Effects of cholecalciferol supplementation on serum angiogenic biomarkers in breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen: A controlled randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cholecalciferol supplementation on serum levels of angiogenic parameters in patients with breast cancer (BC) who were treated with tamoxifen. METHODS: This was a pilot-based, randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 52 patients with BC randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving weekly 50 000 IU cholecalciferol or a placebo group for 8 wk. At baseline and at end of study, serum levels of angiogenic growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, angiopoietin (Ang)-2, hypoxia-inducible factor (Hif)-1, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Every 4 wk, a completed 3-d, 24-h dietary record and daily sunlight exposure checklist were collected and anthropometric variables were measured. RESULTS: The ultimate number of participants in each arm was 22 for analyses. For premenopausal women, cholecalciferol supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in serum levels of Ang-2 and VEGF-A after 8 wk of treatment (P < 0.05). In the absence of vascular invasion, supplementation led to a significant decrease in Ang-2 levels compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05). Supplementation caused significant increases in Hif-1 in patients diagnosed with the infiltration of tumors into vascular or lymphatic vessels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cholecalciferol supplementation achieved sufficient efficacy among patients with BC taking tamoxifen and could be effective in the reduction of angiogenic biomarkers particularly dependent on the infiltration status of the tumor to vessels. Further studies with larger subgroups should be investigated.

The effect of different types of honey on the lipid profile of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

INTRODUCTION: The effect of honey consumption in diabetic patients has been contradictory. The aim of the present animal study was to compare the effect of different types of honey on the lipid profile in diabetic rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-four male Wistar rats were divided into two main groups: a streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (DM) group (including four subgroups) and a healthy group (including four subgroups), based on random allocation. Three subgroups of each main group were given 1 mg/kg of three different types of honey (acacia, astragalus, and artificial honey) by oral gavage for 10 weeks. The control groups were given distilled water. Blood samples were collected, and the lipid profile was measured and compared between the eight groups after the intervention. RESULTS: The levels of LDL, triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (Tchol) in DM rats treated with astragalus honey were significantly lower and the HDL level was significantly higher compared to the other DM and healthy groups (all p-values < 0.05). LDL, TG, and Tchol levels in DM rats treated with artificial honey were significantly higher, and HDL levels were significantly lower than for other types of honey and for the control groups (all p-values < 0.05). LDL, HDL, TG, and Tchol levels in healthy rats were not significantly different between the groups (p-value > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Different types of honey (acacia, astragalus, and artificial honey) had various effects on serum lipid profiles in diabetic rats. The results of this study indicated that the effect of honey on diabetic patients can vary widely based on its source.