Daily supplementation with aronia melanocarpa (chokeberry) reduces blood pressure and cholesterol: a meta analysis of controlled clinical trials.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Dietary supplements, such as those rich in antioxidants, have the potential to improve markers of cardiovascular health, but little is known about the total effect of these supplements. The purpose of this analysis is to identify the effect size of supplementation with aronia berry extracts and to evaluate how age may influence these effects. METHODS: This analysis included a literature review of controlled trials evaluating the effects of daily aronia berry supplementation for an average of 6-8 weeks on the outcomes of total cholesterol and blood pressure. Three distinct analyses were conducted: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol. The moderator of age was evaluated for each of the three outcome measures. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: Daily supplementation with aronia berry extracts for 6-8 weeks significantly reduces systolic blood pressure, which is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease, as well as total cholesterol. These effects are most significant in adults over the age of 50 years. Supplementation with aronia berry is a safe and effective way to reduce total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure, with even larger effects among adults over the age of 50 years.

The relationship between lavender and tea tree essential oils and pediatric endocrine disorders: A systematic review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: Essential oils are common ingredients in personal care products, little is known about the effects of chronic exposure to these ingredients in human health. It has been suggested that these two essential oils cause prepubertal gynecomastia and premature thelarche in children. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the evidence related to the proposed link between these essential oils and endocrine disruption METHODS: This study sought to investigate the proposed link between LEO and TTEO and endocrine disrupting outcomes by identifying and evaluating the clinical evidence regarding this topic. Studies qualified if the participants included prepubertal children who have experienced either prepubertal gynecomastia or premature thelarche. The Case Series Critical Appraisal Tool (CSCAT) was used to identify the reliability of the identified case series. The potential for evidence of causality was evaluated using the tool proposed by Murad. RESULTS: A total of four manuscripts were identified, describing a total of eleven cases reported to have experienced both the exposure and the outcome. Reporting of inclusion, demographic data, clinical data, and the potential for causality was found to be insufficient. This study did not find evidence to support the claim that tea tree essential oil is related to endocrine disruption in children, and little to no evidence to substantiate the proposed link between lavender essential oil and endocrine disruption in children. CONCLUSION: Because this potential link remains a concern among pediatric care providers and parents, epidemiological research to address the proposed link is needed.

Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials.

Upper respiratory symptoms are often treated with over the counter drugs, antibiotics, and antiviral medications. Due to concerns about safety and efficacy, there is a demand for an alternative solution. Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) has been used to treat cold and flu symptoms, but there are no large-scale studies or meta-analyses. This meta-analysis quantifies the effects of elderberry supplementation and evaluates moderators including vaccination status and the underlying pathology. This analysis included a total of 180 participants and evaluates moderators such as vaccination status and cause of the upper respiratory symptoms. Supplementation with elderberry was found to substantially reduce upper respiratory symptoms. The quantitative synthesis of the effects yielded a large mean effect size. These findings present an alternative to antibiotic misuse for upper respiratory symptoms due to viral infections, and a potentially safer alternative to prescription drugs for routine cases of the common cold and influenza.

Overview of Link Between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Cardiovascular Disease.

Inflammation has been shown to play an increasingly important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and in precipitating thrombotic events. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder with a wide range of extraintestinal manifestations including a clinically significant increase in the risk of venous thromboembolism compared to matched controls in several studies. The data for the association between IBD and ischemic heart disease are less clear; multiple population-based studies have shown both positive and negative associations between the 2 conditions. While the systemic inflammation should theoretically increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel also potentially provides a cardioprotective effect in several ways. Patients with IBD typically enter the healthcare system at an earlier age and experience a lower incidence of obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperlipidemia. Given the complex interplay among the proatherogenic, prothrombogenic, and cardioprotective effects, IBD should be taken into consideration as a nontraditional risk factor for cardiovascular disease in specific subsets of patients.