No abstract

BackgroundPostmenopausal women are at higher risk of mental disorders. Oxidative stress has implication in the development of these disorders. Dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) has been proposed as a tool for assessing dietary antioxidants intake. The relationship between DTAC with depression, anxiety and stress has not been investigated in postmenopausal women. Thus, we aimed to assess the association between DTAC and depression, stress and anxiety as well as oxidative stress biomarkers.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out on 175 postmenopausal women. Data on dietary intake and mental health were collected by 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-42), respectively. Dietary and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidized-LDL, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. ANOVA test was applied to compare the mean of variables across the tertiles of DTAC. The relationship between DTAC and oxidative stress biomarkers was determined through ANCOVA method. Simple and multivariate linear regression tests were performed to measure the relationship between DTAC and mental health.ResultsSerum MDA level was significantly lower in the subjects at the highest tertiles of DTAC (P-value < 0.001). In addition, serum TAC level was significantly higher in subjects at the second tertile of DTAC (P-value = 0.04). DTAC was inversely and independently related to depression (β = − 0.16, P-value = 0.03) and anxiety scores (β = − 0.21, P-value = 0.007). There was no significant association between DTAC and stress score (β = − 0.10, P-value = 0.1).ConclusionAn inverse relationship was found between DTAC with depression, anxiety scores and some oxidative stress biomarkers in postmenopausal women. These findings indicate DTAC may be used for developing effective dietary measures for reducing depression and anxiety in these women.

Background: Major depressive disorder is among main worldwide causes of disability. The low medication compliance rates in depressed patients as well as the high recurrence rate of the disease can bring up the nutrition-related factors as a potential preventive or treatment agent for depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between dietary patterns and depression via the intermediary role of the serum folate and vitamin B12, total homocysteine, tryptophan, and tryptophan/competing amino acids ratio. Methods: This was an individually matched case-control study in which 110 patients with depression and 220 healthy individuals, who completed a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire were recruited. We selected the depressed patients from three districts in Tehran through non-probable convenience sampling from which healthy individuals were selected, as well. The samples selection and data collection were performed during October 2012 to June 2013. In addition, to measure the serum biomarkers 43 patients with depression and 43 healthy people were randomly selected from the study population. To diagnose depression the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, were utilized. Results: The findings suggest that the healthy dietary pattern was significantly associated with a reduced odds of depression (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.61-0.93) whereas the unhealthy dietary pattern increased it (OR: 1.382, CI: 1.116-1.71). The mediation analysis showed that the healthy dietary pattern was associated with a reduced risk of depression via increased serum levels of the folate and vitamin B12; however, the unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with increased risk of depression via decreased serum levels of folate and vitamin B12, based on tree adjusted logistic regression models. Conclusion: Dietary patterns may be associated with depression by changing the serum levels of folate and vitamin B12. Further studies are required to confirm the mechanism.

BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic component of metabolic syndrome. Despite the beneficial health effects of cardamom on dyslipidemia, hepatomegaly, and fasting hyperglycemia, no previous human study has been conducted on the efficacy of cardamom in NAFLD. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of green cardamom (GC) on serum Sirtuin-1 (Sirt1), inflammatory factors, and liver enzymes in overweight or obese NAFLD patients.MethodsThe recruitment of subjects was conducted at the polyclinic of the central hospital of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), Tehran. Eighty-seven patients who participated were divided randomly into two groups according to the ultrasonography and eligibility criteria as cardamom (n = 43) or placebo (n = 44). The intervention involves taking two 500 mg capsules three times per day with meals for 3 months. General characteristics, dietary intake and physical activity status, weight and height were determined. In addition, serum Sirt1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), high sensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were measured. The degree of fatty liver was determined at beginning and end of the study.ResultsIn comparison with placebo, GC significantly increased Sirt1 and decreased hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, ALT, and the degree of fatty liver (P < 0.05). The differences in weight, BMI, and AST were not significant (P > 0.05).ConclusionGC supplementation could improve some biomarkers related to fatty liver including inflammation, ALT, and Sirt1 in overweight/obese NAFLD patients. Further trials on cardamom’s potential are suggested.Trial registrationIranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT2015121317254N4. Registered 27/12/2015.

BACKGROUND Cardamom has antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects which may help to remedy diseases. Studies on the health benefits of cardamom in diabetic patients are very limited. Thus, this study is designed to determine the effect of cardamom supplementation on blood lipids and glycemic indices in type 2 diabetic patients. To investigate the mechanism of cardamom effect on blood glucose and lipid levels, serum sirtuin‐1 (SIRT1) was assessed. RESULTS In a parallel, double‐blind randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical trial, 83 overweight or obese type 2 diabetic patients were randomly allocated into an intervention (n = 41) or a control group (n = 42). The intervention and the placebo group received 3 g of green cardamom or rusk powder, respectively for 10 weeks. Physical activity level, dietary intake, anthropometric measurements (weight, height and waist circumference), glycemic indices [glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)], blood lipids [triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐c) and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐c)] and SIRT1 levels were measured. Body mass index and homeostasis model assessment as an index of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) were calculated before and after intervention. Compared to the control group, a significant decrease in serum HbA1C (−0.4%), insulin (−2.8 µIU dL−1), HOMA‐IR (−1.7) and TG (−39.9 mg dL−1), and an increase in SIRT1 (2.3 ng mL−1) was observed in cardamom group. There were no significant changes in serum TC, HDL‐c and LDL‐c levels between the two groups before and after adjustment for potential confounders including glyclaside dose, duration of disease and weight. CONCLUSION Our results showed that cardamom can decrease HbA1c, insulin level, HOMA‐IR and TG level via increase in SIRT1 concentration in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry