Eating frequency has an inverse correlation with adiposity measures and non-invasive arterial stiffness parameters in healthy adult people / La frecuencia de alimentación tiene una correlación inversa con las medidas de adiposidad y los parámetros de rigidez arterial no invasivos en personas adultas sanas

Background: Lifestyle modifications have been recommended as an essential treatment approach for cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies have shown that eating frequency (EF) correlates with hypertension and related risk of organ damage. This study aimed to examine critical clinical implications to evaluate the association of EF with arterial stiffness parameters as an early marker of atherosclerosis manifestations. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 658 participants of the PERSIAN Organizational Cohort study in Mashhad, aged 30–70 years. Arterial stiffness was assessed by measurement markers of arteriosclerosis, including arterial age, augmentation index (AIx), augmentation pressure (AP), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (Cf-PWV), and central blood pressure. Differences in anthropometric indices, blood indices, and arterial stiffness parameters were evaluated across EF groups. Results: Our data demonstrate that EF was positively correlated with total daily energy intake, and favourable profiles of adiposity and blood lipids. Subjects with an increased EF, had significantly lower AIx, AP, Arterial Age and Central blood pressure (P for trend<0.001) as compared to Lowest EF and not significant with PWV (P for trend, 0.19). Arterial stiffness was also significantly lower in those with increased EF compared with subjects with low EF. By Linear regression analysis, after adjustment for Confounding factors, except PWV, EF showed the associations with all of the non-invasive arterial stiffness parameters. Conclusion: Increased EF is associated with a lower wave reflection and blood pressure in the central arteries.(AU)

Introducción: Las modificaciones del estilo de vida se han recomendado como un enfoque de tratamiento esencial para las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Estudios recientes han demostrado que la frecuencia de las comidas (EF) se correlaciona con la hipertensión y el riesgo relacionado de daño orgánico. Este estudio tenía como objetivo examinar las implicaciones clínicas críticas para evaluar la asociación de la EF con los parámetros de rigidez arterial como un marcador temprano de las manifestaciones de la aterosclerosis. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal en 658 participantes del estudio de cohorte organizativo PERSIAN en Mashhad, de entre 30 y 70 años de edad. La rigidez arterial se evaluó mediante la medición de marcadores de arteriosclerosis, incluyendo la edad arterial, el índice de aumento (AIx), la presión de aumento (AP), la velocidad de la onda del pulso carótido-femoral (Cf-PWV) y la presión arterial central. Se evaluaron las diferencias en los índices antropométricos, los índices sanguíneos y los parámetros de rigidez arterial en los grupos de EF. Resultados: Nuestros datos demuestran que la EF se correlacionó positivamente con la ingesta energética diaria total, los perfiles favorables de adiposidad y los lípidos sanguíneos. Los sujetos con una EF aumentada, tenían un AIx, una AP, una edad arterial y una presión arterial central significativamente menores (p de tendencia <0,001) en comparación con la EF más baja y no significativa con la PWV (p de tendencia, 0,19). La rigidez arterial también fue significativamente menor en los sujetos con una mayor FE en comparación con los sujetos con una FE baja. Mediante un análisis de regresión lineal, después de ajustar los factores de confusión, excepto la VOP, la frecuencia de las comidas se asoció con todos los parámetros de rigidez arterial no invasivos. Conclusiones: El aumento de la FE se asocia a una menor reflexión de la onda y a una menor presión arterial en las arterias...(AU)

Eating frequency has an inverse correlation with adiposity measures and non-invasive arterial stiffness parameters in healthy adult people.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle modifications have been recommended as an essential treatment approach for cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies have shown that eating frequency (EF) correlates with hypertension and related risk of organ damage. This study aimed to examine critical clinical implications to evaluate the association of EF with arterial stiffness parameters as an early marker of atherosclerosis manifestations. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 658 participants of the PERSIAN Organizational Cohort study in Mashhad, aged 30-70 years. Arterial stiffness was assessed by measurement markers of arteriosclerosis, including arterial age, augmentation index (AIx), augmentation pressure (AP), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (Cf-PWV), and central blood pressure. Differences in anthropometric indices, blood indices, and arterial stiffness parameters were evaluated across EF groups. RESULTS: Our data demonstrate that EF was positively correlated with total daily energy intake, and favourable profiles of adiposity and blood lipids. Subjects with an increased EF, had significantly lower AIx, AP, Arterial Age and Central blood pressure (P for trend<0.001) as compared to Lowest EF and not significant with PWV (P for trend, 0.19). Arterial stiffness was also significantly lower in those with increased EF compared with subjects with low EF. By Linear regression analysis, after adjustment for Confounding factors, except PWV, EF showed the associations with all of the non-invasive arterial stiffness parameters. CONCLUSION: Increased EF is associated with a lower wave reflection and blood pressure in the central arteries.

Probiotics Supplementation Improves Quality of Life, Clinical Symptoms, and Inflammatory Status in Patients With Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Studies have proposed a link between psoriasis and imbalanced gut microbiome. Therefore, the modulation of the gut microbiota with probiotics may improve clinical outcomes, chronic inflammation, and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, forty-six patients with psoriasis randomly assigned into probiotic capsules contains multi-strain at least 1.6× 109 CFU/g bacteria or placebo for two months. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), blood pressure, quality of life (QOL) pro-inflammatory cytokines (hs-CRP and IL1-β), and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were measured. RESULTS: Improvements in QOL was significant in patients taking probiotics supplementation comparing to the placebo group and PASI (-5.06±2.10 vs 0.30±1.80, P=0.049) as well. After the intervention, a considerable reduction in serum LPS levels (-7.21±10.33 vs -2.74±0.97 mmol/L, P=0.010), hs-CRP levels (-1.67±0.95 vs -0.70+ 0.38 mg/L, P=0.013), and IL1- β levels (-1.64±1.10 vs 0.17+ -0.20 mg/L, P=0.043) in the probiotics group. CONCLUSION: This study shows that probiotics significantly improved the quality of life and seriousness in psoriatic patients. Moreover, it enhances cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory/oxidative stress markers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial also was recorded in the Iranian registry of clinical trials (https://www.irct.ir) (code: IRCT20191124045483N1). J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(6):637-644. doi:10.36849/JDD.6237.

Efficacy of low-fat milk and yogurt fortified with vitamin D3 on systemic inflammation in adults with abdominal obesity.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is increasing globally and is associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, autoimmune disease, and cardiovascular disease. Vit D deficiency is also associated with increased systemic inflammation. The current study aimed to determine the efficacy of low-fat milk and yogurt fortified with 1500 IU nano-encapsulated vitamin D, on systemic inflammation in abdominal obese participants. METHOD: This multi-center study was conducted using a 2.5-month parallel total-blind randomized clinical trial design. Two hundred and eighty nine subjects were allocated to four groups: low-fat milk fortified by 1500 IU nano-encapsulated vitamin D3 (200 mL/day). Simple milk (200 mL/day), low-fat yogurt fortified by 1500 IU nano-encapsulated vitamin D3 (150 g/day), and simple yogurt (150 g/day). RESULTS: The results showed that serum levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) were significantly lower before and after the intervention in fortified dairy groups. The results showed that serum levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, and RDW before and after intervention in the fortified dairy groups were significantly lower (p < 0.05). The values of = neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelets to lymphocyte ratio, and RDW to platelets ratio (RPR) reduced significantly in the fortification group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Fortification with nano-encapsulated vitamin D3 of dairy products may decrease inflammation in individuals with abdominal obesity.

Relationship Between Clinical, Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors with Suicide Ideation; A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Suicide has grown in global prevalence as a public health problem. We aimed to evaluate the association of socioeconomic factors, biochemical and hematologic tests, and suicide ideation. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 8267 Iranian adults aged 35 - 65 years old were enrolled. The assessment of suicide ideation was made by the completion of Beck's depression inventory (BDI) questionnaire; according to one specific item on the questionnaire: "have you ever decided to suicide in the past week?" RESULTS: According to our results, 6.9 % of subjects had ideation of suicide. The results showed high levels of FBG, RBC, MCHC, and hs-CRP were associated with suicide ideation. Obese, single subjects, and current-smokers had a higher risk of suicide ideation. CONCLUSION: Increased physical activity, obesity, and smoking are associated with a high risk of suicide ideation; whilst, a high MCHC is related to a low risk of suicide ideation in Iranian adults.

Interaction between the genetic variant of rs696217-ghrelin and food intake and obesity and dyslipidemia.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the genetic variant of rs696217-ghrelin and fasted lipid profile, indices of obesity, and environmental parameters. Amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMs-PCR) was used for genotyping 1118 individuals recruited as part of the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorder (MASHAD) cohort study. The interaction between the presence of the genetic variant of rs696217-ghrelin and nutritional intake and other major determinants of obesity and lipid profile was examined in the MASHAD study population. Individuals with the TT genotype at the locus had the lowest prevalence of obesity compared to other genotypes among the individuals. No significant relationship was found between the two groups regarding the lipid profile and TT genotype. Furthermore, no significant association was found between dietary intake and the genetic variant of rs696217-ghrelin in the population under study. Individuals with a TT or GT genotype appear to be at a higher risk of obesity, compared to those with a GG genotype. The results of the current study revealed a significant association between the genetic variant of rs696217-ghrelin and obesity; however, this gene did not correlate with the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and dyslipidemia in the Iranian population.

The effects of co-administration of probiotics and prebiotics on chronic inflammation, and depression symptoms in patients with coronary artery diseases: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that dysbiosis might have a role in developing of chronic inflammation and depression. In this study, we are interested in exploring of anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant effects of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus G (LGG), a probiotic strain, alone or in combination with a prebiotic, Inulin, in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: This randomized, double-blind clinical trial was held on 96 patients with CAD. Patients were randomly allocated into four different groups: LGG [a capsule/day, contained 1.9 × 109 colony-forming unit of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus G], inulin (15 g/day), co-supplemented (LGG and inulin), and placebo. Participants consumed the supplements for two months. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), MacNew questionnaire and Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI-Y) were used to assess depression, quality of life and anxiety, respectively. Serum levels of C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and Interleukin (IL)-10 were also measured. RESULTS: Probiotic-Inulin Co-supplementation significantly decreased BDI (-11.52 ± 0+3.20 vs. +2.97 ± 0.39, P = 0.001), STAI-state (-17.63 ± 3.22 vs. -0.60 ± 0.33, P = 0.021), and STAI-trait (-24.31 ± 7.41 vs. -1.45 ± 0.66, P = 0.020) scores, hs-CRP (-1.69 ± 0+66 vs. +0.82 ± 0.39 mg/dL, P = 0.020), LPS (-22.02 ± 5.40 vs. +0.31 ± 0.18 (EU/L), P = 0.047), and TNF-α (-25.05 ± 7.41 vs. +0.79 ± 0.71 (ng/L), P = 0.032) in comparison to placebo. CONCLUSION: Co-supplementation of probiotics and inulin in CAD subjects for eight weeks had beneficial effects on depression, anxiety, and inflammatory biomarkers. Adding inulin to probiotic supplements improved psychological outcomes and inflammatory biomarkers more effectively than two supplements separately.Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: IRCT20180712040438N4..

Probiotic supplementation improves clinical outcomes and quality of life indicators in patients with plaque psoriasis: A randomized double-blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The impact of probiotics on psoriasis, a systemic inflammatory disease, remains obscure, thus we decided to evaluate quality of life (QOL), oxidative stress, inflammatory markers and clinical outcome in psoriasis patients. METHODS: Fifty patients with plaque psoriasis randomized into two groups, group 1 received probiotic drink with Lactobacillus strains for 8 weeks while group 2 haven't received any probiotic supplements at this period. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Beck's questionnaire (BDI) were used to investigate the quality of life and depression, respectively. The effects of supplementation on malondialdehyde (MDA), hs-CRP, IL-6, total antioxidant capacity (1) and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), psoriasis symptom scale (PSS) were measured at the beginning of the study and after week 8th. RESULTS: Total BDI scores significantly improved in the probiotic group in comparison with the placebo group (-6.15 ± 2.10 vs. 1.39 ± 1.80, P = 0.017) and DLQI (-9.50 ± 4.1 vs. 0.12 ± 0.6, P = 0.045) as well. Group 1 had a considerable reduction in PASI and PSS scores compared to the placebo group (-5.26 ± 3.75 vs. 0.48 ± 1.37, P = 0.049) and (-4.85 ± 3.10 vs. 0.43 ± 0.80, P = 0.047), respectively. In addition, the intervention group have shown increase in TAC levels (45.99 ± 23.33 vs -13.54 ± 30.7 mmol/L, P = 0.030), and decrease in hs-CRP levels (-1.55 ± 0.85 vs. -0.49 + 0.27 mg/L, P = 0.015), IL-6 levels (-4.04 ± 1.30 vs. -1.50 + 0.38 mg/L, P = 0.050) and MDA levels (-71.08 ± 35.73 vs. -9.8 + 15.6 nmol/mL, P = 0.013) compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: Probiotics improve patients' quality of life and inflammatory biomarkers in psoriatic patients. Further studies are mandatory to propose probiotics as routinely prescribed therapy in inflammatory dermatoses. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered at www.irct.ir as IRCT20180712040438N2.

Evaluation of non-invasive arterial stiffness parameters and their relationship with physical activity, anthropometric indices and lipid profiles in healthy middle-aged adults: Results of the PERSIAN cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness (AS) indicates the initial stage of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is associated with modifiable and lifestyle risk factors. We aimed to examine the association of AS with anthropometric indices, lipid profiles and physical activity (PA). METHODS: Six hundred and fifty-eight healthy middle-aged adults were selected and anthropometric indices [body mass index, waist circumferences (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), neck circumferences, a body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), body fat mass (BFM), visceral fat area, fat-free mass (FFM), lipid profiles and PA] were measured. AS is measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) and central augmentation index (cAIx). RESULTS: Our results show that cf-PWV was positively associated with TGs (ß = 0.10, P = .01) and anthropometric indices correlated with WC (ß = 0.11, P = .02), WHR (ß = 0.09, P = .03), WHtR (ß = 0.1, P = .02) and BRI (ß = 0.09, P = .04). cAIx was independently positively associated with cholesterol (ß = 0.08, P = .03), WC (ß = 0.1, P = .03), WHR (ß = 0.09, P = .02), ABSI (ß = 0.09, P = .01), BRI (ß = 0.08, P = .05), visceral fat area (ß = 0.09, P = .03) and BFM (ß = 0.08, P = .04) and negatively associated with PA (ß = -0.08, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: WC, WHR and BRI were associated with both cf-PWV and cAIx. TGs and WHtR were associated with cf-PWV, while cAIx was associated with ABSI, improving these indices may be helpful to prevent CVD.

Medicinal plants and bioactive natural products as inhibitors of NLRP3 inflammasome.

The NLR family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a multiprotein complex that induces caspase-1 activation and the downstream substrates involved with the processing and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α). The NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by a wide range of danger signals that derive from metabolic dysregulation. Activation of this complex often involves the adaptor ASC and upstream sensors including NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, AIM2, and pyrin, which are activated by different stimuli including infectious agents and changes in cell homeostasis. It has been shown that nutraceuticals and medicinal plants have antiinflammatory properties and could be used as complementary therapy in the treatment of several chronic diseases that are related to inflammation, for example, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. Herb-based medicine has demonstrated protective effects against NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Therefore, this review focuses on the effects of nutraceuticals and bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants on NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the possible mechanisms of action of these natural products. Thus, herb-based, natural products/compounds can be considered novel, practical, and accessible agents in chronic inflammatory diseases by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Cytokines and the immune response in obesity-related disorders.

The increasing prevalence of obesity and the associated morbidity and mortality are important public health problems globally. There is an important relationship between an unhealthy lifestyle and increased serum inflammatory cytokines. Adipocytes secrete several pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in the recruitment and activation of macrophages resulting in chronic low-grade inflammation. Increased cytokines in obese individual are related to the progression of several disorders including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and insulin resistance. In present review we have summarized the crucial roles of cytokines and their inflammatory functions in obesity-related immune disorders.

Evaluation of ABO blood group in subjects with CVD risk factors in a population sample from northeastern Iran.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The ABO blood group system is a genetic polymorphism which can affect the clearance of von Willebrand factor. We aimed to assess the levels of newer biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk; pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and anti-heat-shock protein27 (anti-Hsp27) antibody titers in subjects with various blood groups (A, B, AB and O) and with or without traditional CVD risk factors. METHODS: The cross-sectional study comprised 6910 subjects. Antigen-antibody agglutination was evaluated by the slide test method for identification of ABO blood groups. RESULTS: Among three markers, only Serum anti-Hsp27 titers significantly differed between the four blood groups and showed the highest and lowest values in AB and O blood groups (0.26 ± 0.22 and 0.23 ± 0.18 OD, respectively; P < 0.05). Serum anti-Hsp27 was higher in individuals with an AB blood group with metabolic syndrome (MetS), dyslipidemia, hypertension (HTN) and obesity and it was lower in subjects with O blood group; though, two other biomarkers, serum PAB and hs-CRP, were not significantly different between the ABO blood groups. However, they were not different among blood groups in participants with or without diabetes mellitus (DM) (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Individuals with an AB blood group and high levels of anti-Hsp27 antibody titers may be predisposed to CVDs that can be mediated through the traditional CVD risk factors among middle-aged subjects from northeastern Iran. The fact that differences in anti Hsp27 are only found in the subgroup with other risk factors suggest that the difference between ABO blood groups is a consequence rather than a cause.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of Vitamin D-fortified food on glycemic indices.

Some reports indicated that Vitamin D may improve glycaemia indices in diabetic patients. The aim of this systematic and meta-analysis was to evaluate effects of Vitamin D fortification on indices of glycemic control. Six databases (PubMed/Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were searched, for randomized controlled trials that were published up to September 2018 and that compared the effect of Vitamin D-fortified food versus regular diet in relation to glycemic control. Of the 4,379 studies originally found, 11 articles remained to be assessed for meta-analysis. Vitamin D fortification was associated with a significant improvement in fasting serum glucose (mean difference [MD]: -2.772; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -5.435 to -0.109) and fasting serum insulin (MD: -2.937; 95% CI: -4.695 to -1.178) in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. A diet with food enriched with Vitamin D was associated with a significant improvement in homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (MD: -1.608; 95% CI: -3.138 to -0.079) but was not associated with a significant reduction in hemoglobin A1C (MD: 0.034; 95% CI: -0.655 to 0.069). This meta-analysis indicates that Vitamin D fortification improves indices of glycemic control. Hence, food fortified with Vitamin D may be of potential therapeutic value in diabetic patients, as an adjuvant therapy.

The effect of ultrasound cavitation in combination with cryolipolysis as a non-invasive selective procedure for abdominal fat reduction.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Fat reduction and body contouring have become popular procedures in the cosmetic surgery industry over the past decade. There have been studies to replace invasive methods such as liposuction, with safer non-invasive procedures. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a non-invasive combination therapy of ultrasound cavitation and cryolipolysis on abdominal adipose tissue. METHODS: This pilot interventional study comprised 90 female individuals aged 18-65-years-old who were recruited into one of three groups of 30 participants. Group 1 was treated with diet alone (the control group), group 2 with cryolipolysis and diet, and group 3 with a combination of ultrasound cavitation, cryolipolysis, and diet for 8 weeks. Anthropometric parameters were measured before, during, and after the trial included total body weight, body mass index(BMI), body fat mass, fat-free mass, and abdomen circumference. RESULTS: All three groups demonstrated significant reductions in each parameter at the end of the intervention (P < 0.01). Apart from fat-free mass (P = 0.66), the combination therapy significantly reduced body fat mass, weight, BMI, and abdomen circumference compared to the control group (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the combination therapy and cryolipolysis-alone groups. CONCLUSION: Treatment using a combination of cryolipolysis and ultrasound cavitation is no more effective in improving the anthropometric indices than cryolipolysis alone.