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 Background & Objectives: Different types of diets and several chemical and herbal drugs are used for decreasing the fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and insulin resistance in type II diabetic patients. New herbal medicines including cinnamon have been considered for controlling diabetes. Since few reports have been presented in other countries and many studies have been done in animal models in laboratory condition, this study was aimed to investigate cinnamon supplementation effects on fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and insulin resistance among type II diabetic patients .

 Methods: In a clinical trial study, 60 male and female patients with type II diabetes mellitus (30 patients in control and 30 patients in treatment group) were selected in Tabriz city, during 1388. The intervention group received 1.5 g of cinnamon (as a capsule containing 500 mg powder, three times daily) for 60 days and control group received placebo. Blood samples obtained from patients to determine the levels of fasting blood glucose, the glycosylated hemoglobin and insulin, before and after cinnamon consumption. Insulin resistance was measured by HOMA score and data were expressed as Mean ± SD and analyzed statistically by Student t-test. p<0.05 was considered as significant .

 Results: After 60 days, the fasting blood glucose levels, the glycosylated hemoglobin and the insulin resistance decreased significantly in the intervention group compared to controls (p<0.05). There was no significant change in the fasting blood glucose levels, the glycosylated hemoglobin and the insulin resistance in the control group at the end of 60 days.

 Conclusion: This study showed the consumption of cinnamon can be useful in the fasting blood glucose, the glycosylated hemoglobin and the insulin resistance control among type II diabetic patients .

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Background & Objectives: Obesity is associated with metabolic abnormalities such as insulin resistance. Weight loss is always recommended for meaningful reduction in these abnormalities. Therefore, we examined the effects of balanced low calorie diet on weight loss, fasting insulin and insulin resistance in obese women attending the nutrition clinic.

Methods: In this clinical trial, forty five volunteer apparently healthy obese women (body mass index: 33.28 ± 2.90 kg/m² and age: 28.40 ± 7.98 years) were recruited from the nutrition clinic in their first visit. The participants were received a balanced low calorie diet over 6 months after anthropometry measurement and blood sampling for determination of fasting insulin and insulin resistance level. Balanced low calorie diet was an individualized diet with an energy deficit of 500 calories of daily energy intake that was calculated from 3-day food records for every person. At 6 months after intervention, continuous and dichotomous variables were assessed using paired t-test and McNemar test, respectively.

Results: The mean recommended energy intake was 2241.78 ± 219.02(kcal). After 6 months, there were significant reductions in body weight (p=0.003), body mass index (p=0.005), waist and hip circumferences (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). There was also significant improvement in fasting insulin level (13.47 ± 6.55 vs. 11.95 ± 4.17 µU/ml, p=0.01). Whereas, insulin resistance had not significant reduction (p=0.1).

Conclusion: In obese women attending the nutrition clinic, the balanced low calorie diet resulted in weight loss and improvement in fasting insulin. These positive changes can help to decrease the risk factor profile in obese individuals.

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Background & objectives: Estrogen reduction after the menopause is associated with visceral adipose tissue accumulation and insulin resistance. Serum omentin-1 level is also decreased by abdominal obesity and insulin resistance. This study investigated the effect of estrogen on visceral fat, omentin-1 and insulin resistance in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

Methods: Thirty 13-week-old female Wistar rats weighing180±5 gr were randomly matched on their body weight and divided into OVX (n=20) and sham-operated (SHAM; n=10) groups. OVX rats were subdivided into estrogen replacement therapy (Ovx+Est; n=10), and control (Ovx+sesame Oil; n=10) groups. The estrogen replacement therapy received 17b-estradiol (30µg/kg bw; in 0.2 ml sesame oil) three days a week, for eight weeks. Ovx+Oil received the same sesame oil subcutaneously as vehicle. All intra-abdominal fat depots were dissected out and weighed immediately. Omentin-1 concentration was measured by rat omentin ELISA kit and HOMA-IR was used to estimate the insulin resistance. Obtained data were analyzed by ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test.

Results: Visceral fat was decreased by 12.84% in Ovx+Est compared to Ovx+Oil group; but it wasn ́t significant. Whereas, body weight was significantly decreased by 7.87 % in Ovx+Est compared to Ovx+Oil; and it was significantly increased by 12.5% in Ovx+Oil compared to SHAM group. Omentin-1 level was significantly increased by 41% in Ovx+Est compared to Ovx+Oil group; whereas it was significantly decreased by 13.9% in Ovx+Oil compared to SHAM group. The levels of glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR were significantly decreased to 51.16%, 24.23% and 61.52%, respectively, in Ovx+Est group compared to the rats in Ovx+Oil group (p=0.0001).

Conclusion: 8-week estrogen reduces body weight and improves insulin resistance probably via increase in omentin-1.

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Background & objectives: Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are one of the most important agents in cartilage damage in rheumatoid arthritis. Increase of these enzymes can change sensitivity to insulin. Therefore, in this study, the MMPs level, insulin sensitivity index and effective factor related to rheumatoid arthritis were evaluated in obese female with rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods: In the present study, 50 obese women with rheumatoid arthritis who were referred to the Sheikh Al-Reis clinic and Sina hospital in Tabriz and 50 healthy obese individuals were considered as case group and control group respectively. After determining the body weight, the levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, insulin, leptin, visfatin, resistin and glucose were measured using ELISA and Pars -Azmoon kits. One-way ANOVA method was used for statistical analysis of data. Pearson correlation test was used to evaluate the correlation between variables (p<0.05).
 
Results: in the present study, the mean level of MMP-1 (p=0.008), MMP-3 (p=0.015) and MMP-13 (p=0.001) in the case group was significantly higher than the control group. Also, Insulin- sensitivity index analysis didn’t show significant difference between the case group and the control group (p=0.21). In the case group, the level of leptin (p=0.000), resistin (p=0.000) and visfatin (p=0.024) was significantly increased compared to control group while insulin (p=0.231) and glucose (p=0.430) levels didn’t show significant increase.
Correlation results showed that there was a negative correlation between insulin and MMPs and a positive correlation with other parameters affecting insulin sensitivity.
Conclusion: our results showed, the matrix metalloproteinase level and the level of some factors affecting insulin sensitivity have increased in rheumatoid arthritis disease. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between the matrix metalloproteinase and some parameters affecting insulin sensitivity, including resistin and visfatin.
 

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Background & objectives: Foxo1 is a transcription factor in insulin signaling in the liver. The function of Foxo1 is important in the ability of insulin to regulate hepatic glucose production and glucose homeostasis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of resistance training program on Foxo1 expression in liver cells as well as glucose and insulin serum levels in male Wistar rats with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: The statistical population of this experimental study was 10-weeks old, male Wistar rats weighing 220±20 g (n=14). The studied rats were subjected to 6 weeks of high-fat diet and STZ injection for type 2 diabetes induction and then rats were randomly divided into two groups (control and resistance). The training group participated in a resistance training course for 6 weeks, 5 sessions per week, in the form of 4 sets and 5 repetitions per set, climbing a 26-step ladder to a height of one meter with a vertical slope of 80%. Finally, 48 hours after the last training session, fasting blood  glucose and insulin levels as well as Foxo1 expression level  in liver cells of both groups were measured and compared by independent t-test (a=%5).
Results: The resistance training improved fasting blood glucose compared to control subjects (p>0.001). the serum insulin levels were significantly increased (p=0.042) and Foxo1 expression significantly decreased in resistance group when compared with control subjects (p=0.023).
Conclusion: Based on these data, the decrease in glucose concentration in the exercise group can probably be attributed to the decreased expression of Foxo1 in hepatocyte cells in response to resistance training.

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Background & objectives: Preptin and adropine are peptide hormones that play an important role in the controlling of obesity by regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of aerobic training on preptin, adropine and insulin resistance in men with overweight.
Methods: In this clinical trial study, 18 overweight and obese men (age 58.39±3.92, body mass index 28.75±1.23) were selected and randomly divided into two groups (control and exercise). Exercise group participated in an aerobic exercise program for eight weeks, five sessions per week (with an intensity of 65 to 85% of maximum heart rate, 40 minutes). Two days before and after the protocol, fasting blood samples were taken. Preptin and adropine were measured by ELISA. Data were tested using independent t-test and ANCOVA at a significance level of p<0.05.
Results: The level of preptin in the experimental group was significantly reduced compared to the control group (p=0.001) and the pretest (p=0.000). Also, the adropine level in the experimental group increased significantly compared to the control group (p=0.000) and the pretest (p=0.000). Also, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) values in the exercise group compared to the control group (p=0.000) and pretest (p=0.000) showed a significant decrease.
Conclusions: Exercise improved glycemic index in obese and overweight men by improving the levels of preptin and adropine. It seems that aerobic exercise can be an effective intervention method to control and prevent the occurrence of metabolic diseases in these people.

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Background & objectives: Insulin-like growth factor -1 (IGF-1) has a variety of roles, but the abundance of scientific evidence indicates that it is a metabolic biomarker associated with physical fitness and health. The present study investigates the effect of eight weeks of polarized exercise training on serum GH / IGF-1- indices in active young men.
Methods: In this double-blind experimental study, 20 young males were allocated randomly into polarized training group (N=10) and a control group (N=10). The polarized training group performed 80-70% of the main workout volume (30 minutes) with light to moderate with 50-60% reserve heart rate (RHR) intensity and the remaining 20-30% at 85-95% RHR intensity; in a way that they ran two periods consisting 3 repetitions of 15-30 seconds, with 30-60 seconds of active rest after each repetition and 3 minutes of active rest after each period. Blood samples were taken from all subjects in three stages, including: pre-test stages, 24 hours before the start of the post-test, and after 12 hours overnight fasting. Post-test samples were collected, one sample immediately after the first session and the another  48 hours after the end of the last exercise session.
Results: The results of the present study showed that bipolar training significantly increased growth hormone and free IGF-I levels after one training session, and after eight-week bipolar training program. However, total IGF-1 levels decreased significantly after one exercise session and after eight-week bipolar exercise program. Also, no significant change was observed in IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 levels after one training session and eight-week training program. Acid-labile subunit levels did not change significantly after one training session, but decreased significantly after eight weeks of bipolar training.
Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, it seems that the use of bipolar exercises, training may be a good way to improve the hormonal function and assess the level of health and physical fitness of active young men.
 

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Background & objectives: Adipolin is one of the anti-inflammatory adipocytokines that is mainly synthesized and secreted in adipose tissue. This study aimed to compare the two types of Pilates and CX exercises on adipolin level and insulin resistance in overweight women.
Methods: In this semi-experimental research, 30 overweight female subjects (age range 20-40, BMI, 25-30 kg/m2) were divided into three groups of Pilates (10 people), CX (10 people) and control (10 people) .The Pilates group trained with an intensity of 50-80% of the maximum heart rate (8 weeks, three sessions per week, for 60 minutes) and the CX group with an intensity of 50-80% of 1RM (8 weeks, three sessions per week, for 30 minutes). The control group did not do any sports activities. Before and after the intervention, measurements of the subjects' height, weight and body mass index and heart rate were taken using a polar wristwatch, and blood samples were taken from the subjects to check the biochemical factors of adipolin, insulin and glucose. In order to determine the difference between the groups, a mixed statistical test was used. ANOVA and paired statistical tests were used to determine the simple effects of variables.
Results: The results of the present study showed that the implementation of 8 weeks of Pilates and CX exercises increases plasma adipolin level, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Also, there was a significant difference between the two sports activities of Pilates and CX with the control group (p<0.05); However, there was no significant difference in any of the factors between the Pilates and CX groups. Weight indices, fat percentage, BMI, glucose, insulin and insulin resistance of Pilates and CX groups have significantly decreased compared to the control group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results of our study, it was shown that Pilates and CX exercises cause a significant increase in the serum level of adipolin and a significant decrease in body mass index, fat percentage, weight and insulin resistance compared to the control group (p<0.05), but there was no significant change in these factors between the two groups of Pilates and CX.