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•Melatonin, is a tryptophan derivative antioxidant which has a key role in the regulation of daily rhythms.•Melatonin indirectly improves the potential function of antioxidants ...enzymes, such as GPx, GR, and SOD.•Melatonin significantly increases total antioxidant capacity and decreases lipid peroxidation.
Oxidative stress, defined as an imbalance between pro-oxidants and neutralizing antioxidants within the body, is a growing public health concern. Oxidative stress is involved in the progression of nearly all chronic diseases. Melatonin has been suggested to reduce oxidative stress by its potential radical scavenging properties.
To determine the efficacy and safety of melatonin as a therapy for the improvement of oxidative stress parameters in randomized controlled trials.
A systematic database search using Scopus, PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials and clinicaltrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov) for studies published up to July 2020 was conducted. We included studies which investigated the effect of supplemental melatonin compared to placebo on oxidative stress parameters in unhealthy patients. Quantitative data synthesis was conducted using a random-effects model with standard mean difference (SMD) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Cochrane’s Q and I2 values were used to evaluate heterogeneity.
A total of 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were eligible. The meta-analysis indicated an association between melatonin intake and a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (SMD: 0.76; 95 % CI: 0.30, 1.21; I2 = 80.1 %), glutathione (GSH) levels (SMD: 0.57; 95 % CI: 0.32, 0.83; I2 = 15.1 %), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (SMD: 1.38; 95 % CI: 0.13, 2.62; I2 = 86.9 %), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (SMD: 1.36; 95 % CI: 0.46, 2.30; I2 = 89.3 %), glutathione reductase (GR) (SMD: 1.21; 95 % CI: 0.65, 1.77; I2 = 00.0 %) activities, and a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (SMD: -0.79; 95 % CI: -1.19, -0.39; I2 = 73.1 %). Melatonin intake was not shown to significantly affect nitric oxide (NO) levels (SMD: -0.24; 95 % CI: -0.61, 0.14; I2 = 00.0 %) or catalase (CAT) activity (SMD: -1.38; 95 % CI: -1.42, 4.18; I2 = 96.6 %).
Melatonin intake was shown to have a significant impact on improving Oxidative stress parameters. However, future research through large, well-designed randomized controlled trials are required to determine the effect of melatonin on oxidative stress parameters in different age groups and different disease types.
Background and aim: It has recently been suggested that acid-base imbalances may play a role in some types of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate ...the association between dietary acid load and common non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1800 participants were enrolled in a cohort study in Shahrekord. Data were collected using a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The potential renal acid load (PRAL) was calculated using the intestinal absorption of five nutrients including protein, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. The association of dietary acid load with NCDs was investigated in two models. Then, the raw model was adjusted by including calorie intake and age; after adjusting the effect of the two variables, the association between dietary acid load and the studied NCDs was not statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was 51.49±9.27 years, and 941 (52.27%) of them were female. Mean±SD acid load score was -6.88±23.23. The results showed that there was a significant association between dietary acid load and age (P=0.005), weight (P=0.0001), waist circumference (P=0.016), hip circumference (P=0.0001), waist-to-hip ratio (P=0.01), body mass index (P=0.004), and triglyceride (P=0.012). In the raw model, a significant association was observed between dietary acid load and hypertension (OR=0.57, 0.39-0.8). Conclusion: In this study, no significant association was observed between dietary acid load and NCDs, but the variable was associated with weight and body mass index as the most important risk factors for NCDs.
Background: Vitamin D plays an important role in nervous health and depression. Vitamin D deficiency and anxiety affect diabetic status. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ...vitamin D supplementation on anxiety, depression, and inflammation in diabetic women with anxiety. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, totally 51 women with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and vitamin D deficiency were randomly allocated to receive one oral pearl of 50,000 IU vitamin D3 (26 women) or a placebo (25 women) fortnightly for 16 weeks. Anthropometric indices, sun exposure, dietary intake, depression, anxiety, and stress scores and biochemical biomarkers including high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured at the baseline and after 16-week supplementation. Results: Mean ± SD age of participant was 47.43 ± 9.57 years old. Baseline values were not different between the groups. Anxiety score changes were significantly lower in vitamin D group than the controls (P = 0.001). Within group comparison indicated that depression in supplement group with lower vitamin D levels was significantly reduced. Serum hs-CRP reduced (P = 0.01), while IL-10 concentrations increased (P = 0.04) in the intervention group. Conclusions: Vitamin D supplementation can improve mood status and anti-inflammatory biomarkers in female diabetics with anxiety and vitamin D deficiency.
Turmeric is a medicinal herb with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components that can affect metabolic parameters via various pathways, including the gut-brain axis. Although positive effects of ...turmeric on health have been reported, findings are conflicting. Accordingly, the current review aimed to provide an overview of the biochemical and biological characteristics of turmeric and examine the impacts of turmeric on cardio-metabolic risk factors with a special focus on its abilities to modulate gut microbiota. In the present comprehensive review, findings of systematic reviews/narrative reviews, clinical trials, animal, and in vitro studies on turmeric in the English language published between 2010 and March 2023 were summarized. Findings revealed that turmeric is a safe medicinal herb with mild gastrointestinal side effects in some cases. It can help improve the glycemic status, lipid profile, and blood pressure. However, food processing and fermentation can affect the bioavailability of its effective components, including curcumin. Several mechanisms, including those affecting intestinal microbiota diversity, intestinal permeability, inflammatory and oxidative pathways, are proposed for their positive effects on metabolic factors. However, due to high between-study heterogeneity, limited high-quality clinical trials, differences in the duration of the intervention, and the form of turmeric supplement, more studies on each metabolic parameter are needed to determine effective dosages and confirm its efficacy as a complementary therapy to modulate microbiota and cardio-metabolic parameters.
Background and aims: Migraine is a neurologic disorder with wide global spread. Quality of life (QOL) and dietary factors are important parameters in migraine management. The aim of this study was to ...evaluate the relationship of mood status, QOL, and dietary intake with migraine symptoms among women with migraine. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 143 women with migraine aged 20–40 years who were randomly selected from two clinics in Isfahan, Iran. Data were collected using the Food Frequency Questionnaire for Assessing Dietary Patterns, a visual analogue scale for migraine headaches, the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. The serum level of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was also measured. Results: Participants’ age and number of sleeping hours per 24 hours had significant relationship with migraine severity, depression and anxiety had significant relationship with migraine severity and the duration of migraine attacks, and QOL had significant relationship with migraine severity and the duration and frequency of migraine attacks. Daily intake of riboflavin also had significant relationship with frequency of migraine attacks, while daily intake of water had significant relationship with migraine severity (P < 0.05). However, serum level of CGRP had no significant relationship with migraine (P > 0.05). The relationships of vitamin D and magnesium intake with depression were also significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Serum level of CGRP has no significant relationship with migraine attacks, while depression, anxiety, QOL, and magnesium and vitamin D intake have significant relationship with migraine attacks.
Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) have been suggested as a beneficial supplement in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, but the results of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are controversial. We conducted ...a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate all the RCTs about the impact of omega-3 FAs supplementation on cardiometabolic outcomes and oxidative stress parameters in patients with CKD.
We performed a systematic database search in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central, up to May 2020. We included all placebo-controlled randomized trials that assessed the effect of omega-3 FAs supplementation on any cardiometabolic outcomes: blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or triglycerides (TG) and oxidative stress parameters. Data were pooled using DerSimonian-Laird's random-effects model.
Finally, thirteen articles met the inclusion criteria for this review omega-3 FAs supplementation significantly decrease TC (SMD: -0.26; 95% CI: - 0.51, - 0.02; I
= 52.7%), TG (SMD: -0.22; 95% CI: - 0.43, - 0.02; I
= 36.0%) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (SMD: -0.91; 95% CI: - 1.29, - 0.54; I
= 00.0%) and also significantly increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) (SMD: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.90; I
= 00.0%) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (SMD: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.86; I
= 00.0%) activities. However our results show that omega-3 FAs supplementation have no significant effects on HDL, LDL and blood pressure. Conclusion This systematic review and meta-analysis supports current evidence for the clinical benefit of omega-3 FAs intake to improve cardiometabolic parameters in CKD patients. However, well-designed RCTs still needed to provide a conclusive picture in this field.
Postmenopausal women are predisposed to osteoporosis, and those on acidic diets are at a higher risk, because it has been demonstrated that such diets have adverse effects on bone health. In this ...study, the effect of alkaline drinking water on bone mineral density was evaluated in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
One hundred postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (T-score ≤ -2.5) were equally divided into an intervention group and a control group (n = 50 each). The intervention group received calcium D (daily), alkaline drinking water (1.5 L daily with pH 8.6 ± 0.3), and Osteofos tablet (70 mg weekly), whereas the control group received only calcium D and Osteofos tablet for 3 months. T-scores of the femur and spine bones were obtained using bone densitometry before and 3 months after the intervention.
After the intervention, the mean T-scores of the femur and spine bones significantly increased in both the control and intervention groups (
< 0.05). However, the mean changes in the spine T-score were significantly higher in the intervention group (0.39 ± 0.07) than in the control group (0.08 ± 0.01) (
< 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the mean changes in the femur T-score between the two groups.
Our findings demonstrate that drinking alkaline water improves spine T-scores in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Hence, alkaline water can be used to treat osteoporosis due to increased bone density in postmenopausal women. Long-term interventions are necessary to confirm the effects of alkaline water on femur density.
Background and aims: Osteoporosis is one of the most common metabolic bone diseases with systemic involvement of the body skeleton. The Peganum harmala seed contains high amounts of carboline ...alkaloids, which have been shown to have positive effects on bone formation in animal studies. In the present study, the effect of an oral capsule of P. harmala seed on bone density was evaluated in menopausal women prone to osteoporosis. Methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 100 women referring to the orthopedic clinic with a diagnosis of osteoporosis were included and divided into the intervention group treated with calcium D (500 mg) twice a day, Osteofos (70 mg) per week, and P. harmala (500 mg) twice‐a‐day, and the control group treated with calcium D and Osteofos. Before and three months after the intervention, patients were evaluated for osteoporosis using bone densitometry. Finally, independent t-test, paired t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur before and after the intervention showed significant improvements in the intervention and control groups (P<0.001). The mean differences in BMD before and after the intervention were significant in both control and intervention groups with higher improvements in the intervention group (P<0.001). Although the mean BMD of the spine before the intervention was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.167), it was better in the intervention group after the intervention (P=0.030). Conclusion: The findings of the present study confirmed the beneficial effects of P. harmala on osteoporosis while the lack of any changes in liver enzymes.
Background: Workers have to spend a substantial proportion of their income on foods and despite the high prevalence of stress among them, little is known about the association of dietary patterns and ...mental health disorders in this group. We examined whether dietary patterns are associated with depression and anxiety risk in the Iranian workers of steel mill company. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 3060 workers (2803 males and 260 females) in 2015. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire during the preceding year, and depression and anxiety were evaluated using a Persian-validated Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Major dietary patterns were determined using exploratory factor analysis and the risk of depression and anxiety was assessed across the tertiles of dietary patterns using logistic regression. Results: Three dietary patterns were identified: healthy (loaded by fruit, vegetables and skim dairy products), Western (loaded by processed foods, butter and sweets), and Iranian traditional diet (loaded by refined grains, red meat, poultry and legumes). After adjustment for various confounders, individuals in the highest tertile of healthy diet had lower risk of depression (odds ratio OR: 0.47; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.32, 0.68) and anxiety (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.99) compared with those in the first tertile, whilst greater adherence to the Iranian traditional diet was associated with increased risk of depression (OR: 1.82; 95% CI: 1.24, 2.67) and anxiety (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.09). The Western-style diet was marginally associated with increased risk of depression, but not anxiety. Conclusion: Overall, we found healthy diet might be associated with decreased risk of depression and anxiety, but the Iranian traditional diet might be associated with increased risk of depression and anxiety. Therefore, to improve public health, Iranian traditional diet should be adjusted according to the healthy diet recommendations.
Abstract
Context
Several epidemiological studies have investigated the association between a vegetarian diet and risk of depression, but because of inconsistency between studies, the exact ...association remains unclear.
Objective
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the relationship between vegetarian diets and risk of depression in observational studies was evaluated.
Data sources
The Medline, Embase, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception through September 1, 2020.
Study selection
Observational studies were included that examined mean levels of depression and risk for depression in vegetarians compared with nonvegetarians.
Data extraction
Pooled effect sizes were estimated using the random-effects model and were reported as standardized mean differences or odds ratios (ORs) with their corresponding 95%CIs. Heterogeneity was tested using the I2 statistic.
Results
Combining 9 effect sizes in this meta-analysis illustrated that adherence to a vegetarian diet was associated with a 53% greater risk of depression compared with that of omnivores (95%CI, 1.14–2.07; I2 = 69.1%). Subgroup analysis of depression risk suggested that results depended on the type of vegetarian diet and country where the study was conducted. For studies that assessed a semivegetarian diet (OR, 1.86; 95%CI, 1.42–2.44; I2 = 35.7%) and those conducted in Europe and the United States (OR, 1.45; 95%CI, 1.06–1.98; I2 = 73.2%), there was a positive association between a vegetarian diet and depression, but in lacto-ovo vegetarians and Asian countries, a null association was found. Comparing mean depression scores showed no evidence of difference between vegetarians and nonvegetarians (n = 16; standardized mean difference, 0.10; 95%CI, –0.01 to 0.21; I2 = 79.1%).
Conclusion
Vegetarian diet significantly increased depression risk; however, the findings were not robust, and more studies are required to investigate the vegetarian diet and depression association.