Vitamin D supplementation for primary dysmenorrhea: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have shown a possible association between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of primary dysmenorrhea. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on pain and systemic symptoms in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. METHODS: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on female students aged 18 to 32 years with primary dysmenorrhea and vitamin D deficiency (25 [OH]D <30 ng/mL). The participants (n=116) received either 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) or placebo capsules on a weekly basis for eight consecutive weeks. The outcomes were pain intensity (scored 0 to 10), number of days with pain, number of consumed pain-relief medications (per day), and severity of systemic symptoms (fatigue, headache, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea; total score of 0 to 12). RESULTS: Compared with baseline, our participants who received vitamin D experienced significant reductions in pain intensity (-1.0 and -1.5 score at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001), the number of days with pain (-1.0 day at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001), the number of consumed pain-relief medications (-1.0 at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001), and systemic symptoms severity (-1.0 score at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001). No significant improvements were observed in the placebo group in terms of these outcomes. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D supplementation in women with primary dysmenorrhea and vitamin D deficiency could improve systemic symptoms and reduce pain intensity, the number of days with pain, and the need for consuming pain-relief medications.

Evaluating the effect of Coriandrum sativum syrup on being migraine-free using mixture models.

Background: Coriandrum sativum (coriander) is prescribed as a treatment for headache in traditional Persian medicine. Several investigations have been carried out to find the medicinal properties of this plant. However, no study has evaluated the effectiveness of this plant on becoming migraine-free. Methods: Sixty-eight migraineurs were randomly allocated to two equal groups of intervention and control . Each received 500 mg of sodium valproate in addition to 15 mL of coriander or placebo syrup three times a day. We followed subjects and recorded their migraine duration in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks. We applied an appropriate statistical model so as to consider special features of the data, which led to more accurate results using SAS 9.4 Results: Our findings showed that the probability of being migraine-free was not only considerably higher in final weeks of the study (p<0.001) in all patients of the intervention group than placebo group, but it was also significantly higher in patients less than 30 years of age compared to patients older than 30 years old. Migraine duration in migraineurs using coriander syrup reduced considerably during the study (p<0.001). Conclusion: The finding of this study revealed that coriander has a significant effect both on the probability of being migraine free and the duration of migraine attacks. Its effects were more significant during the final weeks of study.

An investigation of the effects of curcumin on iron overload, hepcidin level, and liver function in ß-thalassemia major patients: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

This study investigated the effects of curcumin, the active polyphenol in turmeric, on iron overload, hepcidin level, and liver function in ß-thalassemia major patients. This double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 68 ß-thalassemia major patients. The subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups to receive either 500 mg curcumin capsules (total: 1,000 mg) twice daily or placebo for 12 weeks. Dietary intakes and biochemical variables including hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, total iron binding capacity, nontransferrin bound iron (NTBI), ferritin, hepcidin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were assessed at the beginning and end of the trial. Curcumin significantly reduced serum levels of NTBI (2.83 ± 1.08 compared with 2.22 ± 0.97 µmol/L, p = .001), ALT (42.86 ± 11.15 compared with 40.60 ± 9.89 U/L, p = .018), and AST (49.45 ± 12.39 compared with 46.30 ± 10.85 U/L, p = .002) at the end of the study. Based on analysis of covariance, a significant decrease was also observed in levels of NTBI (2.22 ± 0.97 vs. 2.55 ± 0.94 µmol/L, p = .026), ALT (40.60 ± 9.89 vs. 45.01 ± 10.42 U/L, p = .004), and AST (46.30 ± 10.85 vs. 50.99 ± 9.36 U/L, p = .009) in curcumin group in comparison with placebo group. There were no significant changes in hepcidin and other variables in any of the 2 groups. Curcumin administration alleviated iron burden and liver dysfunction by reducing NTBI, ALT, and AST levels in patients with ß-thalassemia major.

Benefits of Curcumin Supplementation on Antioxidant Status in ß-Thalassemia Major Patients: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: ß-Thalassemia major, the most common inherited anemia in the world, is associated with imbalance in the oxidant-antioxidant system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of curcumin supplementation on markers of oxidative stress in patients with ß-Thalassemia. METHODS: This double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was performed on 61 ß-thalassemia major patients. Subjects in the curcumin group received two 500 mg curcumin capsules daily and patients in the placebo group took 2 placebo capsules daily for 12 weeks. Dietary intakes and biochemical parameters were assessed at the beginning and the end of intervention. RESULTS: At the end of the study, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), total and direct bilirubin significantly decreased (p = 0.002, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively) and total antioxidant capacity significantly increased (p = 0.005) in the curcumin group. Based on the analysis of covariance, a significant reduction in MDA, total and direct bilirubin was also detected in the curcumin group when compared to the placebo group (p = 0.001, p = 0.039, and p = 0.013, respectively). Changes in hemoglobin, serum iron, ferritin, catalase, and vitamin E were not significant in any of the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin supplementation in combination with deferoxamin improved the antioxidant status in ß-thalassemia major patients. Curcumin may be useful for the relief of metabolic complications in these patients.

The effectiveness of massage therapy in the treatment of infantile colic symptoms: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Infantile colic, cry-fuss and sleep problems are transient in the initial months of life, but they contribute to maternal depression, parenting stress and family mental health problems. In this randomized clinical trial, we aimed to explore the efficacy of massage therapy compared to rocking in reducing infantile colic symptoms including duration and number of cries, sleep duration and severity of infant colic. METHODS: This was a single blind RCT study with a one-week follow-up. One hundred colicky infants aged younger than 12 weeks old were randomly assigned into massage and rocking groups. Infants in the massage group received a massage for 15-20 minutes once during a day and once at night before sleeping for a week. In the control group, mothers rocked their infants gently for 5-25 minutes when the symptoms of colic appeared. Parents recorded the details of the colic symptoms in a diary every day. A GEE approach was applied to explore the effect of the intervention. RESULTS: Efficiency of massage therapy was significantly higher than rocking. At the end of the study, the mean number of daily cries was 4.26±1.40 in the massage and 6.9±2.14 the rocking groups (p<0.01). The mean of the severity score was 1.39±0.19 less in the massage group (p<0.01). Moreover, the mean differences of massage and rocking groups were -0.82±0.20 hour (p<0.01) and 0.72±0.35 (p= 0.04) in the duration of cries and duration of sleep, respectively. CONCLUSION: Massaging significantly improved colic symptoms during a one-week intervention for all outcomes. In addition, significant differences were found between the intervention and control groups in favor of massaging. Therefore, massage therapy is more effective than rocking for treating infant colic symptoms.

Effects of Coriandrum sativum Syrup on Migraine: A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Migraine is one of the most common and debilitating neurological problems. Although numerous preventive drugs are used to treat migraine, their complications are unavoidable. Application of herbal medicine, especially well-known medicinal plants, to treatment of chronic diseases, like migraine, could be effective. Coriandrum sativum L. (C. sativum) fruit is one of the most commonly prescribed herbs in Persian medicine, which has been used to treat headache. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of C. sativum syrup on duration, severity and frequency of migraine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 68 migraineurs, who had the eligibility criteria, according to international headache society diagnostic criteria, were randomly assigned to intervention group (n = 34) or control group (n = 34). In addition to 500 mg of sodium valproate per day, in intervention group, they received 15 mL of Coriander fruit syrup and 15 mL of placebo syrup, in control group, three times a day, during a month. The subjects were followed for clinical efficacy at weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4. The number of migraine attacks per week, as well as the duration and severity of attacks, were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 68 patients randomized, 66 were included in analysis. The generalized estimating equations analysis showed that the Coriander fruit syrup decreased duration, severity and frequency of migraine, in the intervention group (P < 0.001). To be more precise, the mean migraine duration, severity and frequency, in the intervention group, were 5.7 hours, 3.65 units and about 50% less than control group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study showed that C. sativum fruit is efficient in reduction of the duration and frequency of migraine attacks and in diminishing pain degree.

Household Food Insecurity, Mother's Feeding Practices, and the Early Childhood's Iron Status.

BACKGROUND: Health consequences of food insecurity among infants and toddlers have not been fully examined. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between household food insecurity, mother's infant feeding practices and iron status of 6-24 months children. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 423 mother-child pairs were randomly selected by multistage sampling method. Children blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin and serum ferritin concentrations. Household food security was evaluated using a validated Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. The mother's feeding practices were evaluated using Infant and Young Child Feeding practice variables including: The duration of breastfeeding and the time of introducing of complementary feeding. RESULTS: Based on the results, of the studied households only 47.7% were food secure. Mild and moderate-severe household food insecurity was 39.5% and 12.8%, respectively. Anemia, iron deficiency (ID), and iron deficiency anemia were seen in 29.1%, 12.2%, and 4.8% of children, respectively. There was no significant association between household food insecurity; mother's feeding practices and child ID with or without anemia. CONCLUSIONS: We found no association between household food insecurity and the occurrence of anemia in the 6-24 months children. However, these findings do not rule out the possibility of other micronutrient deficiencies among the food-insecure household children.

Types of nasal delivery drugs and medications in Iranian traditional medicine to treatment of headache.

CONTEXT: Headache is a common symptom throughout the world. The main purpose of patient-centered approaches is the utilization of useful and simple treatment. Nowadays, there is a rising propensity toward herbal remedies. Nasal route is one of the ancient and topical prescriptions used in headache. In Iranian traditional medicine, physicians such as Avicenna were prescribing herbal drugs through the nose to treat a variety of central nervous system diseases like headache. In this review paper, authors have attempted to introduce different types of nasal administrations which were used in Iranian traditional medicine for the treatment of headaches. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Initially, we studied two different types of Canon and separated all herbs used in the treatment of headache. Next, all plants were classified according to the method of prescription. Then, we pick out all the plants which were nasally utilized in the treatment of headache and divided them based on the method of administration. In order to find scientific names of herbs, we used two different botany references. Moreover, we conducted various researches in scientific databases with the aim of finding results concerning the analgesic and antinociceptive effects of herbs. Throughout the research, key terms were "analgesic" and "antinociceptive "with the scientific names of all herbs separately. The databases searched included PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane library and SID. RESULTS: 35 plants were prescribed for the treatment of headaches, which were all nasally used. These plants took either the form of powder, liquid or gas (steam). They were divided in to six categories according to the method of prescription. The Percentage of usage for each method was as follows: 62% Saoot (nasal drop), 25% Shamoom (smell), 17% Inkabab (vapor), 11% Nafookh (snuff), 11% Nashooq (inhaling) and 2% Bokhoor (smoke). CONCLUSIONS: Medications that are used via nasal delivery have greater effect than oral medications. Iranian physicians were fully aware of systemic effects of topical medications, including prescription drugs through the nose. The study of ancient medical texts helps us in identification of herbal medicine and the investigation of new way for the preparation of drugs.

Efficacy of Berberis vulgaris aqueous extract on viability of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is one of the best choices for the treatment of hydatidosis. To prevent the secondary infection, it is essential to use effective scolicidal agents during surgery for hydatid cyst. Up to now, no effective and safe agent has been identified for this purpose. Berberis vulgaris called "Zereshk" in Persian has been traditionally used as a herbal remedy for the treatment of different complaints. Many studies have shown that Berberis vulgaris has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic effects. METHODS: In our study, the scolicidal effect of barberry with different concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/ml diluted form) and at different exposure times (5, 15, and 30 min) was evaluated. For this purpose, we obtained sheep liver hydatid cysts from a slaughterhouse. Viability of protoscolices was assessed by 0.1% Eosin staining. Normal saline and hypertonic saline were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. RESULTS: All the different concentrations of Berberis vulgaris aqueous extracts had scolicidal effect. The strongest effect was observed to be in 4 mg/ml concentration, which acted as positive control. Scolicidal activity of 2 mg/ml dilution was close to 4 mg/ml and the least scolicidal effect was observed in 0.5 mg/ml. Scolicidal activity of extracts had significant differentiation between 5th and 30th min of exposure. CONCLUSION: The scolicidal activity was very effective in low concentration (4 mg/ml) and short exposure time (5 min). Therefore, after being examined in vivo and additional experiments, it may be used as a suitable and effective scolicidal in surgery.