Iranian journal of diabetes and obesity

Emerging Challenges in the Epidemic of Diabetes and Obesity: The Need for Evidence-Based and Policy-Oriented Strategies

Nasim Namiranian — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 08:30:51 +0000

The Article Abstract is not available.

Obesity and Hypertension among market traders in Uyo Metropolis

Nkereuwem N. Ekerette, Catherine A. Oladoyinbo, Joy I. Effiong — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 08:35:33 +0000

Objective: Market traders face an increased risk of chronic diseases due to prevailing conditions inmarketplaces. This study assessed obesity and hypertension among 421 traders in Uyo Metropolis, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference [WC]) andblood pressure (BP) measurements were obtained using standard protocols. Overweight and obesity weredefined as BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m² and ≥30 kg/m², respectively; abdominal obesity (AOB) as WC ≥102 cm (men)and ≥88 cm (women); and hypertension as systolic BP≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP≥ 90 mmHg. Physicalactivity (PA) was assessed using the IPAQ short form.

Results: The prevalence of overweight, obesity, AOB, and hypertension were 39.2%, 23.4%, 47.3%, and24.2%, respectively, while low PA was 9.0%. Predictors of increased BMI included AOB (AOR= 5.2; 95% CI:3.1-8.9) and age 31–50 years (AOR= 3.0; 95% CI: 1.6-5.3). The strongest predictors of AOB were female sex(AOR= 10.3; 95% CI: 5.5-19.5), age ≥51 years (AOR= 4.0; 95% CI: 1.3-12.2), and increased BMI (AOR = 5.7;95% CI: 3.2-10.0). Hypertension was most strongly associated with age ≥51 years (AOR= 9.5; 95% CI: 3.1-29.3), monthly income ≥ ₦100,000 (AOR = 4.3; 95% CI: 1.4-12.9), increased BMI (AOR= 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2-4.6) and AOB (AOR= 2.0; 95% CI: 1.2-3.6).

Conclusion: Obesity and hypertension were highly prevalent among traders, underscoring the need for regularscreening and behavioral interventions for prevention and management.

The Cumin Bread Satiety Index: A Randomized Controlled Cross-over Study

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 08:43:05 +0000

Objective: The aim of present study was to compare the effect of cumin bread (designed on a mixture of wheat flour and cumin powder 2%) and white bread on the satiety index of healthy adults.

Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled cross-over clinical trial was conducted on 15 healthy participants. Volunteers were randomly allocated into 2 groups to consume either cumin bread or the white bread. The satiety index was measured over a period of 120 minutes.

Results: 12 out of 15 participants completed the study and were included in the final analysis. The results showed that the consumption of cumin bread compared to white bread significantly increased the satiety index (P= 0.0001). Additionally, the participants did not report any complaints when consuming cumin bread or white bread.

Conclusion: The present study suggests that cumin bread has a greater potential to enhance satiety compared to white bread. This result highlight cumin bread may be an effective strategy for improving satiety in healthy individuals. Further studies are needed to validate these preliminary results and to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms

The Role of Supportive Groups in Enhancing Adherence to Physical Activity among Diabetic Patients in Khuzestan Province

Tahereh Azmsha, Esmaeil Veisia, Asadollah Pirayesh — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 08:46:30 +0000

Objective: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of support groups to enhance physical activity adherence of patients with diabetes in the Khuzestan Province of Iran to improve diabetes management and help reduce complications from the disease.

Materials and Methods: The study used a mixed methods approach. The qualitative phase included the analysis of twenty-three diabetic patients, a professor from a university, and sporting federation personnel in semi-structured interviews. This phase and advanced a theoretical structure with four primary types and 19 placeholders of exercise adherence. The quantitative phase employed a 59-item highly reliable questionnaire (Chronbach’s alpha= 0.923) to diabetic patients. A sample of 384 respondents was obtained using a random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using the software SPSS and Smart PLS. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used.

Results: Support was personal (self-efficacy and other digital support tools 11.92 percent), family (joint activities 42.09 percent), friends (helps in alleviating social loneliness, 7.03%), and public (enhanced policies and infrastructure, 9.73%). 70.78 percent of support was exercised to help with adherence to physical activity.

Conclusion: Support groups are critical to increasing physical activity adherence among diabetes patients. Conclusion: By removing obstacles through improved self-efficacy, family involvement, peer connections, and public resources, support groups dramatically increase diabetic patients' adherence to physical activity. It is crucial to incorporate culturally sensitive methods, educational initiatives, and digital platforms. Long-term efficacy, underlying mechanisms, and cultural influences on the uptake of social support should all be investigated in future research.

Effect of Different Training Methods on SIRT1 Gene Expression in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue of Male Wistar Rats

Amirhossein Tavasoli, Mohammad Shariatzadeh Joneydi, Javad Ramezani — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 08:50:43 +0000

Objective: SIRT1 is a key regulator of adipose tissue's energy balance, inflammation, and mitochondrial function. This study was designed to investigate the effect of different training modalities, Moderate-Intensity Aerobic Training (MIAT), High-Intensity Aerobic Training (HIAT), and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), on SIRT1 gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue of male Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods: Thirty-two 8-week-old male Wistar rats (237 ± 33 g) were randomly assigned to four groups (n= 8): Control, MIAT, HIAT, and HIIT. Animals were housed under controlled conditions and had free access to food and water. Training protocols were performed five times per week for eight weeks. After 12 hours of fasting and 24 hours post-intervention, subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue was collected. SIRT1 gene expression was analyzed using RT-PCR. Data were statistically evaluated using one-way ANOVA and LSD post hoc test (P< 0.05) in SPSS-22.

Results: The results showed that all three training models - MIAT (P= 0.023), HIAT (P= 0.001), and HIIT (P= 0.003) - significantly increased SIRT1 gene expression compared to the control group.

Conclusion: Although all training modalities significantly increased SIRT1 gene expression compared to the control group, the HIAT group showed the highest mean expression level. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the training groups.

Anti-Hyperglycemic Role of Hydroethanolic Extract of Foeniculum Vulgare Seed on Diabetic Wistar Albino Rats

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:03:30 +0000

Objective: Foeniculum vulgare has been suggested as a potential option for the management ofhyperglycemia. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic effects of the hydro-ethanolic extract ofFoeniculum vulgare seeds (HEEFVS) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods: Thirty-six male rats were randomly divided into six groups (I–VI). Diabetes wasinduced by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (175 mg/kg) in groups II–VI. Groups I and II received distilledwater; groups III, IV, and V were treated with HEEFVS at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight/day,respectively; and group VI received glibenclamide (5 mg/kg body weight/day). Serum glucose, total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides (TG), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and histological analysisof the liver were assessed.

Results: Administration of HEEFVS at 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly decreased ALT and AST activities(P< 0.001). Total cholesterol levels were significantly reduced (P< 0.001) at all tested doses (100, 200, and 400mg/kg). Triglyceride levels showed a significant reduction (P< 0.01) only at the 400 mg/kg dose. During thesecond and third weeks, administration of 200 and 400 mg/kg markedly reduced glucose levels (P< 0.001).Complete regeneration of liver tissue was observed in the 400 mg/kg group, while partial restoration was seenin the 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg groups. DPPH radical scavenging and α-amylase inhibitory activities ofHEEFVS demonstrated IC50 values of 146.6 μg/ml and 8.47 μg/ml, respectively. The LD50 of HEEFVS wasgreater than 3500 mg/kg.

Conclusion: HEEFVS exhibits strong hepato-protective, hypolipidemic and anti-hyperglycemic effects.

The Effect of Exercise Training Timing on SREBP Gene Expression in Adipose Tissue of Diabetic Mice

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:10:04 +0000

Objective: Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) regulates lipid metabolism, and its disruption in diabetes leads to lipid accumulation, insulin resistance, and inflammation. BMAL1, a core circadian clock gene, modulates physiological rhythms. This study aimed to examine the effect of aerobic exercise timing on BMAL1 and SREBP-1c expression in adipose tissue of diabetic mice.

Materials and Methods: Thirty male mice were randomly assigned to two temporal groups: ZT3 (light phase) and ZT15 (dark phase). Within each time point, animals were divided into three subgroups: Healthy Control (HC), Diabetic Control (DC), and Diabetic + Exercise Training (TD). Diabetes was induced using a high-fat diet and streptozotocin injections. After confirmation, the TD groups performed treadmill running for eight weeks (60–80 min/day, 50–60% Vmax, 5 days/week) at their respective time points. Gene expression of BMAL1 and SREBP-1c was analyzed using Real-time PCR, and data were statistically evaluated using SPSS.

Results: Exercise during the dark phase significantly increased BMAL1 (P< 0.0001) and SREBP1 (P< 0.05) levels in the diabetic group compared to the diabetic control group. No significant differences were observed in BMAL1 or SREBP1 levels between the diabetic control group and the diabetic group with exercise during the light phase.

Conclusion: The results show that by upregulating BMAL1 and SREBP-1c in adipose tissue, evening exercise improves metabolic status in diabetic mice. These findings lay the groundwork for further translational research in humans and point to possible uses in developing time-specific exercise interventions for the management of diabetes.

Innovations in Functional Food Development for Diabetes Management: A Narrative Review

Fatemeh Ghannadiasl — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:22:28 +0000

This review explores advancements in the food industry for developing functional foods to manage diabetes. Itevaluates the mechanisms and clinical evidence for eight bioactive components. Dietary fibers help controlblood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity by slowing glucose absorption and promoting the production ofshort-chain fatty acids. Polyphenols reduce glucose spikes by inhibiting carbohydrate-digesting enzymes andactivating signaling pathways like AMPK. Antioxidants protect pancreatic β-cells and insulin secretion bycombating oxidative stress and inflammation. Probiotics and prebiotics improve metabolic balance bymodulating gut microbiota and strengthening the intestinal barrier. Omega-3 and monounsaturated fatty acidsreduce inflammation and enhance insulin receptor signaling. Fermented foods provide bioactive compoundswith hypoglycemic effects, while alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids have diverse anti-diabetic properties.Clinical trials have shown promising results in lowering fasting glucose, HbA1c and postprandial spikes, butlimitations like small sample sizes and inconsistent formulations call for further validation through robustrandomized controlled trials. Conflicting results across studies emphasize the need for cautious interpretation

Nutrigenomics and Food Safety in Chronic Disease Prevention: From Bioactive Nutrients to Contaminants

Maryam Azhdari, Hossein Talepour Ardakan — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:26:33 +0000

Nutrigenomics explore how foods and bioactive compounds interact with our genes and epigenome to influence overall health, while food safety examines how dietary hazards can disrupt these pathways. Integrating both fields aids in the prevention and management of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Nutrients such as polyphenols, omega-3 fatty acids and methyl donors can modulate key epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA regulation, helping protect against metabolic disorders and some types of cancer. Conversely, exposure to harmful substances, including mycotoxins, heavy metals, endocrine-disrupting chemicals and food processing by-products, can trigger oxidative stress, disturb the gut microbiome and alter epigenetic regulation, increasing disease risk. This narrative, non-systematic review synthesizes evidence published between 2000 and 2025, emphasizing the surge in studies since 2020. Relevant articles were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar using combinations of keywords related to nutrigenomics, epigenetics, food safety, and chronic diseases. In total, 235 publications were analyzed, highlighting nutrigenomics and food safety as an emerging scientific hotspot. Recent advances in multi-omics and microbiome research have enabled precision nutrition approaches and more accurate risk assessment models for NCDs. Despite challenges such as inconsistent methodologies and limited longitudinal data, integrating nutrigenomics with food safety offers a promising approach for improving metabolic health, achieving sustainable weight management, and reducing the global burden of chronic disease. Priorities include large-scale clinical trials, standardized omics pipelines and validated biomarkers to ensure accessibility to and translational impact in public health.