Nutrition
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Crude ethanolic extract of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb (PJT) has been identified as an antiobesity and antidiabetic candidate. The aim of this study was to assess the mechanisms related to the antiobesity activity of partially purified PJT ethanol extract in vitro. ⋯ Our study demonstrated that the HP plays a crucial role in regulating lipid metabolism-related gene expressions and energy expenditure in vitro. The results thus provide insight on the activity of HP involved in suppressing obesity and its chemical entities.
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Review Meta Analysis
Trend in the prevalence of obesity and overweight among Iranian children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Childhood obesity is an important predisposing factor for most non-communicable diseases. The aim of this review was to provide evidence on the prevalence and trends of childhood obesity and overweight in Iran. ⋯ This review, which is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, suggests that although the trend in the prevalence of childhood obesity in Iranian children is not considerably high, but the escalating trend of excess weight among young children is alarming and should be considered by providers of interventional preventive programs at national and regional levels.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Probiotic supplementation improves inflammatory status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the gut microbiota is altered. Probiotics are microorganisms that can normalize gut microbiota; thus, they may help to alleviate RA symptoms. The objective of the present clinical trial was to assess the effects of probiotic supplementation on disease activity and inflammatory cytokines in patients with RA. ⋯ L. casei 01 supplementation improved the disease activity and inflammatory status of patients with RA. Further studies are warranted to confirm these results, and such confirmation may lead to the introduction of probiotics as adjunctive therapy for this population.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Impact of weight loss and maintenance with ad libitum diets varying in protein and glycemic index content on metabolic syndrome.
We investigated the effects of weight loss and maintenance with diets that varied with regard to protein content and glycemic index (GI) on metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) status. ⋯ Neither protein nor GI affected MetSyn status in this sample of European overweight and obese adults. However, a diet with a combination of an increased protein-to-carbohydrate ratio with low-GI foods had beneficial effects on MetSyn factors.