Purpose: Recently, great interest has been focused on dietary fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) for the treatment of functional abdominal pain (FAP). Several meta-analyses, including those on the adult population, have been published, potentiating its role. However, pediatric studies are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a low-FODMAP diet on the severity of FAP in children. Methods: This clinical trial included 50 patients aged 3–18 years with irritable bowel syndrome and FAP that were not otherwise specified. The patients were instructed to receive a low FODMAP diet guided by a dietitian. The primary outcome was the percentage of responders after 2 months of dietary intervention compared with baseline. Other outcomes included changes in stool consistency and quality of life (QoL) scores using the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire, and weight-for-age z-scores. Results: After the dietary intervention, 74% of patients showed more than 30% lower pain intensity, as examined using the Wong-Baker Faces pain rating scale. Their QoL significantly improved, and patients have gained weight. Conclusion A low FODMAP diet can improve pain intensity and QoL among children with functional abdominal pain, with no detrimental effects on body weight.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the biochemical, histopathological and physiological effects of Citrullus colocynthis on peripheral neuropathy in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. METHODS: Seventy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were included in the present study. Diabetes was induced in 60 rats, with a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (65 mg/kg). After 4 weeks, the diabetic rats were assessed for neuropathy. Then, the diabetic rats with neuropathy were randomly divided into 6 groups for a 4-week treatment with gabapentin, oral administration of C. colocynthis fruit pulp powder (100 and 300 mg/kg per day), topical preparations as oil-based solution and ointment, or placebo. Changes in metabolic, physiological, biochemical and histological parameters were considered as treatment outcomes. RESULTS: Metabolic outcomes (body weight and blood glucose level) were improved in the C. colocynthis-treated groups as compared to placebo. Tail-flick and hot-plate tests also had lower latency in the C. colocynthis-treated groups. Measurement of oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and catalase) showed the antioxidant effect of C. colocynthis. Histological evaluation of the sciatic nerve showed that C. colocynthis decreased the number of demyelinated and degenerated nerve fibers. Among the C. colocynthis-treated groups, the one receiving 100 mg/kg power per day orally had the best treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION The present study showed that C. colocynthis fruit, through its antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities, has a positive effect in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.

Introduction: Teachers, by creating a culture of health within their classrooms, are agents of change and have an important role during students’ formative years. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an educational intervention on the nutrition literacy of primary school teachers in Yasuj. Methods: In this quasiexperimental study, 110 primary school teachers in Yasuj, who were randomly selected from two areas of the city (intervention and comparison groups), were included in the study. Nutrition literacy was measured by using a validated tool for the Iranian society. After analysing the data, the educational content and structure were developed to improve nutrition literacy. The intervention consisted of two training sessions, provision of educational pamphlets and sending of two SMS messages. Data were analysed before and three months after the intervention by using SPSS16 software. Results: Before the intervention, the mean ± standard deviation of nutrition literacy in the comparison and intervention groups were 27.04±3.15 and 27.25±3.27, respectively. According to repeated measures ANOVA, nutrition literacy score improved significantly three months after the intervention (p time = 0.001). Besides, there was a significant difference between the two groups (p group = 0.03). The interaction between time and group was also significant (p time × group = 0.001). Conclusion: The educational intervention led to an improvement in the nutrition literacy of primary school teachers in Yasuj.