Effects of virgin coconut oil consumption on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and oxidative stress biomarkers in adults with metabolic syndrome: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Metabolic syndrome is associated with health conditions and neurological disorders. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a protective role on the nervous system. Decreased levels of BDNF have been shown in MetS and neurodegenerative diseases. There is promising evidence regarding the anti-inflammatory antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties of virgin coconut oil (VCO). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of VCO consumption on serum BDNF levels, oxidative stress status, and insulin resistance in adults with MetS. METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 48 adults with MetS aged 20-50 years. The intervention group received 30 ml of VCO daily to substitute the same amounts of oil in their usual diet. The control group continued their usual diet. Serum BDNF levels, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as HOMA-IR and QUICKI index were measured after four weeks of intervention. RESULTS: VCO consumption significantly reduced serum levels of MDA (p = .01), fasting insulin (p < .01) and HOMA-IR index (p < .01) and increased serum TAC (p < .01) and QUICKI index (p = .01) compared to the control group. Serum BDNF levels increased significantly in VCO group compared to the baseline (p = .02); however, this change was not significant when compared to the control group (p = .07). CONCLUSION: VCO consumption improved oxidative stress status and insulin resistance and had a promising effect on BDNF levels in adults with MetS. Further studies are needed to understand the long-term effects of VCO consumption.

Dietary patterns and micronutrients in respiratory infections including COVID-19: a narrative review.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a pandemic caused by nCoV-2019, a new beta-coronavirus from Wuhan, China, that mainly affects the respiratory system and can be modulated by nutrition. METHODS: This review aims to summarize the current literature on the association between dietary intake and serum levels of micronutrients, malnutrition, and dietary patterns and respiratory infections, including flu, pneumonia, and acute respiratory syndrome, with a focus on COVID-19. We searched for relevant articles in various databases and selected those that met our inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Some studies suggest that dietary patterns, malnutrition, and certain nutrients such as vitamins D, E, A, iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber may have a significant role in preventing respiratory diseases, alleviating symptoms, and lowering mortality rates. However, the evidence is not consistent and conclusive, and more research is needed to clarify the mechanisms and the optimal doses of these dietary components. The impact of omega-3 and fiber on respiratory diseases has been mainly studied in children and adults, respectively, and few studies have examined the effect of dietary components on COVID-19 prevention, with a greater focus on vitamin D. CONCLUSION: This review highlights the potential of nutrition as a modifiable factor in the prevention and management of respiratory infections and suggests some directions for future research. However, it also acknowledges the limitations of the existing literature, such as the heterogeneity of the study designs, populations, interventions, and outcomes, and the difficulty of isolating the effects of single nutrients from the complex interactions of the whole diet.

The relationship of circulating neuregulin 4 and irisin, and traditional and novel cardiometabolic risk factors with the risk and severity of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Neuregulin 4 (NRG4) and irisin are adipokines that have been suggested to be associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and coronary artery disease (CAD), but the data are inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between circulating NRG4 and irisin and cardiometabolic risk factors with CAD risk and severity. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this cross-sectional study, the presence of CAD and the severity of stenosis (gensini score) were documented based on coronary angiography in 166 adults. Circulating NRG4 and irisin, glucose homeostasis markers, hs-CRP, lipid profiles, blood pressure, and anthropometric measurements were assessed as well. Age (p = 0.005), sex (p = 0.008), SBP (p = 0.033), DBP (p = 0.04), MAP (p = 0.018), FBG (p = 0.012), insulin (p = 0.039) and HOMA-IR (p = 0.01) were significantly associated with odds of having CAD. The final logistic regression model showed that age, sex, HOMA-IR, and MAP were the most important determinants of having CAD. There were no significant associations between circulating irisin and NRG4 with odds of having CAD. The final general linear model showed that being men (ß = 17.303, 95% CI: 7.086-27.52, P = 0.001), age (Aß = 0.712, 95% CI: 0.21-1.214, P = 0.006), HOMA-IR (Aß = 2.168, 95% CI: 0.256 to 4.079, P = 0.027), and NRG4 level (ß = 1.836, 95% CI: 0.119-3.553, P = 0.036) were directly associated with higher gensini score. Participants with the three-vessel disease had a mean increase of about 5 units in circulating irisin compared to those with no clinical CAD (ß = 5.221, 95% CI: 0.454-9.987, p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the adipokines NRG4 and Irisin might be associated with the severity of coronary stenosis.

Effect of diet low in advanced glycation end products on appetite, body composition, and brown adipose tissue markers in patients with coronary artery disease treated with angioplasty: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Recent changes in dietary habits have resulted in increased intake of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are known to have a predominant contribution to the pathogenesis and complications of coronary artery disease (CAD). AGEs are also thought to induce weight gain by affecting appetite, energy expenditure, and brown adipose tissue (BAT). Here, we investigated whether the restriction of dietary AGEs could affect appetite, body composition, anthropometric indices, and BAT-derived markers in CAD patients treated with angioplasty. Materials and Methods: Forty-two stented CAD patients were randomly allocated into two groups that received either a low-AGEs or a control diet for 12 weeks. At baseline and postintervention, fasting blood samples were analyzed for total AGEs, nesfatin-1, and BAT-derived markers (fibroblast growth factor 21 and neuregulin 4). Subjective appetite ratings and body composition were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and bioelectric impedance analysis. Anthropometric indices, including fat mass index (FMI), abdominal volume index (AVI), and body adiposity index (BAI), were calculated through the relevant formula. Results: Restricting dietary AGEs for 12 weeks could cause a significant reduction in weight, FMI, AVI, and BAI (P < 0.05) compared to the comparison group. In addition, VAS data analyses indicated a significant decrease in the sense of hunger and prospective food intake (P < 0.05) in the intervention group compared to the comparison group. No significant difference was seen in the measured biochemical markers between the two groups. Conclusion: This study indicated that the low-AGEs diet could decrease appetite, weight, and anthropometric indices in stented CAD patients.

Effect of nanocurcumin supplementation on the severity of symptoms and length of hospital stay in patients with COVID-19: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

It has been more than a year since the outbreak of COVID-19, and it is still the most critical issue of the healthcare system. Discovering effective strategies to treat infected patients is necessary to decrease the mortality rate. This study aimed to determine the effects of nanocurcumin on the severity of symptoms and length of hospital stay (LOS) in COVID-19 patients. Forty-eight COVID-19 patients were randomly assigned into nanocurcumin (n = 24) and placebo (n = 24) groups receiving 160 mg/day nanocurcumin or placebo capsules for 6 days. Mean differences of O2 saturation were significantly higher in patients who received nanocurcumin supplements (p = 0.02). Also, nanocurcumin treatment significantly reduced the scores of domains 3 and 4 and the total score of Wisconsin Upper Respiratory System Survey (WURSS-24), indicating milder symptoms in the treatment group (p = 0.01, 0.03, and 0.01 respectively). Besides, the LOS in curcumin groups was lower than in the placebo group, although the difference was not statistically significant (6.31 ± 5.26 vs. 8.87 ± 8.12 days; p = 0.416). CBC/differentiate, hs-CRP level and the pulmonary involvement in CT scan were not different between the two groups. As nanocurcumin can be effective in increasing O2 saturation and reducing the severity of symptoms in COVID-19 patients, it could probably be used as a complementary agent to accelerate the recovery of patients.

The relationship between low-carbohydrate diet score, dietary insulin index and load with obesity in healthy adults.

PURPOSE: Carbohydrate intake and insulinemic potential of diet are suggested to be correlated with the development of different chronic diseases. Considering the limited research on obesity, this study aimed to investigate the association of dietary insulin index (DII), dietary insulin load (DIL), and low-carbohydrate diet score (LCDS) with body weight and obesity in healthy adults. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, DII, DIL, and LCDS were calculated using relevant formulas based on dietary intakes obtained by a valid 168-item food frequency questionnaire, in 393 otherwise healthy adults of either normal-weight, overweight, or obese. RESULTS: Individuals in the highest tertile of DIL and DII had respectively 73% (OR: 0.27, 95% CI 0.08-0.94, p = 0.049) and 50% (OR: 0.5, 95% CI 0.26-0.96, p = 0.038) lower odds of being overweight compared to the lowest tertile, after adjusting the effects of age, sex, and dietary energy intake. Participants in the highest tertile of DIL had 92% greater odds of being obese compared to the lowest tertile, but this association did not remain significant after adjusting the effect of energy intake. Individuals in the highest tertile of LCDS had about 2 times odds of being overweight compared with those in the lowest tertile (OR: 2.04, 95% CI 1.04-4.01, p = 0.049). There was no relationship between being obese and tertiles of LCDS. CONCLUSION: Higher dietary carbohydrate intake and insulinemic potential of diet could not be considered independent dietary risk factors for overweight or obesity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III: evidence obtained from an observational study.

Association of obesity with mortality and clinical outcomes in children and adolescents with transplantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Obesity might be associated with mortality and clinical outcomes following transplantation; however, the direction of this relationship has not been well-recognized in youth. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the association of obesity with post-transplant mortality and clinical outcomes in children and adolescents. Following a systematic search of observational studies published by December 2018 in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane library, 15 articles with total sample size of 50,498 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The main outcome was mortality and secondary outcomes included acute graft versus host disease (GVHD), acute rejection, and overall graft loss. The pooled data analyses showed significantly higher odds of long term mortality (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.15-1.48, P < 0.001, I2 = 50.3%), short term mortality (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.19-2.70, P = 0.005, I2 = 59.6%), and acute GVHD (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.5-3.02, P < 0.001, I2 = 1.7%) in children with obesity. There were no significant differences between patients with and without obesity in terms of acute rejection (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.98-1.16, P = 0.132, I2 = 7.5%) or overall graft loss (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.84-1.28, P = 0.740, I2 = 51.6%). This systematic review and meta-analysis has stated higher post-transplant risk of short and long term mortality and higher risk of acute GVHD in children with obesity compared to those without obesity. Future clinical trials are required to investigate the effect of pre-transplant weight management on post-transplant outcomes to provide insights into the clinical application of these findings. This may in turn lead to establish guidelines for the management of childhood obesity in transplantations.

The association of the adipokine zinc-alpha2-glycoprotein with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and related risk factors: A comprehensive systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The adipokine zinc-alpha2-glycoprotein (ZAG), a multidisciplinary protein, is involved in lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis and energy balance. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the expression of ZAG is mainly downregulated in obesity and obesity-related conditions. In the present study, we assessed the association of ZAG with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the related risk factors including obesity, metabolic factors and inflammatory parameters, with emphasis on potential mechanisms underlying these associations. METHODS: PRISMA guidelines were followed in this review. Systematic searches were performed using the PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, Scopus, EMBASE, ProQuest and Google Scholar databases, up to August 2020 for all relevant published papers. RESULTS: Out of 362 records screened, 34 articles were included in the final analysis. According to the studies reviewed here, ZAG appears to exert a protective effect against NAFLD by enhancing mRNA expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and PPARγ, promoting mRNA expression levels of the lipolysis-related genes, reducing mRNA expression levels of the lipogenesis-related genes, increasing hepatic fatty acid oxidation, ameliorating hepatic steatosis, promoting the activity of brown adipose tissue and the expression of thermogenesis-related genes, modulating energy balance and glucose homeostasis, and elevating plasma levels of healthy adipokines such as adiponectin. ZAG can also be involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses by attenuation of the expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic mediators. CONCLUSION: According to the studies reviewed here, ZAG is suggested to be a promising therapeutic target for NAFLD. However, the favourable effects of ZAG need to be confirmed in prospective cohort studies.

Association between the dietary inflammatory index and obesity in otherwise healthy adults: Role of age and sex.

AIM: The dietary inflammatory index (DII® ) can estimate the overall inflammatory potential of diet. This study aimed to assess the association between DII score and other diet quality parameters with weight status among normal weight, overweight and obese otherwise healthy adults. METHODS: This retrospective observational study investigated DII, energy-adjusted DII (E-DIITM ), dietary energy density (DED) and mean adequacy ratio (MAR) scores, based on a valid 168-item food frequency questionnaire, in 100 normal weight, 100 overweight and 100 obese healthy adults (age > 18yr). RESULTS: Normal-weight participants had higher DII scores than obese participants (mean difference (MD): 0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.004 - 1.33, P = .048). Body mass index (BMI) had an effect on DII score after adjusting for age (P = .03). A statistically significant interaction was observed between BMI and age on E-DII (P = .03) and MAR (P = .004). E-DII scores were lower (more anti-inflammatory) and MAR was higher with increasing age in the obese compared with normal-weight participants. Additionally, male participants had higher DII (MD: -0.53, 95% CI: -0.97 - -0.09, P = .02), E-DII (MD: -0.76, 95% CI: -1.12 - -0.35, P < .001), DED (MD: -0.09, 95% CI: -0.15 - -0.03, P = .004) and lower MAR (MD: 0.04, 95% CI: 0.02 - 0.06, P = .001), after adjusting for BMI. Obesity (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.26 - 0.91, P = .02) and DED (AOR =5.81, 95% CI: 2.28 - 14.81, P < .001) were the most important factors associated with high DII. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that having a normal body weight is not necessarily indicative of less inflammatory potential of diet and better diet quality. Male sex and increasing age were important determinants of diet quality across BMI subgroups.

Dietary Inflammatory Index Is a Better Determinant of Quality of Life Compared to Obesity Status in Patients With Hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the relationships among obesity, anthropometries, and the dietary inflammatory index (DII) with different aspects of quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing hemodialysis. DESIGN AND METHODS: In 83 patients representing a range of body weights, QoL (based on short form 36), DII (extracted from dietary recalls), malnutrition-inflammation score, and anthropometric measurements were assessed. RESULTS: Obese patients had lower physical health score (mean difference [MD] 9.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.3-17.8, P = .04), physical functioning (MD 10.5, 95% CI 0.7-20.2, P = .04), and bodily pain scores (MD 16.0, 95% CI 3.6-28.4, P = .01) than normal weight group. Patients with abdominal obesity and those with the highest body fat percentage had also lower QoL in many aspects, irrespective of body mass index. The physical (MD 13.2, 95% CI 2.05-24.3, P = .02) and mental (MD 18.4, 95% CI 7.51-29.2, P = .001) health scores, and physical functioning (MD 13.5, 95% CI 1.8-25.2, P = .02), role-physical (MD 25.8, 95% CI 3.0-48.6, P = .03), role-emotional (MD 22.1, 95% CI 5.4-52.8, P = .02), vitality (MD 18.4, 95% CI 7.6-29.3, P = .001), mental health (MD 11.7, 95% CI 3.06-20.4, P = .009), and social functioning (MD 14.2, 95% CI 1.13-27.2, P = .03) were considerably lower in patients with the highest versus the lowest DII. QoL did not differ between normal-weight and obese patients with low DII (P = .26), and between normal-weight and obese patients with high DII (P = .13). Obese patients with low DII also had better QoL than normal-weight subjects with high DII scores. CONCLUSIONS: A diet with higher proinflammatory potential was associated with decreased QoL, irrespective of obesity status. Adherence to a low-DII diet might protect against some obesity-associated complications, a finding that needs further investigations.

Effects of curcuminoids on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Experimental studies have suggested the beneficial effects of curcuminoids as natural polyphenols against traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementation with curcuminoids on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers, clinical outcomes and nutritional status in critically ill patients with TBI. A total of 62 ICU-admitted adult patients with TBI were randomly allocated to receive either a daily dose of 500 mg curcuminoids or matched placebo via enteral nutrition for 7 consecutive days based on stratified block randomization by age and sex. Inflammatory and oxidative stress as well as clinical outcomes and nutritional status of the patients were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. There were no overall group effects regarding to all dependent variables. Compared with baseline, serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1 and CRP were significantly reduced in patients receiving curcuminoids (p < .05) without any significant changes in placebo group; however, changes in the activities of GPx and SOD in serum were not significant between two groups. Moreover, APACHEII and NUTRIC score were significantly improved following curcuminoids consumption in comparison with placebo (p < .05). The findings of this study suggest that short-term supplementation with curcuminoids may have beneficial effects on inflammation, clinical outcomes and nutritional status of critically ill patients with TBI.

Oleoylethanolamide supplementation in obese patients newly diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Effects on metabolic parameters, anthropometric indices, and expression of PPAR-α, UCP1, and UCP2 genes.

The effects of oleoylethanolamide (OEA) on NAFLD are yet to be examined in human. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of OEA supplementation along with weight loss intervention on the expression of PPAR-α, uncoupling proteins 1and 2 (UCP1 and UCP2) genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), metabolic parameters, and anthropometric indices among obese patients with NAFLD. In this triple-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, 76 obese patients newly diagnosed with NAFLD were randomly allocated into either OEA or placebo group along with calorie-restricted diets for 12 weeks. At pre-and post-intervention phase, mRNA expression levels of PPAR-α, UCP1, and UCP2 genes in the PBMCs, serum levels of metabolic parameters as well as diet and appetite sensations were assessed. There was a significant increase in the expression levels of PPAR-α, UCP1, and UCP2 genes in the PBMCs, compared to the placebo at the endpoint. A significant decrease in the anthropometric indices, energy and carbohydrate intakes, glycemic parameters, except for hemoglobin A1c concentration was also observed in the OEA group, compared to the placebo group. OEA treatment significantly resulted in decreased serum levels of triglyceride (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT/AST, increased serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and improved appetite sensations. Importantly, a significant improvement in TG, ALT, AST, ALT/AST, HDL-C levels as well as appetite sensations by OEA were under the influence of body mass index (BMI). Although liver steatosis severity was significantly reduced in both groups, the between-group differences did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.061). In conclusion, the present study, for the first time, revealed that OEA supplementation significantly improved anthropometric and metabolic risk factors related to NAFLD.

The effect of synbiotics supplementation on anthropometric indicators and lipid profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Different therapies have been suggested for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but changes in lifestyle and diet have been considered. Diet and dietary factors can be very effective in modifying the disease. The positive effects of probiotic and synbiotics supplementation on improving lipid profiles and anthropometric indices have been examined in various diseases. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of synbiotics supplementation on lipid and anthropometric profiles in infertile women with PCOS. METHODS: PCOS patients aged 19-37 years old were randomized to receive either synbiotics supplement (n = 50) or placebo (n = 49) for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Consumption of synbiotics compared to the placebo, resulted in a significant decrease in Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) value (Change Mean Difference (CMD): 4.66, 95%CI: 0.20, 9.13) and a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) (CMD: 1.80, 95%CI: 0.34, 3.26). Although we failed to find a significant effect of synbiotics consumption on total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels. We did not find differences in anthropometric indices between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, 12 weeks of synbiotics supplementation among PCOS women resulted in beneficial effects on LDL and HDL, although it is not yet clear how much our findings are clinically significant and more clinical studies with larger sample sizes are still needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of clinical Trial, IRCT.ir, ID: IRCT2014110515536N2. Registered on 19 December 2015.

Naringenin, a flavanone with antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects: A promising treatment strategy against COVID-19.

At the end of 2019, a novel flu-like coronavirus named COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) was recognized by World Health Organization. No specific treatments exist for COVID-19 at this time. New evidence suggests that therapeutic options focusing on antiviral agents may alleviate COVID-19 symptoms as well as those that lead to the decrease in the inflammatory responses. Flavonoids, as phenolic compounds, have attracted considerable attention due to their various biological properties. In this review, the promising effects and possible mechanisms of action of naringenin, a citrus-derived flavonoid, against COVID-19 were discussed. We searched PubMed/Medline, Science direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases up to March 2020 using the definitive keywords. The evidence reviewed here indicates that naringenin might exert therapeutic effects against COVID-19 through the inhibition of COVID-19 main protease, 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), and reduction of angiotensin converting enzyme receptors activity. One of the other mechanisms by which naringenin might exert therapeutic effects against COVID-19 is, at least partly, by attenuating inflammatory responses. The antiviral activity of the flavanone naringenin against some viruses has also been reported. On the whole, the favorable effects of naringenin lead to a conclusion that naringenin may be a promising treatment strategy against COVID-19.

Effects of supplementation with curcuminoids on serum adipokines in critically ill patients: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Previous studies have shown a beneficial effect of curcuminoids supplementation on serum concentrations of adipokines; however, there are no published studies that have examined this effect among critically ill patients. We aimed to assess the effects of supplementation with curcuminoids on serum concentrations of leptin and adiponectin in critically ill patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this trial, 62 critically ill patients with TBI, aged 18-65 years, were randomly allocated to receive either 500 mg/day curcuminoids (co-administered with 5 mg/day piperine) or matched placebo for 7 days. Patients in both intervention groups received routine treatments for TBI as well as enteral nutrition. Serum concentrations of leptin and adiponectin were measured at baseline and at the end of trial. We found a significant reduction in serum levels of leptin in both curcuminoids (47.1%) and placebo (22.8%) groups; though the magnitude of reduction was greater in the former (p < .05). Supplementation with curcumioinds was not found to alter serum concentrations of adiponectin (p > .05). Supplementation with curcumioinds significantly reduced serum levels of leptin but had no significant effect on adiponectin levels in critically ill patients with TBI. Further clinical trials, particularly those with a long-term period, are needed to confirm our findings.

Association of obesity with morbidity and mortality in critically ill children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Recent studies have suggested that obesity might be protective in specific conditions such as critical illness; however, there are controversial data in critically ill children with obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of obesity with mortality and other outcomes in these patients. We conducted a systematic review of observational studies investigating obesity in critically ill children, published by August 2017 in PubMed and Scopus. After screening documents, 15 articles with 142119 patients were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The results were reported with odds ratio (OR) or standard mean difference (SMD). The primary outcome was mortality and the secondary outcomes were length of ICU stay (ICU LOS), length of hospital stay (hospital LOS), and duration of mechanical ventilation (MV). The analysis showed that critically ill children without obesity had lower risk of mortality compared to patients with obesity (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.97, P = 0.025, I2 = 35.2%). Hospital LOS was also significantly lower in children without obesity (pooled SMD -0.12, 95% CI -0.21 to -0.04, P = 0.004, I2 = 8.1%). There were no differences in ICU LOS (95% CI -0.19 to 0.01, P = 0.083) and duration of MV (95% CI -0.22 to 0.03, P = 0.136) between critically ill children with and without obesity. In conclusion, the current systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that critically ill children with obesity have higher risk of mortality and length of hospital stay compared to the group without obesity. Further prospective studies are essential to elucidate the role of obesity and underlying mechanisms in predicting outcomes of critically ill children.

The Relationship between Serum Concentrations of Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines and Nutritional Status in Patients with Traumatic Head Injury in the Intensive Care Unit.

Background and objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) measured once at the baseline with changes in nutritional status of patients with traumatic head injury (THI) assessed at three consecutive times (24 h after admission, day 6 and day 13) during hospital stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods: Sixty-four patients with THI were recruited for the current study (over 10 months). The nutritional status of the patients was determined within 24 h after admission and on days 6 and 13, using actual body weight, body composition analysis, and anthropometric measurements. The APACHE II score and SOFA score were also assessed within 24 h of admission and on days 6 and 13 of patients staying in the ICU. Circulatory serum levels of cytokines (IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-10) were assessed once within 24 h of admission. Results: The current study found a significant reduction in BMI, FBM, LBM, MAUAC, and APM, of THI patients with high serum levels the cytokines, over the course of time from the baseline to day 7 and to day 13 in patients staying in the ICU (p < 0.001). It was also found that patients with low levels of some studied cytokines had significant improvement in their nutritional status and clinical outcomes in term of MAUAC, APM, APACHE II score and SOFA score (p < 0.001 to p < 0.01). Conclusion: THI patients who had high serum levels of studied cytokines were more prone to develop a reduction of nutritional status in terms of BMI, FBM, LBM MAUAC and APM over the course of time from patient admission until day 13 of ICU admission.

Effects of synbiotic supplementation on metabolic parameters and apelin in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes of infertility in women of reproductive age. Insulin resistance is a main pathophysiologic feature in these patients. According to some studies, the intake of probiotic bacteria may improve glucose homoeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of synbiotics on metabolic parameters and apelin in PCOS patients. This randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted on eighty-eight PCOS women aged 19-37 years old. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups receiving (1) synbiotic supplement (n 44), and (2) placebo (n 44) for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after 12 weeks. The two groups showed no difference in fasting blood sugar (adjusted mean difference: 0·60; 95 % CI -3·80, 5·00, P=0·727), plasma glucose fasting 2-h (adjusted mean difference 2·09; 95 % CI -9·96, 14·15, P=0·134), HbA1c (adjusted mean difference 0·06; 95 % CI -0·09, 0·22, P=0·959), homoeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (adjusted mean difference: 0·02; 95 % CI -0·99, 1·03, P=0·837), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) (adjusted mean difference: -0·02; 95 % CI -0·33, 0·29, P=0·940) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (adjusted mean difference: 0·24; 95 % CI -1·61, 2·08, P=0·141) by the end of the intervention. A significant difference was observed in the mean apelin 36 before and after the intervention between synbiotic and placebo groups (adjusted mean difference: -4·05; 95 % CI -7·15, -0·96, P=0·004). A 12-week synbiotic supplementation has no significant beneficial effects on HOMA-IR and CRP in PCOS patients, whereas the level of apelin 36 significantly decreased.

Consumption of fruit and vegetables in relation with psychological disorders in Iranian adults.

OBJECTIVE: Findings from observational studies on the relationship between fruit and vegetables consumption and risk of mental disorders are contradictory. We aimed to examine the association between fruit and vegetables intake and prevalence of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in a large group of Iranian adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 3362 people of Iranian adults working in 50 health centers. Dietary data were collected using a validated dish-based 106-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The Iranian-validated version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to screen for anxiety and depression. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was used to assess psychological distress. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and high psychological distress among the study population was 30.0, 15.2, and 25.0%, respectively. Women in the top quintile of fruit intake, compared with those in the bottom quintile, had 57, 50, and 60% lower odds of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. Consumption of vegetables was significantly associated with lower odds of depression (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.46, 0.93) in women and lower odds of anxiety (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.22, 0.87) in men. In addition, after adjustment for potential confounders, women in the highest quintile of fruit and vegetables intake, compared with those in the bottom quintile, had significantly lower odds of depression (OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.37, 0.80) and psychological distress (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.40, 0.90). Furthermore, high intake of total fruit and vegetables was associated with lower odds of psychological distress (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.21, 0.81) in men. CONCLUSION: We found significant inverse associations between high intake of fruit with depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in Iranian women. High consumption of vegetables was also associated with lower risk of depression and anxiety, respectively, in women and men. In addition, high intake of total fruit and vegetable was associated with lower odds of depression and psychological distress in women and men.

The effect of 12-week garlic supplementation on symptom relief in overweight or obese women with knee osteoarthritis.

AIMS: Chronic joint pain and stiffness, and functional disability, are the major debilitating features of osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of 12-week supplementation with a garlic supplement on knee osteoarthritis outcomes in overweight or obese women. METHODS: Seventy-six postmenopausal overweight or obese women (25≤BMI≤40 kg/m2 ) with medically diagnosed knee OA participated in this randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-design trial. After randomisation into 2 groups, patients received a daily dose of either 1000 mg odourless garlic tablet, or placebo, for 12 weeks. The total Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), as well as pain, stiffness and physical function subscales, were evaluated pre- and poststudy. Anthropometric parameters and body composition (using bioelectrical impedance analysis) were also assessed. RESULTS: Following 12-week supplementation in overweight or obese women with OA, stiffness (but not pain, function or WOMAC total score) was significantly lower in the garlic group compared with the placebo group (1.4 ± 1.6 vs 2.5 ± 1.9, P = .023). The changes in WOMAC parameters showed no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups. WOMAC total score (38.4 ± 15.9-30.6 ± 15.7, P = .004) and all the subscales, including pain (8.3 ± 3.7-7 ± 4.4, P = .026), stiffness (2.3 ± 1.6-1.4 ± 1.6, P = .013) and physical function (27.7 ± 11.9-22.2 ± 12.4, P = .001) improved significantly in the garlic group postintervention compared with pre-intervention; although pain subscale also decreased in the placebo group (9.6 ± 3.1-6.9 ± 3.7, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Although pre- to postintervention knee OA symptoms were improved in overweight or obese women receiving 12 weeks garlic supplement, there was no significant difference in WOMAC changes compared with the placebo group. Further clinical trials are required to investigate the therapeutic value of garlic ingredients, and the potential role of placebo effect, in the management of OA symptoms.