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Background: Neuregulin-4 (Nrg4), a novel brown fat-enriched factor, has been reported to play a crucial role in developing metabolic disorders. The current case-control study aimed to investigate the association between serum Nrg4 and coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: This study enrolled 43 patients with CAD and 43 subjects with normal coronary arteries diagnosed by coronary angiography. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured and recorded. The serum Nrg4 level was determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationships between circulating Nrg4 and CAD and other clinical parameters were analyzed. A receiver operating characteristic analysis was applied to assess the utility of Nrg4 in identifying CAD. Results: The study population comprised 86 patients, including 64 men (74.4%), at a mean age of 57.83±6.01 years. Patients with CAD had significantly lower serum Nrg4 than the control group (P<0.001). The serum Nrg4 level was negatively correlated with anthropometric variables, including the body mass index, waist circumference, and the waist-to-hip ratio, fasting blood glucose, and the triglyceride-glucose index (P<0.05). In multivariable-adjusted regression analysis, the odds of CAD decreased by 46% per 1 SD elevation in the serum Nrg4 level (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.73; P<0.001) after controlling for potential confounders. Nrg4 showed a significantly high area under the curve value (AUC, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.75 to 0.94) with 81.4% sensitivity and 95.3% specificity to identify CAD. Conclusion: Generally, the serum level of Nrg4 declines in patients with CAD, which might be an independent risk factor for CAD.
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Background: Recent changes in dietary habits have resulted in increased intake of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are known to have a predominant contribution to the pathogenesis and complications of coronary artery disease (CAD). AGEs are also thought to induce weight gain by affecting appetite, energy expenditure, and brown adipose tissue (BAT). Here, we investigated whether the restriction of dietary AGEs could affect appetite, body composition, anthropometric indices, and BAT-derived markers in CAD patients treated with angioplasty. Materials and Methods: Forty-two stented CAD patients were randomly allocated into two groups that received either a low-AGEs or a control diet for 12 weeks. At baseline and postintervention, fasting blood samples were analyzed for total AGEs, nesfatin-1, and BAT-derived markers (fibroblast growth factor 21 and neuregulin 4). Subjective appetite ratings and body composition were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and bioelectric impedance analysis. Anthropometric indices, including fat mass index (FMI), abdominal volume index (AVI), and body adiposity index (BAI), were calculated through the relevant formula. Results: Restricting dietary AGEs for 12 weeks could cause a significant reduction in weight, FMI, AVI, and BAI (P < 0.05) compared to the comparison group. In addition, VAS data analyses indicated a significant decrease in the sense of hunger and prospective food intake (P < 0.05) in the intervention group compared to the comparison group. No significant difference was seen in the measured biochemical markers between the two groups. Conclusion: This study indicated that the low-AGEs diet could decrease appetite, weight, and anthropometric indices in stented CAD patients.
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Background: Insulin resistance (IR), even in its subclinical state, is a significant risk factor for the onset and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). IR is a multifactorial condition, and dietary composition is a factor associated with its development. Elevated advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the body, secondary to highly processed food consumption, can impair glucose metabolism. The present study investigated whether a restricted AGE diet could affect insulin sensitivity and anthropometric indices reflecting visceral adipose tissue in nondiabetic CAD patients. Methods: This trial randomly allocated 42 angioplasty-treated patients to follow either low-AGE or control diets based on the AHA/NCEP guidelines for 12 weeks. Serum levels of total AGEs, insulin, HbA1c, and fasting blood sugar, as well as anthropometric measurements, were evaluated before and after the intervention. The Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and anthropometric indices were calculated according to the proposed formula. The patients' health status was assessed using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) at baseline and after the intervention. Results: Our study showed a significant reduction in anthropometric indices in the low-AGE group after 12 weeks. Insulin levels and IR decreased during the low-AGE diet. No significant changes were observed in the other serum biochemical markers. All SAQ domains significantly decreased in both groups, except for Treatment Satisfaction. Conclusion: A low-AGE diet for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on HOMA-IR and insulin levels in patients with CAD. Regarding the fundamental role of AGE in IR development and body fat distribution, AGE restriction may positively affect these patients.
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It has been more than a year since the outbreak of COVID-19, and it is still the most critical issue of the healthcare system. Discovering effective strategies to treat infected patients is necessary to decrease the mortality rate. This study aimed to determine the effects of nanocurcumin on the severity of symptoms and length of hospital stay (LOS) in COVID-19 patients. Forty-eight COVID-19 patients were randomly assigned into nanocurcumin (n = 24) and placebo (n = 24) groups receiving 160 mg/day nanocurcumin or placebo capsules for 6 days. Mean differences of O2 saturation were significantly higher in patients who received nanocurcumin supplements (p = 0.02). Also, nanocurcumin treatment significantly reduced the scores of domains 3 and 4 and the total score of Wisconsin Upper Respiratory System Survey (WURSS-24), indicating milder symptoms in the treatment group (p = 0.01, 0.03, and 0.01 respectively). Besides, the LOS in curcumin groups was lower than in the placebo group, although the difference was not statistically significant (6.31 ± 5.26 vs. 8.87 ± 8.12 days; p = 0.416). CBC/differentiate, hs-CRP level and the pulmonary involvement in CT scan were not different between the two groups. As nanocurcumin can be effective in increasing O2 saturation and reducing the severity of symptoms in COVID-19 patients, it could probably be used as a complementary agent to accelerate the recovery of patients.
