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Introduction:Hyperlipidemia is one of the major risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. This study was done to assess lipid profiles according to sex and place of residence in the urban and rural area of Arak for controlling cardiovascular diseases. Materials and Methods:This descriptive study is the first phase of healthy heart program which was done in Arak. Sampling was randomized cluster. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and paraclinical test results (total cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c ,and Triglyceride). Data was analyzed using T-student, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests. Results: Of 4303 individuals over 30 years, 51.6% were female. Total cholesterol, LDL-c and HDL-c disturbances were more in female (p<0.05) but there was not a sigmifiant difference between male and female in triglyceride disturbance. The increase in serum lipids was signfiantly different in urban and rural areas, in which total cholesterol and LDL-c disturbances were more in rural and triglyceride disturbance was more in urban areas (p<0.0001). Conclusion: High prevalence of dyslipidemia in the studied region can be related to unhealthy life style, nutrition and inadequate physical activity, so dyslipidemia and cadiovascular diseases could be decreased by changing lifestyle.

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Background: Considering the high prevalence of diabetes and developing cardiovascular diseases via dyslipidemia and inflammation in type 2 diabetic patients, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Oligofructose-enriched inulin on serum lipid concentrations and inflammation in type2 diabetic patients.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 52 patients with type 2 diabetes were assigned to one of two groups. Experimental group (n=27) received 10g/d oligofructose-enriched inulin and control group (n=25) received 10 g/d maltodextrin for 8 weeks. Dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements, hs-CRP and serum lipids concentrations were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (verision11.5). Paired, independent t-test and ANCOVA were used to compare comparison of quantitative variables.

Results: At the end of study, we observed significant decrease in total cholesterol (28.00 mg/dL, 14.10%), LDL-c (22.00 mg/dL, 21.7%), TC/HDL-c ratio (-0.73, 20.7%) and LDL-c/HDL-c ratio (-0.55, 27.5%) in oligofructose-enriched inulin compared with the maltodextrin group (p<0.05). Changes in concentrations of triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein were not significant in oligofructose-enriched inulin compared to maltodextrin group.

Conclusion: Oligofructose-enriched inulin supplementation with improving in inflammtion and lipid profile help in management of type 2 diabetes and its complications.

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Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an important pathogenic protozoan. This parasite can cause severe infection and may lead to abortion. Abnormal levels of cholesterol and other lipids in blood samples of infected persons have raised some questions on the role of these factors in the pathogenesis of Toxoplasma.This study aimed to measure and compare lipid and testosterone levels and the relationship between them among a selected group of men with and without Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody.  

Materials and Methods: This case – control study was conducted on a group of 20 to 29 years old men referred to the pre-marital clinics in Arak city in 2012. After completing a questionnaire, a blood sample (5 ml) was taken from each subject. Then, required diagnostic tests for toxoplasmosis was conducted. According to diagnostic results, 100 men with Toxoplasma antibodies were defined as cases and another group with equal number but without antibodies was defined as controls. Then, levels of testosterone and lipids in serum of these two groups were measured and compared.

Results:  Findings showed that testosterone levels were in normal range in both cases and controls, but the hormone level was significantly lower among cases. There was no significant difference in terms of serum lipid levels.

Conclusion:  Examination of relationship between blood testosterone and lipids levels among cases and controls showed that there was a significant negative correlation between testosterone and triglyceride levels. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between testosterone and HDL levels.