Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia that affects millions of individuals worldwide. It is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by memory loss, impaired learning and thinking, and difficulty in performing regular daily activities. Despite nearly two decades of collective efforts to develop novel medications that can prevent or halt the disease progression, we remain faced with only a few options with limited effectiveness. There has been a recent growth of interest in the role of nutrition in brain health as we begin to gain a better understanding of what and how nutrients affect hormonal and neural actions that not only can lead to typical cardiovascular or metabolic diseases but also an array of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Vitamins and minerals, also known as micronutrients, are elements that are indispensable for functions including nutrient metabolism, immune surveillance, cell development, neurotransmission, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this review, we provide an overview on some of the most common vitamins and minerals and discuss what current studies have revealed on the link between these essential micronutrients and cognitive performance or AD.

Background: More than 1% of urban Iranians aged >20 years develop type 2 diabetes annually. A major contributing factor is overweight due to energy imbalance and poor quality diet. Even though there are reports on the beneficial effects of some isolated foods on glucose metabolism, researchers are increasingly focusing on dietary patterns versus single foods. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and risk of type 2 diabetes. Methods: The current study was a case-control study nested in the cohort of the Tehran Glucose and Lipid Study. Among participants who met the study criteria, 187 incident cases of diabetes were identified and matched with 374 healthy controls according to sex, age, date of data collection, and previous history of lifestyle intervention. Results: In the highest Mediterranean Diet Scale (MDS) category there were higher intakes of energy, fibre, glycaemic load, carbohydrate, total fat, and olive oil. However saturated fatty acid and monounsaturated fatty acid intakes decreased in higher MDS categories. The multiple adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for type 2 diabetes among individuals with medium (score 3-4) and high (score 5-8) adherence to MDS were 0.79 (95% CI:0.38-1.65) and 0.93 (95% CI:0.44-1.96), respectively, compared to individuals with low adherence (score 0-3). Conclusion: Adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern was not associated with type 2 diabetes. Increased rates of type 2 diabetes in the Islamic Republic of Iran might be accounted for by the cultural and traditional differences between the Iranian and the Mediterranean dietary patterns.

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Aim. In the current study, we examined the association of dietary diabetes risk reduction score (DDRRS) with chronic kidney disease (CKD) among an Iranian adult population. Methods. We followed up 2076 ≥20-year-old participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (2006–2008), who were initially free of CKD for 5.98 years. The dietary diabetes risk reduction score was calculated based on scoring eight components, including cereal fiber, nuts, coffee, polyunsaturated fatty acids-to-saturated fatty acids ratio, glycemic index, sugar-sweetened beverages, trans fatty acids, and red and processed meat using a valid and reliable 168-item food frequency questionnaire. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to assess the association between the quartiles of DDRRS and CKD incidence. Results. Mean ± SD age of the study population (53% women) was 37.6 ± 12.61 years. During 5.98 years of follow-up, 357 incident cases of CKD were reported. The median (25–75 interquartile range) of DDRRS was 20 (18–22). After adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, total energy intake, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, eGFR, and physical activity, individuals in the highest versus lowest quartile of DDRRS were 33% less likely to have CKD (HR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.48–0.96, P for trend: 0.043). Conclusion. The present study’s findings suggest that greater adherence to a dietary pattern with a higher score of DDRRS may be associated with a lower risk of CKD incident.