Interactive Effects of Nutrition Modification and Wet Cupping on Male Patients with Refractory Stable Angina.

Objectives: Routine therapies cannot control refractory stable angina, leading to a high economic burden and an impaired quality of life. Persian medicine incorporates exceptional attention to lifestyle and nutrition to prevent and treat various diseases. Previous studies have reported the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of wet cupping. The present study aims to determine the effects of nutrition and cupping on refractory stable angina patients. Methods: Forty male patients with refractory stable angina were randomly allocated to four groups, including nutrition modification based on Persian medicine, wet cupping, nutrition modification along with wet cupping, and control. The primary outcomes were the changes in pain score using a visual analog scale and quality of life using the Seattle angina questionnaire. The secondary outcomes were changes in the exercise test and blood pressure. Results: The results of the present study revealed that 30 days of treatment with nutrition modification based on Persian medicine, cupping, and modified nutrition and cupping along with standard treatment for stable angina significantly increased the patient's quality of life and exercise test results while reducing pain, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion: Applying complementary Persian medicine methods such as nutrition modification and cupping along with the classical medical treatments may improve outcomes for refractory stable angina patients.

The efficacy of topical red clover oil on knee osteoarthritis: A pilot prospective randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.

A triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy of topical red clover oil (containing standardized red clover extract in olive oil) on knee osteoarthritis (OA). A total of 80 patients, 50-80 years old, with primary knee OA were randomly allocated to two groups. The study group used topical red clover oil and the control group used olive oil for 4 weeks (20 drops twice a day). Both groups adhered to nonpharmacological American College of Rheumatology recommendations and took meloxicam tablets during the study (0-8 weeks), and were followed up from Week 4 to 8. Efficacy measures were evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scale and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). At baseline, both groups were homogeneous regarding demographic characteristics. In addition, they were asked about the side effects during the intervention. The results showed that the WOMAC score and its subscales of pain and stiffness and function scores and VAS significantly increased over time in both groups (p < .001). The study group showed a significant increase regarding pain (p = .001), function (p = .010), VAS (p < .001), and the WOMAC total score (p = .018). No serious drug side effects were observed. Red clover oil may have positive effects on symptoms of knee OA and can be considered as a complementary treatment.

Effect of Capparis spinosa Extract on Metabolic Parameters in Patients with Type-2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies have reported beneficial effects of Capparis spinosa L., a perennial shrub from the Capparidaceae family, on the glycemic status and serum lipids in diabetic animals. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was to investigate the safety and efficacy of C. spinosa oxymel on blood glucose, lipid profile, and other diagnostic indexes of metabolic syndrome in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. METHOD: The C. spinosa oxymel was prepared by adding hydroalcoholic extract of C. spinosa fruit to simple oxymel (a mixture of grape vinegar and lactulose). Thirty diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome whose glycemic status was not controlled despite receiving full doses of oral hypoglycemic agents did not want to start insulin therapy and were randomly allocated to three groups to receive placebo, simple oxymel, or C. spinosa oxymel (10 mL/thrice daily for 3 months). All patients continued conventional therapy with hypolipidemic, antihyperlipidemic, and antihypertensive drugs during the study. RESULTS: C. spinosa oxymel significantly decreased the body weight and body mass index at the end of the study compared to the baseline. While the patients in the placebo and simple oxymel groups displayed further increase in the level of FBG or PPBG, administration of C. spinosa oxymel inhibited the progression of hyperglycemia. Nevertheless, there was not a significant difference between placebo and intervention groups regarding HbA1c at the end of the study. C. spinosa oxymel had no significant effect on the serum cholesterol but inhibited the progression of hypertriglyceridemia during the study. There were no significant changes in creatinine, microalbuminuria, AST, ALT, and ALP values following C. spinosa treatment, suggesting that it had no unwanted effects on kidney and liver function. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that although C. spinosa oxymel cannot enhance the effects of hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic drugs, it can prevent further increase of blood glucose and triglycerides in patients with poorly controlled diabetes.

Antidiabetic properties of Capparis spinosa L. and its components.

An increasing line of evidence confirmed that apart from conventional hypoglycemic drugs, diet and medicinal plants have beneficial effects on diabetes. Capparis spinosa L. (Caper) is a perennial shrub in the Capparidaceae family. It grows in different regions of the world, particularly in Asian and African countries. A wide range of biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic effects have been reported for this plant. In this review, it is focused on beneficial effects of C. spinosa on diabetes. Several studies have showed the antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of C. spinosa. The putative mechanisms involved in the antihyperglycemic effects of C. spinosa include reducing carbohydrate absorption from the small intestine, inhibiting gluconeogenesis in the liver, enhancing glucose uptake by tissues, and beta cell protection/regeneration. This plant also ameliorates cardiovascular disorders, liver damage, and nephropathy in animal models of diabetes, which are attributed to its antioxidant phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, carotenoids, tocopherols, and terpenes. Antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of C. spinose, along with its beneficial effects on diabetic complications, make it a good candidate for the management of diabetes. Well-designed clinical trials are necessary to define the advantages and disadvantages of C. spinose for diabetic patients.