Effects of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic indices and hs-CRP levels in gestational diabetes mellitus patients: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D plays an important role in the etiology of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This study evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic indices and hs-C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in GDM patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial. Seventy-six pregnant women with GDM and gestational age between 24-28 weeks were assigned to receive four oral treatments consisting of 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 (n = 38) or placebo (n = 38) once every 2 weeks for 2 months. Fasting blood glucose (FG), insulin, HbA1c, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, lipid profile, hs-CRP, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured before and after treatment. Independent and paired t-tests were used to determine intra- and intergroup differences, respectively. ANCOVA was used to assess the effects of vitamin D supplementation on biochemical parameters. RESULTS: Compared with the placebo group, in the vitamin D group, the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased (19.15 vs. -0.40 ng/ml; P < 0.01) and that of FG (-4.72 vs. 5.27 mg/dl; P = 0.01) as well as HbA1c (-0.18% vs. 0.17%; P = 0.02) decreased. Improvements in the lipid profiles were observed in the vitamin D group, but without statistical significance. Significant increases in concentrations of hs-CRP, FG, HbA1c, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were observed in the placebo group. No significant change in fasting insulin and HOMA-IR was observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: In GDM patients, vitamin D supplementation improved FG and HbA1c but had no significant effects on lipid profile or hs-CRP.

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic indices and hs-CRP levels in gestational diabetes mellitus patients: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D plays an important role in the etiology of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This study evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic indices and hs-C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in GDM patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial. Seventy-six pregnant women with GDM and gestational age between 24-28 weeks were assigned to receive four oral treatments consisting of 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 (n = 38) or placebo (n = 38) once every 2 weeks for 2 months. Fasting blood glucose (FG), insulin, HbA1c, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, lipid profile, hs-CRP, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured before and after treatment. Independent and paired t-tests were used to determine intra- and intergroup differences, respectively. ANCOVA was used to assess the effects of vitamin D supplementation on biochemical parameters. RESULTS: Compared with the placebo group, in the vitamin D group, the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased (19.15 vs. -0.40 ng/ml; P < 0.01) and that of FG (-4.72 vs. 5.27 mg/dl; P = 0.01) as well as HbA1c (-0.18% vs. 0.17%; P = 0.02) decreased. Improvements in the lipid profiles were observed in the vitamin D group, but without statistical significance. Significant increases in concentrations of hs-CRP, FG, HbA1c, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were observed in the placebo group. No significant change in fasting insulin and HOMA-IR was observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: In GDM patients, vitamin D supplementation improved FG and HbA1c but had no significant effects on lipid profile or hs-CRP.

Relationship between serum leptin, ghrelin and dietary macronutrients in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] is the most common endocrinopa-thy in women. It may involve an impairment in physiologic regulation of leptin and ghrelin. There is limited, controversial data on the relation of dietary components with leptin and ghrelin in PCOS, so the current study has been conducted to explore the effects of different macronutrients on serum levels of leptin and ghrelin in PCOS and healthy subjects. In this case-control study, we randomly choose 30 PCOS patients and 30 healthy age and body mass index [BMI] matched controls. Intake of macro-nutrients [protein, total fat, saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA], carbohydrate, dietary fiber] and energy were assessed using 3-day, 24-hour food recall and food frequency questionnaires [FFQ]. Fasting hormonal status was measured for each participant. PCOS women had higher levels of serum leptin, insulin, testosterone, and lute-inizing hormone [LH], whereas sex hormone-binding globulin [SHBG] was lower compared to healthy women. There was no significant difference in mean ghrelin concentrations between the groups. Among PCOS women, independent of BMI and total energy intake, we observed an inverse association between leptin concentration and total dietary fat [p=-0.16, P<0.05] and saturated fatty acid [SFA] intake [p=-0.58, P<0.05]. This relationship was not seen in the healthy subjects. There was no significant association between ghrelin and macronutrients in PCOS and healthy participants. Certain habitual dietary components such as fat and SFA may decrease serum leptin, whereas ghrelin is not influenced by these in PCOS women. More studies are needed to better clarify the effects of dietary macronutrients on serum leptin and ghrelin

[ Association between anthropometric indices and disease severity in women with Rheumatoid Arthritis]

Background and Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis [RA] is an autoimmune disease that inflammatory mediators has an important role in its pathogenesis and leads to bone and joints destruction. This inflammatory status can be effected by different factors such as genetic, dietary intakes and hormonal factors. However, the influence of anthropometric on the severity of RA and inflammatory markers is still debatable

Material and Methods: The current study was done on a group of patients with documented RA who were under regular visit in our university hospital outpatients clinic from the start until the end of 2012. Based on DAS-28 criteria disease activity was assessed by a rheumatology specialist. Anthropometric measurements included body mass index [BMI], Waist to hip ratio [WHR],Waist to Height Ratio [WHtR] all were measured serum levels of highly sensetive cpp IL-6 and MMP-3, were measured in fasting serum samples

Results: There was a Positive correlation between obesity [body mass index and waist to height ratio] and disease activity score and serum levels of hsCRP [P <0.05]. There was no significant correlation between obesity with serum levels of MMP-3 and IL-6 [P > 0.05]

Conclusion: Present study indicates a significant direct correlation between obesity and disease activity and systemic inflammation marker [hscRP]. In RA thus, control of weight could be a very important strategy for maintenance remission in rheumatoid arthritis

Effects of phylloquinone supplementation on lipid profile in women with rheumatoid arthritis: a double blind placebo controlled study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an excess mortality from cardiovascular disease which is likely attributed to an atherogenic lipid profile. Among nutritional factors vitamin K has been recently focused as a pivotal nutrient in improvement of lipid related markers. Thus, this study was designed to determine the effects of vitamin K on lipid profile in this disease. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifty eight patients with definitive RA were participated in the present double blind placebo controlled study. They were randomly allocated into two groups to receive vitamin K1 as phylloquinone [10 mg/day] (n = 30) or placebo pills (n = 28), for eight weeks. In order to control the effects of probable confounders dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements including weight and height, clinical status using disease activity score-28 (DAS-28), physical activity and anxiety status were evaluated at baseline. Moreover, serum levels of lipid related markers including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) were measured at baseline and at the end of intervention. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding any of the baseline characteristics. After adjusting for some relevant confounders, in comparison between two groups, we observed no significant changes in lipid related markers at the end of intervention. Also, there was no significant difference between before and after intervention values within groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Function of vitamin K1 in lipid profile modification remains still controversial. This study showed that vitamin K1 has no effect on lipid profile in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Further studies with a longer follow-up are required to determine the effects of vitamin K on atherogenic lipid profile.

Effects of phylloquinone supplementation on lipid profile in women with rheumatoid arthritis: a double blind placebo controlled study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with an excess mortality from cardiovascular disease which is likely attributed to an atherogenic lipid profile. Among nutritional factors vitamin K has been recently focused as a pivotal nutrient in improvement of lipid related markers. Thus, this study was designed to determine the effects of vitamin K on lipid profile in this disease. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifty eight patients with definitive RA were participated in the present double blind placebo controlled study. They were randomly allocated into two groups to receive vitamin K1 as phylloquinone [10 mg/day] (n = 30) or placebo pills (n = 28), for eight weeks. In order to control the effects of probable confounders dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements including weight and height, clinical status using disease activity score-28 (DAS-28), physical activity and anxiety status were evaluated at baseline. Moreover, serum levels of lipid related markers including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) were measured at baseline and at the end of intervention. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding any of the baseline characteristics. After adjusting for some relevant confounders, in comparison between two groups, we observed no significant changes in lipid related markers at the end of intervention. Also, there was no significant difference between before and after intervention values within groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Function of vitamin K1 in lipid profile modification remains still controversial. This study showed that vitamin K1 has no effect on lipid profile in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Further studies with a longer follow-up are required to determine the effects of vitamin K on atherogenic lipid profile.

effects of legumes on metabolic features, insulin resistance and hepatic function tests in women with central obesity: a randomized controlled trial

The effect of high-legume hypocaloric diet on metabolic features in women is unclear. This study provided an opportunity to find effects of high-legume diet on metabolic features in women who consumed high legumes at pre-study period. In this randomized controlled trial after 2 weeks of a run-in period on an isocaloric diet, 42 premenopausal women with central obesity were randomly assigned into two groups: [1] Hypocaloric diet enriched in legumes [HDEL] and [2] hypocaloric diet without legumes [HDWL] for 6 weeks. The following variables were assessed before intervention and 3 and 6 weeks after its beginning: Waist circumference [WC], systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP], fasting serum concentrations of triglyceride [TG], high density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar [FBS], insulin, homeostasis model of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR], alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST]. We used multifactor model of nested multivariate analysis of variance repeated measurements and t-test for statistical analysis. HDEL and HDWL significantly reduced the WC. HDEL significantly reduced the SBP and TG. Both HDEL and HDWL significantly increased fasting concentration of insulin and HOMA-IR after 3 weeks, but their significant effects on insulin disappeared after 6 weeks and HDEL returned HOMA-IR to basal levels in the subsequent 3 weeks. In HDEL group percent of decrease in AST and ALT between 3[rd] and 6[th] weeks was significant. In HDWL group percent of increase in SBP, DBP, FBS and TG between 3[rd] and 6[th] weeks was significant. The study indicated beneficial effects of hypocaloric legumes on metabolic features

[ effect of oligofructose-enriched inulin on glycemic indices and inflammation in women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized clinical trial]

Considering the high prevalence of diabetes and the important role of insulin resistance andinflammation in type 2 diabetes pathogenesis and its resulted cardiovascular diseases, the present study was conducted with the objective of investigating the effect of oligofructose-enriched inulin on the levels of glycemic indices and inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes. In this clinical trial, 52 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to two groups. The subjects of experimental group [n=27] received 10g oligofructose-enriched inulin and the control group [n=25] 10g maltodextrin for 8 weeks. Dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements, glycemic indices and inflammation were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study. Statistical analysis was done usingpaired and independent t-tests, and analysis of covariance for comparison of quantitative variables. In this study, a significant decrease was observed in fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, IL-6 and TNF- alpha in oligofructose-enriched inulin group compared to the maltodextrin group. Decreases in HOMA-IR, QUICKI, hs-CRP were not significant in oligofructose-enriched inulin compared to maltodextrin group. The results revealed that oligofructose-enriched inulin supplementation can improve glycemic indices and inflammation in women with type 2 diabetes

Effect of Alpha-lipoic Acid Supplementation on Serum Lipid Profile in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Alpha-lipoic acid [ALA] is considered as a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory functions. Moreover, a number of studies have revealed its lipid lowering properties. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effect of ALA on serum lipids in women with rheumatoid arthritis [RA], who have high mortality rate mainly due to accelerated atherosclerosis. In the present study a total of 70 RA patients were randomly assigned into two groups [1:1] to receive either ALA [1200 mg/day] or placebo for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were obtained before and after the intervention to analyze serum lipid profile including triglycerides [TG], total cholesterol [TC], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]. International physical activity questionnaire [IPAQ] was assessed at baseline and final. Between-group comparisons were done using Student's t-test and ANCOVA at baseline and after 8 weeks, respectively. Paired t-test was used for within-group comparisons. Sign test and Mann-Whitney's test were used for intra- and inter-group comparisons of qualitative variables, respectively. P<0.05 was considered as significant. Finally, 65 RA patients completed the trial. No statistically significant differences were observed in serum lipid levels within and between the groups before and after the study. There were no significant intra- and inter-group differences in physical activity levels at the beginning and in the end of the study. In the present study, serum lipid profile was not significantly affected by ALA intervention. However, ALA supplementation aiming at prevention or treatment of dyslipidemia in RA patients should be further investigated

Effects of High Performance Inulin Supplementation on Glycemic Control and Antioxidant Status in Women with Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of high performance inulin supplementation on blood glycemic control and antioxidant status in women with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: In a randomized, triple-blind controlled trial, 49 females (fiber intake <30 g/day, 25

Serum leptin and ghrelin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: correlation with anthropometric, metabolic, and endocrine parameters

Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] patients are more prone to abnormal production of some regulatory peptides. In these patients, studies on the serum levels of leptin and ghrelin are controversial. This study aims to investigate serum levels of leptin and ghrelin and their correlation with metabolic and endocrine indices in PCOS. This case-control study was conducted on 60 women; 30 with PCOS and 30 healthy women whose age and body mass index [BMI] were matched and who were referred to Alzahra Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Serum levels of leptin, ghrelin, insulin, luteinizing hormone [LH], follicle stimulating hormone [FSH], sex hormone-binding globulin [SHBG], and testosterone were measured. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR] was calculated. Descriptive statistics and correlations were performed using SPSS 12.0 for Windows. In PCOS women, serum levels of leptin, insulin, HOMA-IR, testosterone, LH, and LH/FSH were significantly higher, while SHBG was lower than in healthy women. Ghrelin and FSH were similar in both groups. Serum levels of leptin correlated with BMI [r=0.85, p<0.001], waist to hip ratio [WHR] [r=0.55, p<0.01], insulin levels [r=0.85, p<0.001] and HOMA-IR [r=0.67, p<0.01], while ghrelin levels had an inverse association with testosterone [r=-0.32, p=0.04]. The results showed increased leptin levels while ghrelin remained unchanged in PCOS patients. In PCOS patients, leptin positively correlated with BMI, WHR, insulin, and insulin resistance, while ghrelin was only associated with serum testosterone levels