The effect of vitamin D supplementation on flow-mediated dilatation, oxidized LDL and intracellular adhesion molecule 1 on type 2 diabetic patients with hypertension: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.

AIMS: Current study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) in type 2 diabetic patients with hypertension. METHODS: In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, 44 patients were randomly divided into vitamin D group (2000 IU/d, n = 23) and placebo group (control, n = 21) for 12 weeks. Vascular function with FMD, Serum 25-OH vitamin D, oxLDL and ICAM1 were assessed at the baseline and after the intervention. This clinical trial was registered at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20191223045861N1). RESULTS: In intervention group serum level of vitamin D increased from 32.42 ± 10.56 to 40.45 ± 12.94 (p < 0.001). In the vitamin D group, oxLDL and ICAM1 significantly decreased and FMD increased significantly in both groups (p < 0.001). The level of oxLDL (p = 0.017) and ICAM1 (p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the vitamin D group than the placebo group and FMD (p < 0.001) was significantly higher in the vitamin D group. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D supplementation of 2000 IU/d for 12 weeks can improve endothelial function and decrease ICAM1 and oxLDL in type 2 diabetic patients with hypertension.

Efficacy of a Short-Term Low-Calorie Diet in Overweight and Obese Patients with Chronic Sciatica: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Chronic sciatica is a common condition. According to Traditional Persian Medicine and recent studies, calorie reduction is thought to be helpful for this condition. The purpose of this work is to evaluate a short-term low-calorie diet (LCD) for ameliorating chronic sciatica in the context of pain relief and reduced disability for patients. Design: In this randomized controlled trial, 96 candidates for the nonsurgical treatment of chronic sciatica were randomly assigned to two groups to receive a 1-month LCD (intervention) or ordinary diet (control), both in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Afterward, patients were visited at baseline and on days 15, 30, and 60 after treatment. Pain and disability were evaluated using the short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SFMPQ) and the Roland-Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ), respectively. Results: Both mean RMDQ scores and SFMPQ scores decreased significantly in the LCD group compared to the control group. SFMPQ descriptor scale scores at baseline and on days 15, 30, and 60 in the LCD group were 7.71 ± 1.69, 6.63 ± 1.61, 5.54 ± 1.87, and 4.96 ± 2.02, respectively, and in the control group were 6.63 ± 1.44, 6.69 ± 1.32, 6.64 ± 1.98, and 6.62 ± 2.53, respectively (p = 0.001). RMDQ scores at baseline and on days 15, 30, and 60 in LCD group were 11.17 ± 3.90, 8.60 ± 1.97, 7.50 ± 2.71, and 6.77 ± 3.06, respectively, and in the control group, 10.00 ± 2.20, 9.98 ± 2.29, 9.94 ± 2.94, and 9.85 ± 3.32, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion: A short-term (1-month) LCD is effective in decreasing pain and disability in candidates for nonsurgical treatment of chronic sciatica.

The effects of vitamin D and curcuminoids supplementation on anthropometric measurements and blood pressure in type 2 diabetic patients with coexisting hypovitaminosis D: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Curcuminoids and vitamin D have been shown to improve blood pressure and body weight in diabetic animals; however, consistent findings in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients are limited. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of curcuminoids and vitamin D, simultaneously or singly on anthropometric measurements and blood pressure in T2DM patients with insufficient vitamin D level. METHODS: In this randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, eighty T2DM patients were randomly assigned into 4 groups receiving (1) 500 mg/day curcuminoids; (2) 50,000 IU/week vitamin D3; (3) 50,000 IU/week vitamin D3 plus 500 mg/d curcuminoids; or (4) placebos for 12 weeks. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were evaluated before and after intervention. RESULTS: Intergroup comparisons showed that Vitamin D (main effect) significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P = 0/000). Curcuminoids (main effect) significantly reduced DBP (P = 0/001). Interaction effects showed that curcuminoids significantly prevented the effect of vitamin D on the reduction of SBP (P = 0.006). Whereas, vitamin D and curcuminoids had a synergistic effect on DBP reduction (P = 0.006). The comparison of changes in anthropometric measurements between the four groups showed no significant differences in the raw and adjusted models. In-group comparisons showed that SBP, DBP, waist to hip circumference (WHR), body fat mass (BFM), percent body fat (PBF) and visceral fat area (VFA) values were significantly reduced in all groups except the placebo group compared to baseline values. Only in the CR-D group, there was a significant reduction in body weight (P = 0/047). CONCLUSIONS: Curcuminoids and vitamin D may have beneficial effects on blood pressure and anthropometric measurements in T2DM patients. CLINICAL REGISTRATION: http://www.IRCT.ir:IRCT2017041213678N22.

An Empirical Study on the Effect of Short-Term Regular Vitamin D3 Supplement Therapy on Blood Pressure and Exercise Tolerance in Heart Failure Patients.

The receptor of vitamin D is expressed in almost all body cells, including vascular endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. Vitamin D deficiency has been observed widespread amongst heart failure (HF) patients, which could have harmful effects on their health condition. This study aims to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplements on blood pressure (BP) and physical activity of HF patients. Thirty-nine systolic HF patients with low ejection fraction (EF) < 50% and class III of New York Heart Association functional classification were randomly divided into 2 groups including intervention and placebo to enroll in an 8 weeks double-blind clinical trial. During the trial 6-minute walk test (6MWT), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level, BP, sodium and potassium intakes were assessed. The mean 25(OH)D level increased to 28.9 ± 11.7 ng/mL (p < 0.001) in the intervention group. There was a poor but non-significant reduction in systolic BP (-0.033 ± 4.71 mmHg, p = 0.531) in the intervention group. The BP also did not change in the placebo group at the end of the trial. A negligible decrease of 6MWT was observed in the intervention group (-6.6 ± 29.2 m) compared to the placebo (-14.1 ± 40.5 m). However, differences between the 2 groups were not statistically significant (p = 0.325). The results solely showed a slight positive correlation between 25(OH)D level and 6MWT. No significant improvements in BP and 6MWT were observed after vitamin D3 supplementation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials Identifier: IRCT2016102113678N13.

The Effect of Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation on Body Composition, Serum Insulin and Leptin in Obese Adults.

BACKGROUND: Studies have reported contradictory findings regarding the effect of a mixture of 2 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers on body weight and some serum indices. This study aims to investigate the effect of daily supplementation of these 2 isomers on body composition and serum leptin and insulin levels in obese adults. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind clinical trial was performed on 54 adults with class I obesity. The subjects were randomly assigned into 2 groups of 27 and were followed for 3 months so that a total of 3000 mg of CLA supplement and placebo were administered in 3 daily doses in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Body composition indices as well as fasting serum levels of insulin and leptin were also measured. The paired t-test was used for evaluating within-group effects from baseline. The independent t-test was used to compare between-group differences for variables with normal distribution. RESULTS: Although body weight and body mass index (BMI) were not significantly decreased during intervention in groups, but the body fat mass (BFM) (P=0.034), body fat percentage (P=0.022) and trunk fat (P=0.027) decreased significantly during intervention with CLA. The fasting plasma sugar (P=0.042) and Homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA/IR) (P=0.044) in the intervention group declined during 12 weeks of intervention. Serum leptin was associated with a significant decrease during the intervention period (P=0.039). CONCLUSION: CLA supplementation could reduce body fat and serum leptin. Hence, it could be taken into account as a factor for weight loss but not to control or prevent diabetes.

A narrative review on effects of vitamin D on main risk factors and severity of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

The global prevalence of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing rapidly. Many studies have been conducted on the treatment of NAFLD; nevertheless, there is still no approved drug treatment for this disease. Although the pathogenesis of NAFLD is not fully understood, but inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, obesity and dyslipidemia are among the main causes. Epidemiological studies have shown that hypovitaminosis D is associated with these factors causing NAFLD. In addition, rate of Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to be directly related to the severity of NAFLD. Accordingly, it is believed that vitamin D may help to treatment of NAFLD by improving the above-mentioned risk factors. The purpose of this review is to survey the recent advances in the field of Vitamin D efficacy on risk factors and the severity of NAFLD based on existing evidence, especially the clinical efficiency of vitamin D supplementation in patients with NAFLD.

Curcumin and Gastric Cancer: a Review on Mechanisms of Action.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Gastric cancer, as the fourth cause of death in women and third in men with malignant tumors, is now threatening people's lives worldwide. Natural anti-tumor products are potential anti-cancer agents with fewer by-effects. Curcumin, an herbal product, has been used as a cosmetic and food additive and as a traditional herbal medicine for thousands of years in Asian countries. Several studies revealed that curcumin can inhibit the invasion and proliferation of gastric cancer cells. This paper analyzes existing data from animal and in vitro studies in order to highlight the mechanisms of therapeutic effects of curcumin in gastric cancer. METHODS: Science Direct and Pub Med databases were searched by using "curcumin" and "gastric cancer" for searching the studies aiming the application of curcumin and the beneficial effects of curcumin in gastric cancer control and treatment. RESULTS: These results suggested that curcumin can suppress multiple signaling pathways and inhibit cancer cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. According to the studies, curcumin can inhibit gastric cancer by several mechanisms including decreasing proliferation, inducing apoptosis, and reducing chemo-resistance in gastric cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of present paper provided novel perceptions about the mechanisms of curcumin action in gastric cancer cell growth inhibition and its therapeutic strategies for gastric cancer control. So, curcumin could be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy to control gastric cancer cell growth.

Role of vitamin D deficiency in systemic lupus erythematosus incidence and aggravation.

Vitamin D is one of the main groups of sterols; playing an important role in phospho-calcic metabolism. The conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to pre- vitamin D3 in the skin, through solar ultraviolet B radiation, is the main source of vitamin D. Since lupus patients are usually photosensitive, the risk of developing vitamin D deficiency in is high in this population. Although evidences showed the connotation between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and vitamin D through which SLE can lead to lower vitamin D levels, it is also important to consider the possibility that vitamin D deficiency may have a causative role in SLE etiology. This paper analyzes existing data from various studies to highlight the role of vitamin D deficiency in SLE occurrence and aggravation and the probable efficacy of vitamin D supplementation on SLE patients. We searched "Science Direct" and "Pub Med" using "Vitamin D" and "SLE" for finding the studies focusing on the association between vitamin D deficiency and SLE incidence and consequences. Evidences show that vitamin D plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of SLE and vitamin D supplementation seems to ameliorate inflammatory and hemostatic markers; so, can improve clinical subsequent.

The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Adiposity, Blood Glycated Hemoglobin, Serum Leptin and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

BACKGROUND: Since tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) could be one of the risk factors at the development of diabetes complications; as well as serum leptin deficiency is related to increased susceptibility to infections in diabetic patients, they are potential indices from the preventive medicine viewpoint. This study was conducted to represent the effect of supplemental vitamin D3 on serum leptin, TNF-α and adiposity in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, study sample was selected through type 2 diabetic patients (n = 51). A total of 26 patients were orally supplemented by vitamin D3 (400 IU/d) (vitamin D group) and 25 patients by placebo (placebo group) for 14 weeks. The blood glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and the serum ionized Ca, leptin, TNF-α, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH] D) were measured at the two groups in the baseline and postintervention stages. RESULTS: It was shown that despite of theplacebo group, serum 25(OH) D and serum leptin was significantly increased (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively), while serum TNF-α was decreased significantly (P = 0.001) in vitamin D group. The remaining parameters, including body fat mass and HbA1c had no alterations between baseline and postintervention stages in vitamin D group. CONCLUSIONS: This study may advocate vitamin D supplementation among type 2 diabetic patients due to its beneficial effects on prevention of diabetes complications.