The Effects of Cranberry Consumption on Glycemic and Lipid Profiles in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

This study aims to update the evidence and clarify whether cranberry possesses lipid-lowering and hypoglycemic properties in humans. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched to identify relevant articles published up to December 2023. In total, 3145 publications were reviewed and 16 of them were included for qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis. Stata 15.0 and Review Manager 5.4 were applied for statistical analyses. The results revealed a significant decrease in the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TC/HDL-C) (MD = -0.24; 95% CI: -0.45, -0.04; peffect = 0.02) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (MD = -0.59; 95% CI: -1.05, -0.14; peffect = 0.01) with cranberry consumption. However, it did not influence total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and fasting insulin. In subgroup analysis, cranberry consumption in dried form (capsules, powder, and tablets) was found to significantly decrease the fasting insulin level (three studies, one hundred sixty-five participants, MD = -2.16; 95% CI: -4.24, -0.07; peffect = 0.04), while intervention duration, health conditions, and dosage of polyphenols and anthocyanins had no impact on blood lipid and glycemic parameters. In summary, cranberry might have potential benefits in regulating lipid and glucose profiles.

Potential nutritional strategies to prevent and reverse sarcopenia in aging process: Role of fish oil-derived ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, wheat oligopeptide and their combined intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Nutritional support is potentially considered an essential step to prevent muscle loss and enhance physical function in older adults. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the role of potential nutritional strategies, i.e., fish oil-derived ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), wheat oligopeptide and their combined intervention, in preventing and reversing sarcopenia in aging process. METHODS: One hundred 25-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 10 groups, and 10 newly purchased 6-month-old rats were included in young control group (n = 10). Fish oil (200, 400 or 800 mg/kg body weight), wheat oligopeptide (100, 200 or 400 mg/kg body weight), fish oil + wheat oligopeptide (800 + 100, 400 + 200 or 200 + 400 mg/kg body weight) or the equal volume of solvent were administered daily by gavage for 10 weeks. The effects of these interventions on natural aging rats were evaluated. RESULTS: All intervention groups had a significant increase in muscle mass and grip strength and reduction in perirenal fat weight when compared to the aged control group (P < 0.05). The results of biochemical parameters, magnetic resonance imaging, proteomics and western blot suggested that the combination of wheat oligopeptide and fish oil-derived ω-3 PUFA, especially group WFM 2 (400 + 200 mg/kg body weight fish oil + wheat oligopeptide), was found to be more effective against aging-associated muscle loss than single intervention. Additionally, the interventions ameliorated fatty infiltration, muscle atrophy, and congestion in the intercellular matrix, and inflammatory cell infiltration in muscle tissue. The interventions also improved oxidative stress, anabolism, hormone levels, and inflammatory levels of skeletal muscle. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of fish oil-derived ω-3 PUFA and wheat oligopeptide was found to be a promising nutritional support to prevent and reverse sarcopenia. The potential mechanism involved the promotion of protein synthesis and muscle regeneration, as well as the enhancement of muscle strength.

Effect of Alpha-Linolenic Acid Supplementation on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Profile in Individuals with Obesity or Overweight: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent worldwide and are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, including systematic inflammation, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a plant-based essential polyunsaturated fatty acid associated with reduced CVD risks. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of supplementation with ALA compared with the placebo on CVD risk factors in people with obesity or overweight (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews Registration No. CRD42023429563). This review included studies with adults using oral supplementation or food or combined interventions containing vegetable sources of ALA. All studies were randomly assigned trials with parallel or crossover designs. The Cochrane Collaboration tool was used for assessing the risk of bias (Version 1). PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane library databases were searched from inception to April 2023. Nineteen eligible randomized controlled trials, including 1183 participants, were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with placebo, dietary ALA supplementation significantly reduced C-reactive protein concentration (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.38 mg/L; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.72, -0.04), tumor necrosis factor-α concentration (SMD = -0.45 pg/mL; 95% CI: -0.73, -0.17), triglyceride in serum (SMD = -4.41 mg/dL; 95% CI: -5.99, -2.82), and systolic blood pressure (SMD = -0.37 mm Hg; 95% CI: -0.66, -0.08); but led to a significant increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations (SMD = 1.32 mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.05, 2.59). ALA supplementation had no significant effect on interleukin-6, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (all P ≥ 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that ALA supplementation at a dose of ≥3 g/d from flaxseed and flaxseed oil had a more prominent effect on improving CVD risk profiles, particularly where the intervention duration was ≥12 wk and where the baseline CVD profile was poor.

Effects of phytosterol supplementation on lipid profiles in patients with hypercholesterolemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Phytosterols (PSs) have been reported to improve blood lipids in patients with hypercholesterolemia for many years. However, meta-analyses of the effects of phytosterols on lipid profiles are limited and incomplete. A systematic search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception to March 2022 was conducted according to the 2020 preferred reporting items of the guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. These included studies of people with hypercholesterolemia, comparing foods or preparations containing PSs with controls. Mean differences with 95% confidence intervals were used to estimate continuous outcomes for individual studies. The results showed that in patients with hypercholesterolemia, taking a diet containing a certain dose of plant sterol significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (TC: Weight Mean Difference (WMD) [95% CI] = -0.37 [-0.41, -0.34], p < 0.001; LDL-C: WMD [95% CI] = -0.34 [-0.37, -0.30], p < 0.001). In contrast, PSs had no effect on high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) or triglycerides (TGs) (HDL-C: WMD [95% CI] = 0.00 [-0.01, 0.02], p = 0.742; TG: WMD [95% CI] = -0.01 [-0.04, 0.01], p = 0.233). Also, a significant effect of supplemental dose on LDL-C levels was observed in a nonlinear dose-response analysis (p-nonlinearity = 0.024). Our findings suggest that dietary phytosterols can help reduce TC and LDL-C concentrations in hypercholesterolemia patients without affecting HDL-C and TG concentrations. And the effect may be affected by the food substrate, dose, esterification, intervention cycle and region. The dose of phytosterol is an important factor affecting the level of LDL-C.

Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation on Serum Lipid Profile and Blood Pressure in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) supplementation on serum lipid profile and blood pressure in patients with metabolic syndrome. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane library from database inception to 30 April 2022. This meta-analysis included eight trials with 387 participants. We found that supplementation of n-3 PUFAs has no significant reduction in TC level (SMD = -0.02; 95% CI: -0.22 ~ 0.18, I2 = 23.7%) and LDL-c level in serum (SMD = 0.18; 95% CI: -0.18 ~ 0.53, I2 = 54.9%) of patients with metabolic syndrome. Moreover, we found no significant increase in serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (SMD = 0.02; 95% CI: -0.21 ~ 0.25, I2 = 0%) in patients with metabolic syndrome after consuming n-3 PUFAs. In addition, we found that n-3 PUFAs can significantly decrease serum triglyceride levels (SMD= -0.39; 95% CI: -0.59 ~ -0.18, I2 = 17.2%), systolic blood pressure (SMD = -0.54; 95% CI: -0.86 ~ -0.22, I2 = 48.6%), and diastolic blood pressure (SMD = -0.56; 95% CI: -0.79 ~ 0.33, I2 = 14.0%) in patients with metabolic syndrome. The results from the sensitivity analysis confirmed that our results were robust. These findings suggest that n-3 PUFA supplementation may serve as a potential dietary supplement for improving lipids and blood pressure in metabolic syndrome. Given the quality of the included studies, further studies are still needed to verify our findings.

Analysis of Chemical Constituents of Chrysanthemum morifolium Extract and Its Effect on Postprandial Lipid Metabolism in Healthy Adults.

Chrysanthemum extract possesses antioxidant potential and carbohydrate and fat digestive enzyme inhibitory in vitro. However, no evidence supporting chrysanthemum in modulation of postprandial lipemia and antioxidant status in humans presently exists. This study was to analyze the composition of Imperial Chrysanthemum (IC) extract and determine the effect on changes in postprandial glycemic and lipemic response and antioxidant status in adults after consumption of a high-fat (HF) meal. UHPLC-MS method was used to analyze the components of two kinds of IC extracts (IC-P/IC-E) and in vitro antioxidant activities were evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydraxyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and Hydroxyl radical (HR) radical scavenging assays. Following a randomized design, 37 healthy adults (age, 25.2 ± 2.6 years, and BMI, 20.9 ± 1.5 kg/m2) were assigned to two groups that consumed the HF meal, or HF meal supplemented by IC extract. Blood samples were collected at fasting state and then at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after the meal consumption. There were 12 compounds with relative content of more than 1% of the extracts, of which amino acid and derivatives, flavonoids, carboxylic acids and derivatives were the main components. Compared with IC-E, the contents of flavonoids in IC-P increased significantly (p < 0.05), and the cynaroside content exceeded 30%. In addition, IC-P showed strong free radical scavenging activity against DPPH, ABTS and HR radicals. Furthermore, according to repeated−measures ANOVA, significant differences were observed in the maximal changes for postprandial glucose, TG, T-AOC and MDA among the two groups. Postprandial glucose has significant difference between the two groups at 1 h after meal and the level in IC group was significantly lower than that in control group. No significant differences were observed in the incremental area under the curve (iAUC) among the two groups. IC significantly improved the serum antioxidant status, as characterized by increased postprandial serum T-AOC, SOD, GSH and decreased MDA. This finding suggests that IC can be used as a natural ingredient for reducing postprandial lipemia and improving the antioxidant status after consuming a HF meal.

Comparative effects of vitamin and mineral supplements in the management of type 2 diabetes in primary care: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Medical nutrition treatment can manage diabetes and slow or prevent its complications. The comparative effects of micronutrient supplements, however, have not yet been well established. We aimed at evaluating the comparative effects of vitamin and mineral supplements on managing glycemic control and lipid metabolism for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to inform clinical practice. Electronic and hand searches for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were performed until June 1, 2022. We selected RCTs enrolling patients with T2DM who were treated with vitamin supplements, mineral supplements, or placebo/no treatment. Data were pooled via frequentist random-effects network meta-analyses. A total of 170 eligible trials and 14223 participants were included. Low to very low certainty evidence established chromium supplements as the most effective in reducing fasting blood glucose levels and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (SUCRAs: 90.4% and 78.3%, respectively). Vitamin K supplements ranked best in reducing glycated hemoglobin A1c and fasting insulin levels (SUCRAs: 97.0% and 82.3%, respectively), with moderate to very low certainty evidence. Vanadium supplements ranked best in lowering total cholesterol levels with very low evidence certainty (SUCRAs:100%). Niacin supplements ranked best in triglyceride reductions and increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels with low to very low evidence certainty (SUCRAs:93.7% and 94.6%, respectively). Vitamin E supplements ranked best in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels with very low evidence certainty (SUCRAs:80.0%). Our analyses indicated that micronutrient supplements, especially chromium, vitamin E, vitamin K, vanadium, and niacin supplements, may be more efficacious in managing T2DM than other micronutrients. Considering the clinical importance of these findings, new research is needed to get better insight into this issue.

Effects of fish oil-derived n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid on body composition, muscle strength and physical performance in older people: a secondary analysis of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: the effects regarding n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation on sarcopenia have been explored by several clinical trials. Nonetheless, the use of n-3 PUFA for improving body composition, muscle strength and physical performance in older people is conflicting. OBJECTIVES: our aim was to perform a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial to evaluate the effects of 6-month n-3 PUFA supplementation on body composition, muscle strength and physical performance in older Chinese people. METHODS: in this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 200 eligible subjects were randomly assigned to receive 4 g/day fish oil capsules (1.34 g eicosapentaenoic [EPA] + 1.07 docosahexaenoic [DHA]) or 4 g/day corn oil capsules (EPA + DHA <0.05 g) for 6 months. The primary outcomes were the changes of body composition, muscle strength (hand grip strength) and physical performance (Timed Up and Go time). Secondary outcomes were the changes in serum lipid profiles. RESULTS: compared with control group, fish oil-derived n-3 PUFA supplementation resulted in significant increases in thigh circumference (interaction time × group effect P < 0.001), total skeletal muscle mass (interaction time × group effect P < 0.001) and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (interaction time × group effect P < 0.001); the differences were still significant even after height correction. Muscle strength and physical performance including hand grip strength (interaction time × group effect P < 0.001) and Timed Up and Go time (interaction time × group effect P < 0.001) were also improved after a 6-month fish oil-derived n-3 PUFA intervention. In terms of serum lipid profiles, fish oil-derived n-3 PUFA supplementation could significantly reduce serum level of triglyceride (interaction time × group effect P = 0.012) and increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol (interaction time × group effect P < 0.001); while no significant improvement was found in serum concentrations of total cholesterol (interaction time × group effect P = 0.413) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (interaction time × group effect P = 0.089). CONCLUSIONS: our present trial demonstrated that a 6-month fish oil-derived n-3 PUFA supplementation could beneficially affect the body composition, muscle strength, physical performance and serum lipid profiles in older people, which could be into considerations when making strategies aiming to the primary prevention of sarcopenia.

Effects of Additional Dietary Fiber Supplements on Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies.

The efficacy of different types and doses of dietary fiber supplementation in the treatment of gestational diabetes (GDM) remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of dietary fiber on blood glucose control in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus, and further observe the effect on their blood lipids and pregnancy outcomes. We searched on Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane, and included several articles on additional fortification with dietary fiber for gestational diabetes interventions. This meta-analysis included 8 trials. We found that additional dietary fiber supplements significantly reduced fasting glucose (Hedges'g = −0.3; 95% CI [−0.49, −0.1]), two-hour postprandial glucose (Hedges'g = −0.69; 95% CI [−0.88, −0.51]), glycated hemoglobin (Hedges'g = −0.5; 95% CI [−0.68, −0.31]), TC (Hedges'g = −0.44; 95% CI [−0.69, −0.19]), TG (Hedges'g = −0.3; 95% CI [−0.4, −0.2]) and LDL-C (Hedges'g = −0.48; 95% CI [−0.63, −0.33]). It also significantly reduced preterm delivery (Hedges'g = 0.4, 95% CI [0.19~0.84]), cesarean delivery (Hedges'g = 0.6; 95% CI [0.37~0.97]), fetal distress (Hedges'g = 0.51; 95% CI [0.22~1.19]), and neonatal weight (Hedges'g = −0.17; 95% CI [−0.27~−0.07]). In a subgroup analysis comparing dietary fiber type and dose, insoluble dietary fiber was more effective than soluble dietary fiber in reducing fasting glucose (Hedges'g = −0.44; 95% CI [−0.52, −0.35]). ≥12 g fiber per day may be more effective in improving glycemic lipid and pregnancy outcomes than <12 g/day, but the difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, our meta-analysis showed that dietary fiber supplementation significantly improved glycolipid metabolism and pregnancy outcomes in gestational diabetes. Dietary fiber may be considered adjunctive therapy for gestational diabetes, and an additional supplement with insoluble dietary fiber is more recommended for those with poor fasting glucose. However, more high-quality studies are needed on the further effect of fiber type and the dose-effect relationship.

The Relationship between Dietary Patterns and High Blood Glucose among Adults Based on Structural Equation Modelling.

The aim of this study was to examine the association between dietary patterns and high blood glucose in Jiangsu province of China by using structural equation modelling (SEqM). Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional study were recruited through the 2015 Chinese Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance Program in Jiangsu province using a multistage stratified cluster random sampling method. Dietary patterns were defined by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the fitness of EFA. SEqM was used to investigate the association between dietary patterns and high blood glucose. Results: After exclusion, 3137 participants with complete information were analysed for this study. The prevalence of high blood glucose was 9.3% and 8.1% in males and females, respectively. Two dietary patterns: the modern dietary pattern (i.e., high in red meats and its products, vegetables, seafood, condiments, fungi and algae, main grains and poultry; low in other grains, tubers and preserves), and the fruit−milk dietary pattern (i.e., high in milk and its products, fruits, eggs, nuts and seeds and pastry snacks, but low in vegetable oils) were established. Modern dietary pattern was found to be positively associated with high blood glucose in adults in Jiangsu province (multivariate logistic regression: OR = 1.561, 95% CI: 1.025~2.379; SEqM: ß = 0.127, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The modern dietary pattern­high intake of red meats­was significantly associated with high blood glucose among adults in Jiangsu province of China, while the fruit−milk dietary pattern was not significantly associated with high blood glucose.

Lycium barbarum Polysaccharide Regulates the Lipid Metabolism and Alters Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet Induced Obese Mice.

Bioactive compounds provide new insights into the prevention and treatment of obesity. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), a biological macromolecule extracted from Goji berry, has displayed potential for regulating lipid metabolism. However, the relationship between gut microbiota regulation and lipid metabolism is not entirely clear. In the present study, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg LBP were intragastrically administered to C57BL/6J male mice fed with a high-fat diet simultaneously lasting for twelve weeks. The results showed that 150 mg/kg LBP showed significant results and all doses of LBP feeding (50, 100, 150 mg/kg) remarkably decreased both serum and liver total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels. Treatment of 150 mg/kg LBP seems to be more effective in weight loss, lowering free fatty acid (FFA) levels in serum and liver tissues of mice. LBP feeding increased the gene expression of adiponectin and decreased the gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, Cluster of Differentiation 36, acetyl-coA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the 16s rDNA Sequencing analysis showed that 150 mg/kg LBP feeding may significantly increase the richness of gut microbiota by up-regulation of the ACE and Chao1 index and altered ß-diversity among groups. Treatment of 150 mg/kg LBP feeding significantly regulated the microbial distribution by decreasing the relative abundance of Firmicutes and increasing the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes at the phylum level. Furthermore, the relative abundance of Faecalibaculum, Pantoea, and uncultured_bacterium_f_Muribaculaceae at the genus level was significantly affected by LBP feeding. A significant correlation was observed between body weight, TC, TG, FFA and bile acid and phyla at the genus level. The above results indicate that LBP plays a vital role in preventing obesity by co-regulating lipid metabolism and gut microbiota, but its effects vary with the dose.

Global research on vitamin D and coronavirus disease 2019: A bibliometric and visualized study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Vitamin D play a substantial role in immune function, but little is known about its prevention in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A detail bibliometric analysis of the published scientific literature indexed in Web of Science on vitamin D as a therapeutic option for the COVID-19 patients' treatment is lacking. Thus, the current study was conducted to determine the key bibliometric indices and plot the global research on vitamin D and COVID-19. METHODS: The Web of Science Core Collection database was utilized to retrieve publications on vitamin D and COVID-19. A Boolean search strategy was applied and the obtained data were exported to Microsoft Excel to generate relevant graphs. Furthermore, VOSviewer software version 1.6.17 for Windows was used to generate co-authorship countries, bibliographic coupling sources and co-occurrence keyword network visualization mapping. In addition, RStudio and Bibliometric online tool were used to generate WordCloud and thematic map, and intercountries relation map, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 818 publications on vitamin D and COVID-19 were included in the final analysis. These publications were cited 10,713 times, with an H-index of 50. The number of publications and citations score from 2020 to November 2021 increased from 317 (2423 citations) to 501 (8290 citations). Delanghe JR and Speeckaert MM were the most prolific authors with 13 publications each. The most productive journal was Nutrients (n = 63). The most studied research area is nutrition dietetics. The most widely used author keywords were COVID-19 (n = 444), Vitamin D (n = 312), and SARS-CoV-2 (n = 190). The National Institute of Health and US Department of Health and Human Services were the leading funding agencies. Harvard University was the most active institution with 25 publications. The United States of America was the highly contributing and influential country in terms of publications (n = 203) and total link strength (n = 185). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that an increasing trend in the number of publications on vitamin D and COVID-19 has been observed. Significantly, the majority of the research has been conducted in developed countries. Most importantly, over the time, the direction of research has been changed and the recent trend topics are vitamin D deficiency, risk and infection, and vitamin D supplementation based on KeyWords Plus. The use of vitamin D supplement is one of the promising therapeutic options for COVID-19 treatment. Therefore, the current study not only highlight the global research trends but also provide standard bibliographic information for future studies.

[Effects of Porphyra yezoensis extract on hepatic inflammatory factors and oxidative stress in type 1 diabetic mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Porphyra yezoensis extract on liver inflammation and oxidative stress in type 1 diabetics mice. METHODS: A total of ninety-one C57 BL/6 J male mice were adaptively fed for two weeks, and twelve C57 BL/6 J male mice were randomly reserved to be included in the blank control group. The rest of the mice were fasted overnight for twelve hours(except water), and they were given 170.00 mg/kg streptozotocin by intraperitoneal injection. Fasting blood glucose in type 1 diabetics mice were greater than or equal to 16.7 mmol/L after seven days, and polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria and weight loss appeared, which were judged to be the successful model of type 1 diabetes. Forty-eight successfully modeled mice were divided into the model control group, the low dose of Porphyra yezoensis extract group, the medium dose of Porphyra yezoensis extract and high dose of Porphyra yezoensis extract group according to the fasting blood glucose and body weight. The mice in the blank control group and the model group were given the same amount of normal saline. The low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose intervention groups were separately given the corresponding dose of Porphyra yezoensis extract by intragastric administration for six weeks. The body weight of type 1 diabetic mice, changes in body length, fasting blood glucose, insulin, liver inflammatory factors and oxidative stress indicators and pathological sections of liver and pancreas after the intervention of Porphyra yezoensis extract were observed. The glucose oxidase method was used to determine the fasting blood glucose level of type 1 diabetic mice. The serum insulin content, liver inflammatory factor levels and oxidative stress indicators were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The hematoxylin-eosin staining method was used to observe histopathology of liver and pancreas paraffin sections. RESULTS: The weight of the model control group was significantly lower than that of the blank control group(P<0.05), and the fasting blood glucose value was significantly higher than that of the blank control group(P<0.05). There was no statistical difference. In terms of inflammatory factors, compared with the model control group, low-dose Porphyra yezoensis extract can increase serum insulin levels and reduce liver tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels(P<0.05) in T1DM mice, and medium-dose Porphyra yezoensis extract can reduce liver TNF-α level(P<0.05), high-dose Porphyra yezoensis extract can reduce the level of interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß)(P<0.05). The histopathological conditions of pancreas in different intervention groups were improved compared with the model control group, and the number of ß cells increased compared with the model group. In terms of oxidative stress, compared with the model control group, low-dose Porphyra yezoensis extract can significantly reduce the levels of liver alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and malondialdehyde(MDA)(P<0.05), and high-dose Porphyra yezoensis extract can significantly increase the levels of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) and catalase(CAT)(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The protective effect of Porphyra yezoensis extract on liver oxidative damage in T1DM mice may be achieved by regulating the activity of CAT and GSH-Px and reducing the content of MDA. In addition, Porphyra yezoensis extract can reduce liver TNF-α and IL-1ß levels to improve liver inflammation.

Beneficial effects of monounsaturated fatty acid-rich blended oils with an appropriate polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio and a low n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio on the health of rats.

BACKGROUND: The effects of dietary fat on health are influenced by its fatty acid profile. We aimed to determine the effects of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA)-rich blended oils (BO) containing a balance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and with a low n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio on the health of rats fed normal or high-fat diets. The BO was obtained by mixing red palm oil, rice bran oil (RO), tea seed oil and flaxseed oil in appropriate proportions. RESULTS: BO consumption reduced the serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), insulin (INS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 (IL-1), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid peroxide (LPO) and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) concentrations and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); it increased the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations, and the bone mineral density (BMD) versus control oil-containing normal and high-fat diets. BO also reduced the triglyceride (TG), hs-CRP, MDA, ox-LDL and reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations; and increased the serum HDL-C and SOD, and BMD versus RO-containing high-fat diets. Finally, BO reduced the glucose (GLU) and INS, and HOMA-IR; it increased HDL-C, SOD, femoral weight and BMD versus RO-containing normal diets. CONCLUSION: BOs with an appropriate fatty acid profile have beneficial effects on the glucolipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress and bone quality of rats when included in both normal and high-fat diets. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Yoga's Therapeutic Effect on Perinatal Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, the incidence of perinatal depression in female population is very high. Perinatal depression has adverse effects on the physical and mental health of mothers and children. However, according to current researches, Yoga has been considered as an effective exercise that can help pregnant women to regulate their emotions. Thus, this review reports the effectiveness of yoga on perinatal depression. METHODS: We reviewed all of the relevant RCT (Randomized Control Trial, RCT) studies published until June 2021 from the major open-access databases. RESULTS: 12 RCTs were selected and included in this study, and the total number of people included in the analysis in the combined study was 594. The level of depression and anxiety of participants was evaluated using detailed and recognized scale. Compared with the control group, the yoga intervention group indicates a statistically significant decrease in depression levels (SMD (Standardised Mean Difference, SMD), -2.31; 95% CI, -3.67 to -0.96; P=0.139) and anxiety (SMD, -4.75; 95% CI, -8.3 to -1.19; P=0.002). In addition, we also conducted a subgroup analysis according to the type of population. The subgroup analysis successfully reduced the level of heterogeneity and the results indicated that the difference in population types in the combined analysis leads to the higher heterogeneity. The SMD value for healthy women is -2.3 (95% CI, -4.83 to 0.23) and for depressed women is -9.02 (95% CI, -11.42 to -6.62). Finally, the meta-analysis results of the self-control group prove that yoga can reduce the depression scores (SMD, 5.23; 95% CI, 1.90 to 8.56; P=0.049) compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Yoga can effectively relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety in the perinatal period, which can be used as an auxiliary treatment option clinically.

Effects of marine-derived and plant-derived omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on erythrocyte fatty acid composition in type 2 diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Dietary fatty acids intake affects the composition of erythrocyte fatty acids, which is strongly correlated with glycolipid metabolism disorders. This study aimed at investigating the different effects of marine-derived and plant-derived omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) on the fatty acids of erythrocytes and glycolipid metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: The randomized double-blinded trial that was performed on 180 T2DM patients. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups for the six-month intervention. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups for the six-month intervention. The fish oil (FO) group was administered with FO at a dose of 3 g/day containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the perilla oil (PO) group was administered with PO at a dose of 3 g/day containing α-linolenic (ALA), the linseed and fish oil (LFO) group was administered with mixed linseed and fish oil at a dose of 3 g/day containing EPA, DHA and ALA. Demographic information were collected and anthropometric indices, glucose and lipid metabolism indexes, erythrocyte fatty acid composition were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using two-way ANOVA. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients finished the trial, with 52 of them in the FO group, 50 in the PO group and 48 in the LFO group. There were significant effects of time × treatment interaction on fast blood glucose (FBG), insulin, HOMA-IR and C-peptide, TC and triglyceride (TG) levels (P < 0.001). Glucose and C-peptide in PO and LFO groups decreased significantly and serum TG in FO group significantly decreased (P < 0.001) after the intervention. Erythrocyte C22: 5 n-6, ALA, DPA, n-6/n-3 PUFA, AA/EPA levels in the PO group were significantly higher than FO and LFO groups, while EPA, total n-3 PUFA and Omega-3 index were significantly higher in the FO and LFO groups compared to PO group. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with perilla oil decreased FBG while fish oil supplementation decreased the TG level. Marine-based and plant-based n-3 PUFAs exhibit different effects on fatty acid compositions of erythrocytes and regulated glycolipid metabolism. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was recorded under Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Center (NO: ChiCTR-IOR-16008435 ) on May 28 2016.

Effect of Chromium Supplementation on Blood Glucose and Lipid Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

In recent years, the prevalence and incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) have increased sharply worldwide. In order to evaluate the effect of chromium supplementation on patients with type 2 diabetes, a meta-analysis was conducted by searching the relevant literature. Randomized controlled trials on the effects of chromium supplements on glucose metabolism or lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes were retrieved from multiple databases. Literature screening, quality evaluation, and data extraction were conducted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and Review Manager 5.4.0 was used for data analysis. A total of 10 randomized controlled trials involving 509 patients were included, including 269 cases in the experimental group and 240 cases in the placebo control group. Statistical analysis was conducted on the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to evaluate the blood glucose and lipid levels. Meta-analysis results showed that the differences between the experimental group and the control group in only one indicator of HbA1c were statistically significant, while there were no statistically significant differences in other indicators. The use of chromium supplements can reduce the glycosylated hemoglobin of type 2 diabetic patients to a certain extent, but it cannot effectively improve the fasting blood glucose and blood lipid levels of type 2 diabetic patients.

Folic Acid Inhibited Vasculogenic Mimicry in Esophageal Cancer Cell Line Eca-109, the One Target Was EphA2.

The degree of vasculogenic mimicry(VM) is correlated with the prognosis of esophageal cancer, and folic acid supplementation could decrease esophagus cancer deaths among populations. This study aimed to explore the effect of folic acid on VM formation of esophageal cancer cell, and the target. Human esophageal squamous cancer cell lines(Eca-109) were cultured with different concentrations of folic acid (0,1,10,100,200,400, 600,800 µg/ml). A cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to measure the cell proliferation. Then, the amount of VM under the effect of different concentrations of folic acid was observed. Target genes were screened out from several possible targets genes including MMP2, MMP9, EphA2, VE-cad or Ln-5γ2 by employing reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR). Finally, western blot analysis was used to verify the target proteins. In conclusion, this study found that folic acid inhibited the formation of VM in Eca-109 cells, and the one target protein was EphA2.

The Effect of Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharide on the Glucose and Lipid Metabolism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Goji berry has been used in China more than 2,000 years as a traditional medicinal herb and food supplement. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), the chief active component in goji berry, has been used to treat hypertension, atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases in Chinese traditional medicine. However, the underlying effects of LBP- mediated activity in blood glucose and lipid metabolism remain poorly understood. The present study aims to apply the meta-analysis to explore the healthy effects of LBP. Eligible studies published up to November 15, 2020, were searched and identified from CNKI, Pubmed, Web of Science, Cocharane library detabases. A total of 315 publications were retrieved and 7 articles were included. The STATA (version 11.0) was applied to process the meta-analysis. The pooled estimate showed that daily consumption of LBP played significant effects on regulating serum triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations (p < 0.05), while it was effect-free on the total cholesterol (TC). The present study provided a better understanding of current research status and suggested that LBP could play potential role in prevention and therapy for non-communicable chronic diseases, and more scientific evidence are required in the future.Key teaching pointsGoji berry and LBP, its main biologically active ingredient, have a wide range of health promotion effects.The supplement of LBP may played significant effects on regulating serum TG, HDL, LDL and FBG concentrations.Goji may serve as a potential drug to prevent and treat chronic non-communicable diseases in the future.Healthy dietary patterns containing goji berries will be a new choice for consumers in the future.

Hot Tea Drinking and the Risk of Esophageal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This study aimed to explore the association between hot tea drinking and the risk of esophageal cancer. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane library were searched for relevant studies from inception to October 29, 2020 by using (Tea OR "Green Tea" OR "Black Tea") AND ("Esophageal Neoplasms" OR "Esophageal Cancer" OR "Esophagus Cancer") as key words. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the literatures. The meta-analysis was performed using the Revman 5.3 and Stata 13.0 software. The subgroup analyses were conducted on publication year, population regions, tea type, tea temperature, and type of esophageal cancer, and the publication bias was calculated using the funnel plot and Begg's regression. A total of 12 case-control studies with 5253 cases and 8273 controls were included. The meta-analysis displayed that hot tea drinking was significantly associated with the risk of esophageal cancer (pooled odds ratio, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.78-2.31). However, the research evidence is still limited, therefore, it needs further discussion.