Nanocurcumin supplementation improves pulmonary function in severe COPD patients: A randomized, double blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Considering the anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of nano-curcumin on respiratory indices and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients as a common pulmonary disease causing restricted airflow and breathing problems. In the current double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial study, 60 patients with stages 3 and 4 COPD were randomly assigned into 80 mg nano-curcumin (n = 30) and placebo groups (n = 30) for 3 months. The effect of nano-curcumin on pulmonary function was evaluated by the first second of forced expiration (FEV1) to the full, forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio. IL-6 serum level, blood pressure, and anthropometric indices were also measured. Nano-curcumin supplementation led to a significant decrease in IL-6 level (p < 0.001) and an increase in FEV1 (p < 0.001), FVC (p = 0.003), and FEV1/FVC (p < 0.001) compared to placebo at the endpoint. Nano-curcumin had a significantly increasing effect on weight and body mass index compared to the placebo group (PANCOVA adjusted for baseline values = 0.042). There was a meaningful improvement in systolic blood pressure in the nano-curcumin group compared to the placebo group (PANCOVA adjusted for baseline values = 0.026). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and diastolic blood pressure (PANCOVA adjusted for baseline values >0.05). Nano-curcumin supplement seems to have favorable effects on inflammation status and respiratory indices of patients with severe COPD.

Carotenoids supplementation and inflammation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of carotenoids on selected inflammatory parameters. PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of science were searched from inception until April 2021. The random-effect model was used to analyze data and the overall effect size was computed as weighted mean difference (WMD) and corresponding 95% of confidence interval (CI). A total of 26 trials with 35 effect sizes were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated significant effects of carotenoids on C-reactive protein (CRP) (WMD: ‒0.54 mg/L, 95% CI: ‒0.71, ‒0.37, P < 0.001), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (WMD: ‒0.54 pg/mL, 95% CI: ‒1.01, ‒0.06, P = 0.025), however the effect on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was not significant (WMD: ‒0.97 pg/ml, 95% CI: ‒1.98, 0.03, P = 0.0.059). For the individual carotenoids, astaxanthin, (WMD: ‒0.30 mg/L, 95% CI: ‒0.51, ‒0.09, P = 0.005), lutein/zeaxanthin (WMD: ‒0.30 mg/L, 95% CI: ‒0.45, ‒0.15, P < 0.001), and ß-cryptoxanthin (WMD: ‒0.35 mg/L, 95% CI: ‒0.54, ‒0.15, P < 0.001) significantly decreased CRP level. Also, only lycopene (WMD: ‒1.08 pg/ml, 95%CI: ‒2.03, ‒0.12, P = 0.027) led to a significant decrease in IL-6. The overall results supported possible protective effects of carotenoids on inflammatory biomarkers.

Assessing the Effect of Zinc Supplementation on the Frequency of Migraine Attack, Duration, Severity, Lipid Profile and hs-CRP in Adult Women.

Migraine is a widespread incapacitating neurologic disorder with debilitating headaches which are usually throbbing due to inefficacy and several side effects, complementary therapies recommended as possible alternatives. The current randomized controlled trial was carried out to evaluate the effect of zinc gluconate supplementation on migraine-related symptoms, serum level of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and lipid profile in migraineurs. Present study was designed as randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Sixty women with migraine (mean age of 35.44 ± 7.42 years) were randomly allocated to obtain 15 mg per day of zinc gluconate or placebo for 12 weeks. Frequency, periods of headaches and severity of migraine based on numerical rating scale questionnaire and migraine disability assessment (MIDAS) test were checked. Fasting serum level of lipid profile and hs-CRP were assessed at the beginning and the end of trial. Zinc gluconate supplementation significantly reduced the frequency (p = 0.001), periods of migraine attacks (p < 0.001) and severity of migraine and MIDAS (p < 0.001) compared with control group. The serum level of low-density lipoprotein (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (p < 0.001) and hs-CRP (p < 0.001) decreased following zinc supplementation, but no significant differences in serum level of triglycerides (p = 0.1) and high-density lipoprotein (p = 0.3) was observed. However, after adjustment for baseline values using analysis of covariance test, none of lipid profile components and hs-CRP showed a significant difference. Zinc supplementation has beneficial effect on the migraine related complications like its severity, frequency. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials Identifier: IRCT20191014045100N1.

Evaluating the relationship between dietary intake with inflammatory factors, lipid profile and clinical symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common life-threatening and associated with inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between dietary intake, inflammatory factors, lipid profile, medication and clinical outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: This cross-sectional study were conducted in 72 patients with RA that referred to Rheumatology Clinic, Urmia, Iran. After describing the study and obtaining patient consent, fasting blood samples were collected from all participants in start stage, Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-KB), Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), lipid profile and clinical symptoms were record in participants. Also, Data on dietary intake and physical activity were collected with relevant questionnaires. RESULTS: There was a positive significant relation between energy intakes and low-density lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) (R = 0.855, P = 0.023), carbohydrate intake with total cholesterol (R = 0.297, P = 0.045), carbohydrate intake and NF-kB (R = 0.292, P = 0.017), fat intakes and Ox-LDL (R = 0.321, P = 0.027), prednisolone and Triglyceride (TG) (R = 0.378, P = 0.016), calcium supplement, folic acid and High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) (R = 0.259, R = 0.34, R = 0.355, P = 0.09 respectively). In addition, the correlation between carbohydrate and energy intakes with HDL-C were negative significant (R = -0.355, P = 0.09 and R = -0.259, P = 0.034). SJC, Tender Joint Count (TJC), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and VAS were related to DAS28 and other variables shown no relation with DAS28. CONCLUSION: There are many factors affecting the clinical symptoms of patients with RA that attention to nutritional and medicinal factors can have a significant role in the clinical symptoms and complications of these patients.

Effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on cigarette craving and oxidative stress index in heavy-smoker males: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Smoking-induced oxidative stress is thought to contribute to lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in plasma and brain tissue. This lower level leads to impaired function in a dopaminergic system related to dependence and craving. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on cigarette craving and oxidative stress index in heavy-smoker males. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 54 heavy-smoker males (smoke ⩾20 cigarettes per day) were randomly selected to receive either five capsules of fish-oil-derived omega-3 fatty acid supplements ( n = 27, each 1 g capsule containing 180 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 120 mg of docosahexanoic acid) or a placebo ( n = 27) for 3 months. The psychometric evaluations (nicotine dependence and cigarette craving), biochemical markers (urinary cotinine, serum total antioxidant capacity and total oxidant status) and self-reported smoking status were used to assess the cigarette craving and oxidative stress index (oxidative stress index = total oxidant status/total antioxidant capacity). RESULTS: There was a greater reduction in levels of nicotine dependence, cigarette craving and cigarettes smoked per day in the omega-3 fatty acid group compared to the placebo group, and the difference between the two groups increased from baseline to 3-month follow up. The model estimated that these differences were statistically significant ( p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Also, a significant decrease was observed in levels of total oxidant status ( p = 0.008) and oxidative stress index ( p = 0.011) in the omega-3 fatty acid group after intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that high-dose omega-3 fatty acid supplementation appears to be useful in reducing cigarette craving and oxidative stress index in heavy-smoker males.