How important are elements in polycystic ovary syndrome? Should they be supplemented? A systematic review.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial disorder with unknown etiology. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze the available clinical trials on elemental supplementation in terms of improving biochemical parameters in women with PCOS. Electronic databases were searched from their inception until February 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of PCOS during therapy with elemental supplementation alone or in combination with other elements were analyzed. Recommendations regarding supplementation with elements are not clear. There are many factors to consider, with the primary factor being the type of element and the possibility of supplementation and a balanced diet. Another aspect to consider is the presence of comorbidities, which may increase the demand for and absorption of elements. A final factor to be considered is the determination of the body's need for specific elements. Some elements may require supplementation (e.g., magnesium, selenium, iodine, calcium), while others (e.g., iron, copper, potassium, zinc, manganese, chromium) are in sufficient amounts in a proper diet, and some should be limited (e.g., sodium, phosphorus). It is necessary to determine the optimal dose of each element in order to improve the biochemical parameters of PCOS as much as possible, while at the same time avoiding the negative effects of excessive consumption.

Increased Demand of Obese Women for Protectins, Maresin, and Resolvin D1 in the Last Trimester of Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is a physiological state during which inflammation occurs. This complex biological response is necessary for the implantation process as well as delivery. In turn, its suppression during gestation favors the normal course of the pregnancy. Therefore, the presence of pro-resolving mediators, EPA and DHA derivatives, The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the levels of anti-inflammatory resolvins and their precursors in different trimesters of pregnancy with consideration of the women's weight, including overweight and obese women before pregnancy. METHODS: A total of 78 women participated in this study; the mean age and BMI before pregnancy were 32.3 ± 5.52 and 27.73 ± 6.13, respectively. The patients were divided into two groups, considering their BMI before pregnancy. The extraction of eicosanoids was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. The levels of all studied parameters showed statistically significant differences between the study group (SG) and the control group (CG) in the different trimesters of pregnancy. Over the course of pregnancy, the levels of protection (PDX), maresin, resolvins (RvD1, RvE1), and their precursors differed in relation to the trimester of pregnancy and the division into groups considering the correct body weight before pregnancy. RESULTS: Overweight or obese women had significantly lower levels of RvE1 in the third trimester and their precursors compared to normal-weight women. While the levels of PDX and RvD1 were significantly higher, this may be due to both a lower intake of products rich in omega-3 fatty acids by obese women and an increased need of obese women's bodies to quench chronic inflammatory processes associated with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Both EPA and DHA derivatives are involved in calming down inflammation during pregnancy, which was observed.

Nutrition Strategy and Life Style in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-Narrative Review.

Here we present an extensive narrative review of the broadly understood modifications to the lifestyles of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The PubMed database was analyzed, combining PCOS entries with causes, diseases, diet supplementation, lifestyle, physical activity, and use of herbs. The metabolic pathways leading to disturbances in lipid, carbohydrate, and hormonal metabolism in targeted patients are described. The article refers to sleep disorders, changes in mental health parameters, and causes of oxidative stress and inflammation. These conditions consistently lead to the occurrence of severe diseases in patients suffering from diabetes, the fatty degeneration of internal organs, infertility, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, dysbiosis, and cancer. The modification of lifestyles, diet patterns and proper selection of nutrients, pharmacological and natural supplementation in the form of herbs, and physical activity have been proposed. The progress and consequences of PCOS are largely modifiable and depend on the patient's approach, although we have to take into account also the genetic determinants.

Diet supporting therapy for inflammatory bowel diseases.

PURPOSE: Non-specific inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. More and more often attention is paid to the possibility of dietary support for inflammatory bowel diseases. METHODS: The following review article considers the role of dietary components in the treatment of IBD as: pteridines, probiotics, bovine immunoglobulin, vitamin D, omega-3, flavonoids, polyphenols, curcumin and phosphatidylcholine. The article also discusses plant raw materials of arjuna, soy protein and nettles, trying to summarize their effect on quenching the inflammatory process within the intestines. This review focuses on the possibilities of dietary components and supplementation use to improve the pharmacotherapy response as well as the general clinical patients' condition. RESULTS: The mechanism of action of supportive therapy is based on reduction in oxidative stress, maintaining the adequate balance between Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes by affecting cytokines, increasing riboflavin supply for macrophages, increasing expression of vitamin D receptor, regulation by decreasing the expression of NF-κB in liver cells and ability to inhibit the COX2 entrance and inactivate prostaglandins that are involved in the inflammatory process and 12-lipoxygenase pathway inhibition. CONCLUSION: Considering clinical researches, it seems that the use of the above-mentioned ingredients in the diet of patients suffering IBD may positively influence the treatment process and maintenance of remission.

The Role of Arachidonic and Linoleic Acid Derivatives in Pathological Pregnancies and the Human Reproduction Process.

The aim of the available literature review was to focus on the role of the proinflammatory mediators of AA and LA derivatives in pathological conditions related to reproduction and pregnancy. Arachidonic (AA) and linoleic acid (LA) derivatives play important roles in human fertility and the course of pathological pregnancies. Recent studies have demonstrated that uncontrolled inflammation has a significant impact on reproduction, spermatogenesis, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) genesis, implantation, pregnancy and labor. In addition, cyclooxygenase-mediated prostaglandins and AA metabolite levels are higher in women's ovarian tissue when suffering from PCOS. It has been demonstrated that abnormal cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) levels are associated with ovulation failure, infertility, and implantation disorders and the increase in 9-HODE/13-HODE was a feature recognized in PCOS patients. Maintaining inflammation without neutrophil participation allows pregnant women to tolerate the fetus, while excessive inflammatory activation may lead to miscarriages and other pathological complications in pregnancies. Additionally AA and LA derivatives play an important role in pregnancy pathologies, e.g., gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia (PE), and fetal growth, among others. The pathogenesis of PE and other pathological states in pregnancy involving eicosanoids have not been fully identified. A significant expression of 15-LOX-1,2 was found in women with PE, leading to an increase in the synthesis of AA and LA derivatives, such as hydroxyeicozatetraenoic acids (HETE) and hydroxyoctadecadiene acids (HODE). Synthesis of the metabolites 5-, 8-, 12-, and 15-HETE increased in the placenta, while 20-HETE increased only in umbilical cord blood in women with preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancies. In obese women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) an increase in epoxygenase products in the cytochrome P450 (CYP) and the level of 20-HETE associated with the occurrence of insulin resistance (IR) were found. In addition, 12- and 20-HETE levels were associated with arterial vasoconstriction and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) with arterial vasodilatation and uterine relaxation. Furthermore, higher levels of 5- and 15-HETE were associated with premature labor. By analyzing the influence of free fatty acids (FFA) and their derivatives on male reproduction, it was found that an increase in the AA in semen reduces its amount and the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids showed higher values in infertile men compared to the fertile control group. There are several studies on the role of HETE/HODE in relation to male fertility. 15-Hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid may affect the integrity of the membrane and sperm function. Moreover, the incubation of sperm with physiologically low levels of prostaglandins (PGE2/PGF2α) improves the functionality of human sperm. Undoubtedly, these problems are still insufficiently understood and require further research. However, HETE and HODE could serve as predictive and diagnostic biomarkers for pregnancy pathologies (especially in women with risk factors for overweight and obesity). Such knowledge may be helpful in finding new treatment strategies for infertility and the course of high-risk pregnancies.