Clinical Trial on the Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Metabolic Profiles in Diabetic Hemodialysis.

The current study was conducted to assess the effects of vitamin D supplementation on insulin metabolism, lipid fractions, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress in diabetic hemodialysis (HD) patients. This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out among 60 diabetic HD patients. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to intake either oral vitamin D3 supplements at a dosage of 50 000 IU (n=30) or placebo (n=30) every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks of intervention, subjects who received vitamin D supplements compared with the placebo had significantly decreased serum insulin concentrations (-3.4±3.7 vs. +2.0±4.2 µIU/ml, p<0.001), homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (-1.2±1.8 vs. +0.9±2.3, p<0.001), and improved quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) (+0.02±0.03 vs. -0.01±0.02, p<0.001). In addition, compared with the placebo, vitamin D supplementation led to significant reductions in serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (-1.4±2.5 vs. +1.4±4.8 mg/l, p=0.007), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) (-0.1±0.2 vs. +0.1±0.2 µmol/l, p=0.009) and a significant increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) concentrations (+33.8±56.7 vs. -2.0±74.5 mmol/l, p=0.04). We did not see any significant effect of vitamin D supplementation on lipid profiles and other biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress compared with the placebo. Overall, we found that vitamin D supplementation had beneficial effects on serum insulin, HOMA-IR, QUICKI, serum hs-CRP, plasma MDA, and TAC levels among diabetic HD patients for 12 weeks. CLINICAL REGISTRATION:: http://www.irct.ir: IRCT201611155623N92.

Metabolic Response to Mulberry Extract Supplementation in Patients With Diabetic Nephropathy: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of mulberry extract administration on markers of insulin metabolism, lipid concentrations, and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups to receive either 300 mg/d of mulberry extract (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30), twice per day for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at the onset of the study and 12 weeks after supplementation to examine markers of insulin metabolism, lipid concentrations, and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. RESULTS: Mulberry extract, compared to placebo, resulted in significant reductions in serum triglycerides (-37.3 ± 64.7 mg/dL versus 3.0 ± 78.8 mg/dL, P = .03) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-7.4 ± 12.9 mg/dL versus 0.6 ± 15.8 mg/dL, P = .03), and a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration (0.5 ± 4.0 mg/dL versus -2.0 ± 5.0 mg/dL, P = .03). Other significant changes were in serum high-sensitivity C-reaction protein (-2.3 ± 4.5 µg/mL versus -0.1 ± 2.2 µg/mL, P = .02), plasma glutathione (87.8 ± 159.7 µmol/L versus -24.2 ± 138.8 µmol/L, P = .005) and malondialdehyde (-0.03 ± 0.5 µmol/L versus 0.7 ± 1.0 µmol/L, P < .001).   Conclusions. These findings showed that mulberry extract administration had favorable effects on serum lipids, HSCRP, glutathione, and malondialdehyde levels in DN patients; however, it did not affect markers of insulin metabolism or biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

Molecular characterization of Escherichia coli recovered from traditional milk products in Kashan, Iran.

AIM: Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) strains as emerging groups of foodborne pathogens are responsible for most foodborne illnesses. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern in STEC isolated from traditional milk products and their molecular characterization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 116 samples were randomly purchased from local markets in Kashan, Iran, and evaluated for the occurrence of STEC by culturing and molecular methods. The antibiotic resistance of obtained isolates was determined by Kirby Bauer method. Furthermore, isolates were assayed for the presence of Shiga toxins (stx1 and stx2) and intimin gene (eae). RESULTS: The incidence of E. coli in 60 ice cream, 30 yoghurt, and 26 cheese samples was 8.33%, 10%, and 11.54%, respectively. The findings showed that 11 out of 11 (100%) E. coli had both stx1 and stx2 while eae gene was not found in E. coli isolated of traditional milk products. For E. coli strains carrying stx1 and stx2, highest antibiotic sensitive levels were related to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, norfloxacin, chloramphenicol, and ciprofloxacin, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results showed relationship between the presence of virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance. These results can be used for further studies on STEC as an emerging foodborne pathogen.