Is frequency of potato and white rice consumption associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents: the CASPIAN-V study

Effects of Hydrothermal Treatments on Physicochemical Properties and In Vitro Digestion of Starch

Starchy food items such as rice and potato with high carbohydrate content raise blood sugar. Hence, consuming low glycaemic foods is one tool to keep diabetes under control. In this study, potato and brown rice (Njavara rice) starches were subjected to hydrothermal treatments: heat moisture treatment (HMT) and annealing (ANN) to develop starch-based food products fit for consumption by diabetic patients. The effects of hydrothermal treatments on physicochemical properties and in-vitro enzymatic digestion of starch were determined. It was observed that hydrothermal treatments decreased the swelling power (SP)% and increased the water solubility (WS)% of the native starches. Native potato starch (PSN) showed a high SP of 80.33%, while annealed potato starch (PANN) and heat moisture treated potato starch (PHMT) showed SP reduced to 65.33% and 51.66%, respectively. Similarly, the SP % reduced from 64.33% in native brown rice (BRN) to 44.66% in annealed brown rice (BRANN) and 38.33% in heat moisture treated brown rice (BRHMT). WS % increased from 32.86% in PSN to 36.66% in PANN and 40.66% in PHMT. In BRN, the WS % increased from 14.0% to 14.66% in BRANN and 18.33% in BRHMT. Amylose content increased from 13.23% and 14.56% in PSN and BRN to 16.14% in PANN 17.99% in PHMT, 17.33% in BRANN, and 18.98% in BRHMT. The PSN crystallinity index reduced from 33.49 to 30.50% in PANN and 32.60% in PHMT. At 12 h of enzymatic digestion, it was found that the degree of hydrolysis (DoH) of PHMT (31.66%) and PANN (36.82%) reduced when compared to PSN (41.09%). Similarly, BRHMT exhibited the lowest DoH at 12 h compared to BRANN (29.24%) and BRN (35.48%). This study highlights the importance of hydrothermal treatments on starch in developing low glycaemic index commercial starch-based food products.

GC-MS determination of the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in bread and potato Tahdig prepared with the common edible oil

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content of the Tahdig of the breads and potatoes prepared with edible oil was determined by GC-MS. The Tahdigs of bread and potato were baked under the same condition (volume of any oil 40 cc, temperature 180 °C, time 30 min). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon determination was performed by an Agilent 6890 N Gas chromatography with mass selective detector, equipped with a capillary column. The highest contents of PAHs in Tahdig of bread and Tahdig of potato were observed in canola with 550 ± 3.9 ng/kg and sesame with 408.3 ± 41 ng/kg. The mean of PAH content was significantly higher in the Tahdig of bread compared to the Tahdig of potato (p < 0.05). Among the 16 PAHs examined by GC/MS, 10 PAHs were detected. The amount of high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs were significantly more than low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs (p < 0.05). Benzo [b]fluoranthene and benz[a]anthracene concentrations were significantly more than the other detected compounds (p < 0.05). Due to high PAH contamination of both Tahdig groups, the consumption of Tahdig (any type) was not recommended.

The effect of dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet have several components like high amounts of fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and vitamin C and low amounts of simple sugars that might improve attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. We aimed to investigate the effect of a DASH diet on children (aged 6-12 years) with ADHD, for the first time.

METHODS

Participants were randomized to receive a DASH or a control diet for 12 weeks. The severity of ADHD symptoms [determined by abbreviated 10-item Conner's scale (ACS), 18-item Swanson, Nolan and Pelham (SNAP-IV) scale and strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ)] were assessed every four weeks.

RESULTS

Eighty children completed the study. After adjustment for confounders, parent (- 4.71 for the DASH group vs. - 3 for the control group) and teacher-reported (- 5.35 vs. - 1.87) ACS scores, parent-, teacher-, child-reported hyperactivity (- 1.40 vs. - 0.66, - 1.95 vs. -0.63, - 1.60 vs. - 0.43, respectively), emotional symptoms (- 1.50 vs. - 0.45, - 1.42 vs. - 0.63, and - 1.09 vs. - 0.61, respectively), and total SDQ scores (- 3.81 vs. - 1.65, - 4.11 vs. - 1.23, - 4.44 vs. - 1.26, respectively), teacher-reported of conduct problems (- 1.42 vs. - 0.63), peer relationship problems (- 0.87 vs. - 0.07), and prosocial behaviors (1.36 vs. 0.08) assessed by the SDQ were significantly improved in the DASH group compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Adherence to a DASH-style diet might improve ADHD symptoms. Further RCTs which include participants from both sexes and with longer follow-up periods are needed to warrant current findings (The trial registration code: IRCT20130223012571N6; http://irct.ir/trial/12623 ). Trial registration Trial registration number: The trial was registered in the Iranian registry of clinical trials (registration code: IRCT20130223012571N6), URL: http://irct.ir/trial/12623 .