Yafteh

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Background: Micronutrients deficiency is one of the most health problems in the world. Iron and zinc deficiency and their interaction with vitamin A are important, too. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementation of iron and zinc, alone or combined, on vitamin A status of primary school children. Material and methods: The study was a randomized double-blind clinical trial in which 81 primary school children, 11 y of age, were randomly supplemented for 4 months with iron (20 mg/d), zinc (20 mg/d), or iron+ zinc (20 mg of each/d). Plasma retinol was measured at beginning and after 4 months by HPLC method. SPSS version 11.5 software was used. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, and paired t test. Results: Plasma retinol changes in Iron, zinc, and iron +zinc groups were: -0.1±0.2, -0.1±0.1, -0.1±0.1 µmol/L, respectively. These changes in female and male were, respectively: -0.18±0.2, -0.03±0.1 for iron group, -0.1±0.1, -0.08±0.09 for zinc group, and -0.14±0.2, -0.06±0.1 for iron + zinc group retinol decreased in all supplemented groups. Deficient or non-deficient basal serum zinc had no effect on result. Conclusion: Plasma retinol was decreased in all supplemented groups. As, decrease in plasma retinol results from the supplementation, more studies should be carried out on this subject.

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Background: Malnutrition is one of the significant factors in extending hospitalization period, augmenting disease complications, enhancing treatment and hospitalization costs, and increasing deaths in hospitals. This study was conducted to investigate patients, nutritional conditions, before and discharge time in the orthopedic ward of Shohadaye Ashayer hospital in 2010. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study 283 patients, aged 18 and over, in the orthopedic ward were selected.A previously developed questionnaire containing 15 quantitative and qualitative factors was completed for subjects in two stages (at their hospital admission and their discharge time). The patients, weight and height were also measured during these two stages. The collected data were then analyzed using SPSS software. Results: 12.7% of the patients had severe malnutrition, 7.4% had moderate malnutrition and 79.9% had mild malnutrition. The length of hospital stay was found to be an important factor in causing malnutrition. In this study significant statistical relationship was found between the length of hospital stay, sex, the recent 1-month weight loss, previous operation and the severity of malnutrition (P<0.05) But no significant relationship was found between literacy, age, economical situation, the recent 6-month weight loss, and the severity of malnutrition (P>0.05). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be claimed that there is a significant statistical relationship between the length of hospital stay and the severity of malnutrition.

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Background: Malnutrition is one of the significant factors in extending hospitalization period, augmenting disease complications, enhancing treatment and hospitalization costs, and increasing deaths in hospitals. This study was conducted to investigate patients, nutritional conditions, before and discharge time in the orthopedic ward of Shohadaye Ashayer hospital in 2010. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study 283 patients, aged 18 and over, in the orthopedic ward were selected.A previously developed questionnaire containing 15 quantitative and qualitative factors was completed for subjects in two stages (at their hospital admission and their discharge time). The patients, weight and height were also measured during these two stages. The collected data were then analyzed using SPSS software. Results: 12.7% of the patients had severe malnutrition, 7.4% had moderate malnutrition and 79.9% had mild malnutrition. The length of hospital stay was found to be an important factor in causing malnutrition. In this study significant statistical relationship was found between the length of hospital stay, sex, the recent 1-month weight loss, previous operation and the severity of malnutrition (P<0.05) But no significant relationship was found between literacy, age, economical situation, the recent 6-month weight loss, and the severity of malnutrition (P>0.05). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be claimed that there is a significant statistical relationship between the length of hospital stay and the severity of malnutrition.