Opium Use and Cancer Risk: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

Background: Epidemiological studies have reported inconsistent associations between opium use and cancer risk. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between opium use and cancer risk. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar until February 2021 and references of retrieved relevant articles for observational studies that reported the risk of cancer in relation to opium use. Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled effect sizes (ESs) as well as 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between opium use and cancer risk by considering opium doses and types, duration of consumption, and routes of opium use. Results: In total, 21 observational articles, with a total sample size of 64,412 individuals and 6,658 cases of cancer, were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Ever opium users, compared with never opium users, had 3.53 times greater risk of overall cancer (pooled ES: 3.53, 95% CI: 2.60-4.79, P ≤ 0.01). This positive association was also seen for some individual types of cancers except for esophageal and colon cancers. Also, we found that higher opium doses and higher duration of consumption were associated with an increased risk of overall and individual types of cancer. However, the associations between opium doses and the risk of head and neck and larynx cancers were not significant. In terms of the routes of opium use, both opium ingestion and smoking were positively associated with the risk of cancer. Regarding opium types, we found that using teriak, but not shireh, could increase the risk of cancer. Conclusions: Our findings showed that opium use, particularly in the form of teriak, is a risk factor for cancer.

Breakfast consumption is inversely associated with primary headaches in university students: The MEPHASOUS study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine the association between breakfast consumption pattern and primary headaches in a large population of university students. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done on the MEPHASOUS dataset that contained the information of 83,677 university students, aged ≥18 years, from 28 provinces of Iran. Dietary intakes and breakfast consumption pattern were assessed using a validated self-administered dietary habits questionnaire. Primary headaches were determined according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders-3 (ICHD-3) criteria. Binary logistic regression in different adjusted models was used to assess the association between breakfast consumption and primary headaches. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 21.50 ± 4.01. Primary headaches were prevalent among 9% of university students. A significant inverse association was seen between breakfast consumption and odds of primary headaches [odds ratio (OR): 0.57, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.51-0.62]. This association remained significant even after taking potential confounders into account; such that students who consumed breakfast frequently had 26 % lower odds of primary headaches compared with those who consumed it <1 day/week (OR: 0.74, 95 % CI: 0.65-0.85). Moreover, such a significant inverse association was observed in female students (OR: 0.54, 95 % CI: 0.49-0.61) as well as those with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (OR: 0.68, 95 % CI: 0.58-0.79). However, it became non-significant in male students and those with overweight or obesity. CONCLUSION: We found that frequent breakfast consumption is associated with a decreased odds of primary headaches in female students and those with BMI < 25 kg/m2. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Dairy consumption in relation to primary headaches among a large population of university students: The MEPHASOUS study.

AIM: To investigate the association between dairy consumption and primary headaches among a large population of university students. METHODS: Totally, 83,622 university students aged 18 years or older were included in the current cross-sectional study. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated self-administered dietary habits questionnaire. Primary headaches were determined according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders-3 (ICHD-3) criteria. RESULTS: Totally, 9 % of participants suffered from primary headaches. A significant inverse association was observed between dairy consumption and odds of primary headaches (OR: 0.67, 95 % CI: 0.60-0.74). Such inverse association remained significant when potential confounders including demographic variables, physical activity, dietary factors, and BMI were taken into account; such that individuals in the highest category of dairy consumption were 19 % less likely to have primary headaches compared with those in the lowest category (OR: 0.81, 95 % CI: 0.72-0.92). Such an inverse association was also observed in women (OR: 0.79, 95 % CI: 0.68-0.93), but not in men. Stratified analysis based on body mass index revealed a significant inverse association between dairy consumption and primary headaches either in normal-weight individuals or those with overweight or obesity. CONCLUSION: We found that dairy consumption was inversely associated with primary headaches among university students.

The effect of 12 weeks Anethum graveolens (dill) on metabolic markers in patients with metabolic syndrome; a randomized double blind controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The clustering of metabolic abnormalities defined as metabolic syndrome is now both a public health and a clinical problem .While interest in herbal medicine has greatly increased, lack of human evidence to support efficacies shown in animals does exist. This clinical trial study designed to investigate whether herbal medicine, Anethum graveolens (dill) extract, could improve metabolic components in patients with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial using a parallel design was conducted. 24 subjects who had metabolic syndrome diagnostic criteria (update of ATP III) were randomly assigned to either dill extract (n = 12) or placebo (n = 12) for 3 months. RESULTS: Across lipid component of metabolic syndrome, no significant differences in triglyceride (TG) concentration and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were seen between the two groups. However TG improved significantly from baseline (257.0 vs. 201.5p = 0.01) with dill treatment but such a significant effect was not observed in placebo group. Moreover, no significant differences in waist circumference, blood pressure and fasting blood sugar were seen between two groups after 3 months follow up period. CONCLUSION: In this small clinical trial in patients with metabolic syndrome, 12 weeks of dill extract treatment had a beneficial effect in terms of reducing TG from baseline. However dill treatment was not associated with a significant improvement in metabolic syndrome related markers compared to control group. Larger studies might be required to prove the efficacy and safety of long-term administration of dill to resolve metabolic syndrome components.