Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism

The effect of date palm fruit feeding (to female Sprague-Dawley rats with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene–induced mammary cancer) on the hormone 17-ß-estradiol concentration was compared to that of feeding soybean seeds and injection with two drugs (one preventive against and the other curative for 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary cancer i,e. tamoxifen and the hormone 17-ß-estradiol). The date palm fruit raised the hormone concentration significantly (p < 0.05). The hormone concentration was positively correlated with the palpable tumor latency, and negatively correlated with tumor incidence rate and multiplicity. It is concluded that the preventive effect of the date palm fruit against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary cancer is related to the effect on the hormone 17-ß-estradiol.

Opuntia cacti are found in prolific abundance in arid regions of the world. The fleshy stems (paddles or nopals) have been a staple vegetable in many parts of Latin America (Central America and Mexico) since long. Even the Southwest US population have developed an interest in them. Now, they have been validated to be good sources of vital phytonutrients viz. dietary fibres, vitamins, minerals, mucilage, pectin. The succulent pads packed with nutrition are envisioned to be imbibed in foods for nutritional augmentation. Apart from additives, the mucilage-opulent cladodes have shown promise as encapsulating agents. Several biological roles of nopal viz. antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-ulcerogenic, anticancer, and hypoglycaemic have been authenticated. This review embodies the recent findings, risks associated, current trends of investigations and untapped potentials of this xerophytic resource. Wide consumption and mass cultivation of nopal is expected to play the dual role of supplying nutrition and averting food insecurity.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes needs costly prolonged treatment and care. Its burden affects the whole society. Six of the top 10 countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes are in the Middle East. Following the studies carried out in Latin America and the Caribbean countries, and in the WHO African region, an estimation of the direct cost of diabetes in the Arab region is proposed. METHOD: Arab countries were classified into three income groups. The prevalence of diabetes was estimated in each country. The direct cost of diabetes included the cost of insulin, oral drugs, reagent strips, urine strips, lancets, glucose meters, laboratory tests, outpatient consultation and hospitalization. To overcome the problem of disparity in prices, three scenarios were used (Low, Medium and High price). RESULTS: The annual average per capita direct cost of diabetes is estimated in US dollars at USD 351, USD 529 and USD 860 according to the low, medium and high cost scenarios, respectively. The cost varies also according to the income group. The annual total direct cost of diabetes in the 21 countries of the Arab world is estimated to be between USD 9 billion and USD 22 billion. The annual average per capita direct cost of diabetes in the Arab region is 1.4 to 3.5 times higher than the average per capita health expenditure of the region (USD 250). The direct cost of diabetes in the third income group is 4.8 to 11.4 higher than the average per capita health expenditure of the group (USD 66.5) whereas, in the first group, the ratio is 0.4 to 1.14. Although indirect cost is not considered in this paper, it is stressed that diabetes also incurs indirect costs due to loss of productivity caused by premature death and disability, and intangible and non-quantifiable costs. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the direct cost of diabetes is high compared to health expenditure in Arab countries. A sincere call is sent to health decision makers to give more importance to sensitisation, early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.

There are increasing number of evidences that regular exercise reduce risks of several morbidities like cancer, heart attack, type II diabetes, hypertension and slows down ageing process. The mechanism of pro-healthy effects of exercise is far from being completely understood. For example exercise increase insulin sensitivity in type II diabetics and this is related to activation of AMP kinase and increase biogenesis of mitochondria in skeletal muscle. Interestingly, increase in insulin sensitivity was also observed in patients, whose body iron stores has been reduced. The fact that exercise has been reported to influence body iron metabolism made us ponder the question whether many positive effects of exercise can be related to these changes. Iron is essential for most of cellular processes like energy metabolism, cell proliferation, synthesis of DNA and collagen, posttranslational modification of some proteins and many others. However, for our body iron like oxygen when in excess, is toxic. The elevated body iron reserves have been linked with an increased risk of health problems such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease. Total body iron accumulates when iron intake begins to exceed its loss. This data are confirmed by studies on animal models of iron-induced cancer, and diabetes. Life-style changes such as exercise, calorie restriction, a diet rich in iron chelators, and phlebotomy are all associated with the reduction of total body iron. These treatments lead to diminished risk of several morbidities. Nevertheless, studies on cell cultures demonstrated that the labile iron pool (LIP) mainly determines its toxicity rather than total amount of accumulated iron. The LIP level is regulated by several signaling pathways and gene expression. Thus, it is expected that even at a high concentration of intracellular iron, its toxicity is not obvious until a cell is able to maintain a low level of LIP. These data suggest that an effective control of body iron stores (diet, exercise, and possibly phlebotomy) would be a wise strategy for disease prevention.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the possible antioxidant effects of raisin aqueous and pur extract of “Karkni” on liver histology, antioxidant enzymes activities and lipid peroxide levels in liver of diabetic and normal rats. 125 mg/kg of pure and aqueous extract of “Karkni” were orally administered daily to alloxan-diabetic rats for 4 weeks. Alloxan- induced diabetic rats showed significant increases in the levels of total protein and malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly decreased compared to normal rats (p < 0.05). Also, no significant effects on glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in diabetic rats were observed. The changes of the above parameters to their normal levels after 4 weeks of treatment were observed mainly with the pure extract. The results suggesting that pure extract suppresses the liver tissue inflammation attenuate lipid peroxidation and can be helpful in reducing liver damage caused by alloxan-induced diabetes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effect of vitamin C and vitamin E on carbohydrate metabolism, zinc status and antioxidant enzymes activities in diabetic rats fed low zinc diet. Female diabetic albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups. The first group received a diet containing a 54 mg zinc/kg diet (adequate zinc, AZ), the second group received a diet containing 1 mg zinc/kg diet (zinc deficient group, ZD), and the three other groups received ZD diet and treated orally with vitamin E (500 mg/kg body wt) (ZD+VitE), vitamin C (500 mg/kg body wt) (ZD+VitC), and combined vitamins C and E (250 + 250 mg/kg body wt) (ZD+VitC+VitE) respectively. Body weight and food intake were recorded regularly. After four weeks of dietary manipulation. Serum and tissues zinc concentration, alkaline phosphatase activity of low-zinc diabetic animals were significantly lower than those of the control diabetic animals. Dietary zinc deficiency also increased significantly blood glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase activities, and malondialdehyde level of low zinc diabetic rats. In contrast, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities and liver glutathione level were reduced. Vit C or vit E may have partial ameliorative effects on these disturbances, whereas vit C and vit E together assured a more efficient protection. In conclusion vitamin E and C act as beneficial and potent antioxidants protect against lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage due to zinc deficiency associated with diabetes mellitus.

The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Jordanian adolescents and to assess their lifestyle patterns including eating habits, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. The study was carried out as part of the Arab Teens Lifestyle Study. The sample consisted of 735 high school students aged 14–20 years (52.5% males and 47.5% females). Students were randomly selected from the city of Amman, Jordan, using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling technique. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. Dietary habits (breakfast consumption, intakes of vegetables, fruit, milk and milk products, sugar-sweetened drinks, fast food, sweets and energy drinks), physical activity and screen time were assessed. Students' body weight and height were measured. The prevalence of overweight was 16.1% and 12.6% among males and females, respectively. Obesity prevalence was higher among males (9.6%) than females (4.3%). There were significant age and gender effects for some of the selected eating habits, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors. Less than one third of the adolescents ate breakfast, vegetables, fruits, and drink milk daily. Consumption of unhealthy foods was high. About 95% of the adolescents spent more than 2 hours in screen time. In addition, more males than females met the recommended amount of daily physical activity. In conclusion, a considerable proportion of Jordanian adolescents have undesirable lifestyle habits. Such behaviors increase adolescents' risks for chronic non-communicable diseases later in life. The findings have important implications for health promotion and disease prevention programs directed towards adolescent population.

The term “Mediterranean Diet” (Med Diet) refers to human practices, including agriculture, fishing and nutrition that have been associated with a healthy life and considered by the UNESCO as Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This millennial lifestyle is characterised by the production of agro foods through sustainable agricultural practices, respectful of the seasonality, fishing-following the natural cycle of fish proliferation and growth, cooking systems as well as the time of food intake during the day. In terms of nutrition, the Med Diet is centred on the consumption of whole grains, olive oil, legumes, fish, fruits and vegetables, including aromatic herbs. A combination of these foods provides a perfect balance between macro- and micronutrients, which are functional for the control of the glycaemic index, protection against oxidative stress and normalization of blood lipid levels. These effects result in a lower incidence of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer. As the pressure of globalization puts at a risk of extinction the cultural background of the Med Diet and hampers its transfer to future generations, a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the Med Diet is presented. In order to support this alimentary tradition, some suggestions are proposed as well.