significantly raise the Apo A level (SMD: 0.74, 95%CI: 0.39, 1.10,p <0.001), and decrease the Apo B level significantly (SMD: -0.58, 95%CI: -0.93, -0.23, p=0.001). In conclusion, our study showed that consumption of argan oil increased Apo-A and vitamin E levels, but further clinical studies on a larger number of patients are needed to explain and confirm the biological and clinical effects of argan oil.

Vitamin B12 plays an important role in many metabolic pathways, obesity, and insulin resistance and the elderly as a high-risk group are prone to its deficiency. In this regard, this study investigated the relationship between serum vitamin B12 and glycemic indices, dietary components and body mass index (BMI) in elderly population. In a cross-sectional study, ninety elderly aged 65 years and older from an senior center were enrolled. After completing the demographic questionnaire and assessing BMI, 5 mL blood sample was provided to measure serum vitamin B12, insulin and blood glucose levels. On the other hand, the vitamin B12 content of the diet was extracted from thefood frequency questionnaire (FFQ). About 58% of the elderly had serum vitamin B12 levels below normal. There was a significant correlation between low vitamin B12 levels, body weight and BMI. Furthermore, the relationship between low serum vitamin B12 level and fasting blood glucose level was also significant (P<0.05). FFQ results indicated a significant relationship between serum vitamin B12 level and the amount of different types ofmeat and eggs. The favorable level of vitamin B12 was shown to play a role in hyperglycemia control and to reach a normal weight.

Diet is a pivotal modifable risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D), while lifestyle and dietary modifcations are ostensible measures considering the disease association. The present study was endeavored to identify dietary patterns in Bangladesh and to evaluate the association between dietary patterns and the risk of T2D. The investigation population (n=108) was a part of the population-based nutrition study conducted in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Dietary intake was obtained using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Demographic, anthropometric, socioeconomic characteristics, and other covariates were collected using structured lifestyle questionnaires. Associations between dietary patterns and the risk of T2D were estimated by multivariate logistic regression analyses.Two major dietary patterns including traditional Bangladeshi and Western were identifed using factor analysis. Odds ratios were calculated for the risk of T2D across quartiles of dietary pattern scores. Subsequent adjusting for the possible confounders, the highest quartile of the Western dietary pattern score had greater odds of T2D (OR=1.16; 95% CI: 1.102-1.136; P=0.02) than those did in the lowest quartile. Compared with those in the lowest quartile, subjects in the highest quartile of the traditional Bangladeshi dietary pattern score had lower odds of the T2D (OR=0.69; 95% CI: 0.562-0.874; P=0.04) than those did in the lowest quartile. Traditional Bangladeshi dietary patterns had no association with the incidence of T2D and Western dietary patterns were associated with an increased risk of T2D.

Raw milk consumption can be associated with harmful side effects due to high risks of contamination; however, a large number of people still tend to consume raw milk. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting consumer’s choice of milk (raw or pasteurized) based on Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA).

This cross-sectional study was performed on healthy individuals older than 20 years old referred to shopping centers in Tabriz, Iran. The data collection tool was a valid and reliable questionnaire designed based on the TRA to investigate the consumers’ choice of milk.

Overall, 266 individuals, including 104 (39.1%) males and 162 (60.9%) females with the mean age of 40.72±10.18 years participated in this study. A positive and direct correlation was observed between all TRA components including nutritional attitude, subjective norm, behavioral intention, and nutritional behavior. There was a signifcant direct correlation between education level and TRA components, while body mass index (BMI) showed an inverse correlation. Attitude,subjective norm, and behavioral intention could predict 87% of milk choices. Attitude and intention were the strong predictors of nutritional behavior (p <0.05).

This study provided clear evidence for the affecting role of educational level and BMI on consumers’ choice of milk. In addition, it was shown that TRA can be used as a reference framework to investigate milk product preferences in future studies.

Problems related to nutrition and personal hygiene are widespread among adolescent Bangladeshi girls. This study assessed the nutritional status, dietary habits, and sanitation practices of adolescent girls of Sunamganj District in Bangladesh. Totally, 380 adolescent 11-18-year-old girls from 4 different schools and madrasas of Sunamganj District in Bangladesh were randomly enrolled. A structured questionnaire and standard anthropometric methods were used to collect the data. Totally, 4.2%, 26.6%, 1.3%, 7.8%, 7.5%, 3.2% and 20.1% of girls were ‘severely stunted’, ‘stunted’, ‘obese’, ‘overweight’, ‘thin’, ‘severely thin’ and ‘in the risk of being thinness’, respectively. Most of girls came from humble socio-economic backgrounds and over two-thirds of their parents were ‘below primary’ or ‘up to primary’ educational level. Regarding nutritional knowledge, 32.8% of girls’ performance was ‘poor’, whereas 55.5% were ‘average’. The Individual Dietary Diversity (IDD) of 33.8%, 23.4%, and 42.9% of girls were ‘poor’, ‘medium’, and ‘high’, respectively. The Food Consumption Score (FCS) of 0.6%, 11.7%, and 87.7% of girls fell within ‘poor’, ‘borderline’, and ‘acceptable’ categories,respectively. Regarding sanitation practices during the menstrual period, 26.9%, 1.9%, 17.9%, and 39.9% of girls used ‘old clothes’, ‘tissue papers’, ‘new clothes’, and ‘napkin pads’, respectively, while 86%, 29.5%, and 80.2% of girls habitually washed their hands with soap ‘after excretion’, ‘before preparing food’ and ‘before eating meals’, respectively. High percentages of girls were still undernourished because of their lower socio-economic conditions and due to lack of knowledge and awareness on personal hygiene.

Chemical drugs in treatment of liver diseases are still scare and with many complications. Citrullus colocynthis known as bitter apple is on of herbals that can affect liver function. This study evaluated the effect of C. colocynthis on serum lipid profile and hepatic tissue histology in CCl4-induced liver injury rat model. In this experimental animal study, forty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 equal groups of control received 1 mL/kg of distilled water, twice a week for 2 weeks intraperitoneally (IP); sham injected with 50% CCl4 identically; and experimental groups administered with just 20 mg/kg of C. colocynthis similarly; receipt of 20 mg/kg of C. colocynthis after induction of fatty liver disease by CCl4, identically; received 50 mg/kg of C. colocynthis in the same manner; and receipt of 50 mg/kg of C. colocynthis after induction of fatty liver disease by CCl4, identically. The triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol levels were determined and liver tissue changes were assessed histologically before and after interventions. C. colocynthis could decrease TG, total cholesterol (TC), highdensity lipoprotein (HDL), but not low-density lipoprotein (LDL) after liver injury. C. colocynthis could significantly ameliorate the injured liver. Based on the decrease in TG, TC and HDL levels and histological healing picture in hepatic tissue after administration of C. colocynthis, it can be recommended as an alternative medical therapy for liver injuries because it is inexpensive and is easily available. These findings can be added to the literature when targeting treatment of liver injuries.

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasite Plasmodium sp., while infection with malaria can cause an excessive increase in free radicals and damage several organs. This study evaluated the effect of artemisinin-based combined therapy with Salacca edullis reinw (Zalacca) seed extract on malondialdehyde (MDA) level in micemalaria model. Using a post-test design randomized method, 48 male white mice were divided into 6 groups, including 2 control and 4 treatment groups, while they were inoculated with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Follow-up was undertaken for 14 days when comparing the groups. Artemisinin and zalacca seed extract were used in treatment groups of malaria infection. The treatment with artemisinin and zalacca seed extract revealed a significant decrease in MDA level in mice infected to malaria. Zallaca seed extract was demonstrated to reduce MDA level in mice infected to malaria. Even administration of artemisinin alone could reduce the MDA level, but was not significant. Treatment with a combination of artemisinin and zallaca seed extract was shown to significantly lower MDA level in malaria infection.