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Background and Objectives: Periodontal disease is a chronic disorder with a high prevalence. There are few studies about the role of diet in prevention and treatment of periodontal disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of consumption of Chicory leaf extract in adjunct with non-surgical periodontal therapies on serum antioxidant and lipid status.

Materials and Methods: This study was a double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial conducted on 40 patients in Sina Hospital of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (Iran) in 2014. The intervention (n=20) and control groups (n=20) were allocated using blocked randomization. The intervention group received 2 capsules (2 g) of Chicory leaf extract daily for 8 weeks. All subjects underwent non-surgical periodontal therapy during the intervention period. Anthropometric indices, 24-hour diet records, total antioxidant capacity, malate di-aldehyde (MDA), uric acid, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and HDL-c was measured before and after intervention.

Results: The mean level of total antioxidant capacity (1.89 ± 0.49; 1.20 ± 0.25, respectively; P<0.001) and uric acid (7.15±1.98; 4.48±1.34, respectively; P<0.001) increased in the intervention group compared with the control group post intervention. The mean level of MDA decreased in the intervention group compared with the control group post-intervention (3.01±1.15; 3.97±1.19, respectively; P.d<0.001). Cholesterol difference was not significant pre- and post-intervention between the two groups (P=0.35). The mean level of serum triglyceride (TG) was significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group post intervention (149.50±97.88; 109.35±58.00, respectively; P.d<0.001). The mean level of HDL-c was also significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group post treatment (42.25±8.47; 39.80±8.94, respectively; P.d<0.001).

Conclusions: It seems that consumption of Chicory leaf in adjunct with non-surgical periodontal treatment has beneficial effect against periodontal disease.

Keywords: Periodontal disease, Chicory, Total antioxidant capacity, Inflammation, Lipid

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Background and Objectives: Up to date, several pathophysiological mechanisms are suggested for evolution of depression, including inflammation, neurotransmitter and vitamin D pathways. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on serum 25-hydroxycalciferol [25(OH) D], intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), some pro-inflammatory biomarkers and neurotransmitters supposedly involved in depression. Furthermore, effects of the vitamin D are studied on depression status in affected patients.
Materials and Methods: Patients with mild to moderate depression, aged 18–60 y, are  participated in the study and randomly assigned into intervention (50,000 IU of cholecalciferol per two weeks) or control (placebo) groups. Duration of the intervention is eight weeks. Demographic and anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, biochemical values and depression status are recorded before and after intervention. Biochemical tests include serum 25(OH)D, iPTH, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and also neurotransmitters involved in depression include platelet serotonin and serum oxytocin.
Conclusions: Several parameters are linked to vitamin D and depression status. Findings of this study can help clarify roles of these parameters, which may further be used in depression preventive and therapeutic strategies.
 

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Background and Objectives: To study associations in diet quality academic performance and weight status in urban adolescent high-school students.
Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study in high schools in Tehran, Iran. A total of 629 students (317 boys and 309 girls), aging 17–19 years, from 49 high schools participated in the study. Dietary intake was measured using two 24-h recalls. Diet quality was measured using Healthy Eating Index-2015. Academic performance was assessed by evaluating scores achieved in national exams at the end of high-school junior year. Standard anthropometric measurements were used. Linear and multinomial regressions were used to assess the associations between weight status, diet quality and academic performance.
Results: Student’s scores in grammar and literature were significantly associated to diet quality (p < 0.05). After adjusting for sex and other socioeconomic confounders, the association was non-significant. Significant differences were seen in weight status between boys and girls; however, such differences were not based on the prosperity levels in weight statuses. The overall frequency of overweight was nearly 24%, while obesity was twice in boys (nearly 26%), compared to girls.
Conclusions: Findings verify needs of policies to improve student diet quality, leading to better health and educational achievements. Further studies are needed to investigate associations between diet quality and academic performance.

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Background and Objectives: Overweight/obesity can be consequences or causative factors of depression. Vitamin D has been suggested as a contributing factor in depression and excessive body weight; however, the existing evidence is still unclear. The objective of this study was to assess statuses of overweight and obesity in patients with depression, considering possible roles of vitamin D.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 56 18–60 year-old patients with mild to moderate depression. Demographic data were collected, serum 25(OH)D and anthropometric indices were assessed. Statuses of weight and abdominal obesity were assessed based on the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), respectively. Data analyses were carried out using SPSS Software v.21.
Results: The mean weight of the patients was 75.44 ± 14.52 kg. Moreover, 42.86 and 39.25% were overweight and obese indices, respectively. Most of the participants included abdominal obesity (96.43 and 60.71% based on WC and WHR, respectively). The mean of serum 25(OH)D was 80.37 ± 30.78 nmol l^-1 . Results of multiple regression revealed that age was significantly linked to depression; however, this relationship was not statistically significant for anthropometric variables.
Conclusions: Overweight and obesity were prevalent in patients with mild to moderate depression. Appropriate preventive policy-making to carry out nutritional interventions with increasing physical activity (PA) seem necessary to decrease treatment costs in these patients.