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Ulcerative colitis (UC) poses a challenge to patients' health status and lifestyle. Micronutrient intake has been associated with the risk of UC, but the association has been inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify the overall association between micronutrient intake, as potentially modifiable risk factors, and the risk of UC.Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocols, systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to September 2021. Studies were considered eligible for inclusion if they met the following criteria: (1) observational studies that compared dietary intake of zinc, calcium, or magnesium between the UC group and the control group and (2) had means and standard deviations or medians and interquartile ranges of outcome variables.A total of 7 studies with 1197 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The random-effects meta-analysis showed that there was no significant association between the intake of calcium (WMD: -66.25 mg/day, 95% CI: -276.7 to 144.21, P = 0.54), magnesium (WMD: -21.47 mg/day, 95% CI: -95.54 to 52.6, P = 0.57), and zinc (WMD: 0.3 mg/day, 95% CI: -1.5 to 2, P = 0.74) and the risk of UC. However, there was high significant heterogeneity between studies in dietary intake of calcium (INo significant association was found between dietary calcium, magnesium, and zinc intake and risk of UC.

Although some evidence suggests that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) supplementation influences enzymes involved in forming homocysteine (Hcy) and improving hyperhomocysteinemia, these findings are still contradictory in humans. The aim of this systematic and meta-analysis study was to investigate the effects of omega-3 supplementation on Hcy using existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs).Available databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Embase, were searched to find relevant RCTs up to June 2021. The effect size was expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI).A total of 20 RCT studies with 2676 participants were included in this article. Our analyses have shown that omega-3 supplementation significantly reduced plasma Hcy levels (WMD: 1.34 μmol/L; 95% CI: 1.97 to -0.72; P 0.001) compared to the control group. The results of subgroup analysis showed that omega-3 supplementation during the intervention12 weeks and with a dose ≥3 gr per day causes a more significant decrease in Hcy levels than the intervention ≥12 weeks and at a dose3 gr. In addition, omega-3 supplements appear to have more beneficial effects in individuals with high levels of normal Hcy. This meta-analysis showed that omega-3 supplementation significantly improved Hcy. However, further studies are needed to confirm the findings.

Although the effects of low fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide, and polyol (FODMAP) diet on amelioration of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms have been reported previously, it has not yet been elucidated whether the gluten of wheat and barley induces the symptoms or only their fructans lead to aggravation of the symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of low FODMAPs diet with vs. without gluten on clinical symptoms in IBS patients.In this double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial, forty nine IBS patients were randomly assigned to placebo and/or intervention group. Patients in the intervention group received 5 gr/day of gluten powder with low FODMAP diet, while placebo group received 5 gr of rice flour as placebo, with low FODMAP diet. Quality of life (QoL) and IBS-SSS (symptom severity score) were measured before and after the intervention using a valid QoL questionnaire and a standard visual analog scale, respectively.Significant improvements were observed in total scores of IBS-SSS (-32% vs. - 49%), abdominal pain intensity (-45% vs. -52%), and frequency (-26 vs. -46%), abdominal distension (-29% vs. -63%), Interference with community function (-14% vs. -45%) and quality of life (+23 vs. +32%) in both gluten and placebo groups respectively (P 0.05). Only 5 patients in the gluten-containing diet reported exacerbation of their symptoms.Exacerbation of IBS symptoms after wheat and barley consumption is due to their fructan, and not related to their gluten content in most of the patients.IRCT20100524004010N29.

Summary Aim The aim of this randomized trial was to find whether resveratrol could improve menstrual dysfunction, clinical signs (i.e., acne and hair loss), and the biochemical evidence of hyperandrogenism in the women with PCOS. Methods Women, in the age range of 18–40 years, diagnosed with PCOS, as defined by the Rotterdam criteria, and no other known cause of abnormal menstruation, were recruited. Participants were randomized based on a 1:1 ratio, to either 1000 mg resveratrol or 1000 mg placebo daily groups, for a period of 3 months. Results Seventy-eight patients were randomized: 39 to the resveratrol group and 39 to placebo. Results were analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle. At the end of study, it was found that women who received resveratrol had a statistically higher regular menstruation rate, as compared to those who got placebo (76.47% vs. 51.61%; p = 0.03), and lower hair loss (32.10% vs. 68.00%; p = 0.009). We also found no significant differences between the two groups in terms of ovarian and adrenal androgens, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels, free androgen index (FAI), glycoinsulinemic metabolism and lipid profile. Moreover, the resveratrol treatment did not interfere with the thyroid, liver and kidney functions. The negative effect of resveratrol on the body composition was also observed, though not influencing changes in the weight, relative to the placebo group. Conclusion Resveratrol improved menstrual cyclicity and hair loss, even though levels of androgens, insulin and lipids remained unchanged.

Summary Objectives Few epidemiological data are available regarding the associations of dietary intakes of polyphenols with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We sought to examine the associations of dietary intake of polyphenols with the prevalence of NAFLD. Methods We analyzed data from a case-control study of 225 patients with NAFLD cases and 450 controls. All participants completed a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire, the results of which were subsequently used to calculate dietary polyphenol. Results Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for age and sex, it was shown that participants who were in the highest tertile of total flavonoids (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.44–0.98) and total phenolic acids (OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.42–0.94) were associated with a lower odds of NAFLD compared with the lowest tertile. Although the association of total flavonoids and the odds of NAFLD disappeared after additional adjustment for BMI, physical activity, smoking, SES, dietary fat, and energy intake (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.38–1.19). The odds of NAFLD was 66% lower (OR = 0.44, CI = 0.24–0.78, p for trend = 0.006) among participants who were in the highest tertile of lignans intake compared with the lowest tertile. Conclusion Our study showed that a high intake of lignans lowers the odds of NAFLD. We strongly recommend that the concepts proposed in this study must be tested in future longitudinal researches, to determine the association of total and subgroup of polyphenol intake with different stages of fatty liver diseases.

Evidence suggests an increasing global trend in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prevalence. Researchers have noted the importance of the role of dietary antioxidants in reducing the incidence of NAFLD. The dietary antioxidant index (DAI) is a valid indicator that considers the -diet's total antioxidant properties. The present study was designed and conducted to investigate the relationship between DAI and NAFLD. We hypothesized that there is a link between the DAI and the NAFLD.This case-control study included 295 patients with NAFLD and 704 controls. The patients' dietary intake was assessed through a valid and reliable semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. We standardized each of vitamin A, C, E, and selenium, manganese, and zinc by subtracting the global mean and dividing by the global SD to calculate the DAI.Subjects with DAI score -0.46 were at higher odds of having NAFLD compared to subjects with DAI -0.46 ≥ (ORThe role of antioxidants in reducing the odds of NAFLD is fundamental. Taking antioxidants such as vitamins A, E, C, zinc, selenium, and manganese through food can effectively reduce NAFLD odds. On the other hand, studies should examine DAI's sensitivity and specificity in various settings and outcomes to use it in clinical work.

Emerging studies have employed time-restricted feeding (TRF) and a low-sugar diet alone in the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but their combination has not been tested. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TRF combined with a low-sugar diet on NAFLD parameters, cardiometabolic and inflammatory biomarkers, and body composition in patients with NAFLD.A 12-wk randomized controlled trial was performed to compare the effects of TRF (16 h fasting/8 h feeding daily [16/8]) plus a low-sugar diet versus a control diet based on traditional meal distribution in patients with NAFLD. Changes in body composition, anthropometric indices, and liver and cardiometabolic markers were investigated.TRF 16/8 with a low-sugar diet reduced body fat (26.7 ± 5.4 to 24.2 ± 4.9 kg), body weight (83.8 ± 12.7 to 80.5 ± 12.1 kg), waist circumference (104.59 ± 10.47 to 101.91 ± 7.42 cm), and body mass index (29.1 ± 2.6 to 28 ± 2.7 kg/mTRF plus a low-sugar diet can reduce adiposity and improve liver, lipid, and inflammatory markers in patients with NAFLD.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are considered as a major cause of health loss for all regions of the world. Atherosclerosis is one of the most important underlying causes of CVDs. Vascular dysfunction is the primary marker of atherosclerosis. Various studies have investigated the effect of egg intake on CVDs. This study aimed to determine the effect of egg and its derivatives consumption on vascular function.Using a comprehensive search strategy, the searching was conducted on PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar search engines resources (from inception up to Feb 2020). Intended exposure and outcome were egg or its derivatives intake, and vascular function measuring methods, respectively.A total of 35 papers were found through search databases. Finally, seven trials were included, which were published between 2005 and 2018. Results showed that acute and chronic consumption of whole eggs did not have a significant adverse effect on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). Also, lutein-enriched egg yolk and egg ovalbumin-derived protein hydrolysate did not have significant positive effects on FMD and pulse wave velocity (PWV), respectively. However, one month egg-yolk-derived phospholipid (PL) preparation intervention increased FMD by 3.4% (p 0.05), and replacing a portion of a glucose challenge with whole eggs or egg whites improved postprandial FMD (p 0.05).We concluded that consumption of whole egg, despite being rich in cholesterol, has no adverse effect on vascular function, and even some of egg derivatives may improve vascular function. Further research is needed to justify the potential effects of egg or its derivatives on vascular function.

Summary Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with 109 spores of Bacillus coagulans (GBI-30) plus inulin in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, fifty three patients with NAFLD were randomly assigned to receive either a synbiotic or a placebo capsule for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was reduction in steatosis score in Fibroscan exam. Results At the end of study, serum alanine aminotransferase and γ glutamine transaminase decreased significantly more in synbiotic group compared to placebo group (p = 0.001, and p = 0.004, respectively). Synbiotic supplementation significantly reduced serum tumor necrosis factor-α (p = 0.03) and nuclear factor-κB activity (p = 0.04). Moreover, hepatic steatosis reduced significantly more in synbiotic group compared to placebo group (p Conclusion Our results indicate that 12 weeks supplementation with B. coagulans plus inulin is beneficial for treatment of NAFLD and its related inflammation without any significant effects on related cardiovascular risk factors. Clinical trials This trial was registered at irct.ir with number of IRCT20100524004010N23.

Background and aim Type 2 diabetes is one of the global epidemic disorders, which causes many side effects on the body. Fructose is a lipogenic monosaccharide. Recent studies have reported the adverse effects of this carbohydrate on diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a low-fructose diet on the metabolic alterations in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods This study was a randomized, single-blind clinical trial on 50 patients with type 2 diabetes. Participants randomly allocated to two groups, to receive either diabetic-diet or diabetic-diet with low-fructose for 8-weeks. Anthropometric measurements, systolic blood pressure (SBP), Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and metabolic factors were assessed at baseline and the end of the trial. Results At the end of trial, reduction in body weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure were not significant except for DBP (P = 0.013). Statistical analysis showed that low-fructose diet compared to control group significantly declined fasting blood glucose (FBG), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (P = 0.015, P = 0.001, P= Conclusion Our results showed that eight weeks of low-fructose diet results in a significant improvement in FBG, HbA1c, TG, HDL-C and hs-CRP in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND It is unknown which compounds in spermatozoa or seminal plasma may be involved in the regulation of sperm motility. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of DHA (22:6n-3), vitamin E, and their probable interactions in men with asthenozoospermia. METHODS A factorial, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in infertility clinics in Tehran, Iran. The participants were idiopathic asthenozoospermic men aged 20-45 y, with normal endocrine function. Their concentration of spermatozoa and percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa were equal to or above the lower reference limits, according to the fifth edition of the WHO guideline. Out of 717 men referred to the infertility clinics, 180 asthenozoospermic men were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups according to stratified blocked randomization by age and sperm concentration. Participants took daily 465 mg DHA plus 600 IU vitamin E (DE), 465 mg DHA plus placebo (DP), 600 IU vitamin E plus placebo (EP), or both placebo capsules (PP) for 12 wk. Sperm characteristics, oxidative stress of seminal plasma, serum and sperm membrane fatty acids, dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements, and physical activity were measured at baseline and after 12 wk. RESULTS After the intervention, mean ± SD sperm progressive motility was greater in the DE group (27.9 ± 2.8) than in the DP (25.7 ± 3.4), EP (26.1 ± 2.8), and PP (25.8 ± 2.6) groups (P

The present study aimed to evaluate the possible effect of grounded flaxseed and flaxseed oil on serum levels of inflammatory markers, metabolic parameters, and the severity of disease in patients with UC.In this open-labeled randomized controlled trial, 90 UC patients were randomly assigned to one of the 3 groups for 12 weeks: grounded flaxseed (GF; 30 g/day), flaxseed oil (FO; 10 g/day) and control group. The weight, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon gamma (INF-γ), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)), and fecal calprotectin were measured at the baseline and end of the study.Totally, 75 patients (43 men and 32 women) with a mean age of 31.54 ± 9.84 years participated in the present study. Comparing the change of the variables indicated a significant decrease in fecal calprotectin (P 0.001), Mayo score (P 0.001), ESR (P 0.001), INF-γ (P 0.001), IL-6 (P 0.001), waist circumference (P = 0.02), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) (P 0.001), and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (P 0.001) and a significant increase in TGF-β (P 0.001) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire-Short form (IBDQ-9) score (P 0.001) in the GF and FO groups compared to the control. No difference was obvious between the FO and GF groups except for TGF-β.The present study showed that both flaxseed and flaxseed oil, attenuate inflammatory markers, disease severity, blood pressure, and WC. However, the effect of flaxseed on weight and BMI was not evident.

Dietary phytochemical index (DPI) is an inexpensive method for estimating the amounts of phytochemicals in foods. No study has investigated the association between DPI and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Our study aimed to compare DPI in patients with NAFLD and the control group.This is a case-control study of 250 subjects with NAFLD and 450 healthy subjects attending the Metabolic Liver Disease Research Center as a referral center affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. DPI was calculated based on data collected from a 168-item validated food frequency questionnaire. Sociodemographic data, physical activity, and anthropometric measures such as body weight, height, and waist circumference were determined.In the final adjusted model, the odds ratio (OR) of NAFLD across the DPI tertiles decreased significantly (OR = 0.55, 95 %CI = 0.31-0.95) (P-trend = 0.03). The highest vs. lowest tertiles of vegetable and olives PI were significantly associated with a lower risk of NAFLD (OR and 95 % CI = 0.26 (0.14-0.47); OR and 95 % CI = 0.51 (0.29-0.90), p for trend 0.001, respectively), however, there was no significant relation between other PI components and NAFLD.This case-control study suggested that a higher PI score is associated with a reduced chance of NAFLD after adjusting for confounding variables. In addition, the highest tertile of vegetable and olives PI was significantly associated with a lower risk of NAFLD.

Previous studies suggested that probiotics/synbiotics administration exerts some beneficial effects on cardiometabolic risk factors. However, the results from trials have been inconsistent. This study aimed to identify the impact of probiotic and synbiotic supplements on cardiovascular health factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus up to February 2022 to identify eligible RCTs. Estimating 95 % confidence (CI) and the weighted mean difference (WMD) for weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumferences (WC), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), the random-effects model was used. In the current meta-analysis, 54 RCTs were included. With the probiotic/synbiotics intervention, several parameters changed significantly, including weight (WMD: -0.38, 95 % CI: -0.63 to -0.12 Kg), TG (WMD: -19.08, 95 % CI: -27.65 to -10.51 mg/dl), TC (WMD: -10.46, 95 % CI: -15.19 to -5.72 mg/dl), LDL-C (WMD: -4.87, 95 % CI: -7.65 to -2.09 mg/dl), HDL-C (WMD: -2.70, 95 % CI: 1.33-4.07 mg/dl), SBP (WMD: -3.81, 95 % CI: -6.24 to -1.38 mmHg), and DBP (WMD: -2.01, 95 % CI: -3.12 to -0.91 mmHg). In the subgroup analysis, probiotics/synbiotics supplementation resulted in a greater change in lipid profile components in T2DM patients. Weight and BMI reduced only after synbiotic supplementation. We found that the administration of probiotics and synbiotics had beneficial effects on lipid profiles, anthropometric indices, and blood pressure in individuals with T2DM.

Background Numerous studies have revealed that diet has been considered as an important pathogenic factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) is a method of quantitative and qualitative evaluation of single foods and diets, which has special significance in recognizing clinical nutritional problems. Materials and Methods This study included 295 patients with NAFLD and 704 controls. The dietary intake was assessed through a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire. INQ was calculated from the questionnaire data and was compared between the 2 groups. Results The controls had higher INQ of vitamin D, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B12; biotin, pantothenic acid, magnesium and zinc compared to the patients with NAFLD. After controlling for several covariates, positive associations were observed between NAFLD risk and INQs of riboflavin (ORriboflavin = 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.28-0.78; ORbiotin = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.18-0.76; ORpantothenic = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12-0.64; ORmagnesium = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.11-0.75; ORzinc = 0.15 95% CI: 0.05-0.42). Conclusions Findings of the present study suggest that subjects who follow a more healthy and nutrient-rich diet, especially in terms of vitamins D, B1, B2, B12, B3 and zinc, are at a lower risk of NAFLD compared to those who consume unhealthy and nutrient-poor diet.

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between dietary polyphenols' classes and individual polyphenol subclasses and also the risk of Colorectal cancer (CRC) and colorectal adenomas (CRA).A hospital-based case-control study on the association between CRC and CRA and dietary polyphenols was conducted.Overall, 129 colorectal cancers, 130 colorectal adenoma cases and 240 healthy controls were studied in three major general hospitals in Tehran province, Iran.In a multivariate-adjusted model for potential confounders, higher consumption of stilbenes (OR 0.49 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile; 95% CI = 0.24-0.99; p for trend = 0.013) was associated with the decreased risk of CRA. Moreover, an inverse association between the risk of CRC and the intake of total polyphenols (OR 0.05 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile; 95% CI = 0.01-0.19; p for trend=0.001), total flavonoids (OR 0.36 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile; 95% CI = 0.16-0.79; p for trend = 0.005), total phenolic acids (OR 0.24 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile; 95% CI = 0.10-0.56; p for trend = 0.002), anthocyanin (OR 0.21 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile; 95% CI = 0.08-0.55; p for trend = 0.001) and flavanols (OR 0.38 for the highest vs. the lowest quartile; 95% CI = 0.17-0.85; p for trend = 0.001) was observed.The present study showed that a higher intake of total polyphenols, total flavonoids, total phenolic acids anthocyanin and flavanols was related to the decreased risk of CRC. The higher consumption of stilbenes was also inversely associated with the risk of CRA.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Nigella sativa consumption on inflammatory biomarkers in patients with Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Fifty NAFLD patients were assigned to receive either two gram/day Nigella sativa seed as Nigella sativa group (NSG), or two gram/day starch as placebo group (PG) for 12 weeks.At the end of the study, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) decreased significantly compared with the beginning of the study in both groups, while the levels of high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) only decreased significantly in the NSG (P 0 0.05). Only reduction in the serum levels of TNF-α was significantly more in NSG compared to the PG (P = 0.001). After adjusting the effects of confounding factors, the results remained unchanged. According to Fibroscan exam, hepatic steatosis and its percentage decreased significantly only in the NSG (P 0 0.005); however, the changes were not significantly different between two groups. After adjusting for confounding factors, only steatosis percentage reduction was significantly more in the NSG compared to PG (P = 0.005).Our results have shown that two gram/day consumption of Nigella sativa can reduce inflammatory biomarkers in patients with NAFLD. Further studies with different doses are highly recommended to find the optimal dosage.

Dietary intake of long-chain, highly unsaturated ω-3 fatty acids (FAs) is considered indispensable for humans. The ω-3 FAs have been known to be anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory dietary factors; however, the modes of action on pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) and downstream signaling pathways have not been fully elucidated. Dietary sources contain various amounts of ω-3 long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) of different lengths and the association between intake of these polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with underlying mechanisms of various immune-related disorders can be of great interest. The potential anti-inflammatory role for ω-3 LCFAs can be explained by modification of lipid rafts, modulation of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and PRRs. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a group of PRRs that play an important role in the recognition of bacterial infections and ω-3 FAs have been implicated in the modulation of downstream signaling of TLR-4, an important receptor for recognition of gram-negative bacteria. The ω-3 FAs docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid have been investigated in vivo and in vitro for their effects on the nuclear factor-κB activation pathway. Identification of the effects of ω-3 FAs on other key molecular factors like prostaglandins and leukotrienes and their signals may help the recognition and development of medicines to suppress the main mediators and turn on the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and nuclear receptors.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disorder in the world, yet the pathogenesis of the disease is not well elucidated. Due to the close anatomic and functional association between the intestinal lumen and the liver through the portal system, it is speculated that the gut microbiome may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Furthermore, diet, which can modulate the gut microbiome and several metabolic pathways involved in NAFLD development, shows a potential tripartite relation between the gut, diet, and the liver. In this review, we summarize the current evidence that supports the association between NAFLD, the gut microbiome, and the role of diet.

Objectives Many factors implicated in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are including oxidative stress, insulin resistance and abnormal production of adipokines. The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of melatonin supplement on some important biochemical markers and signs related to NAFLD. Design A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Setting Twenty-four participants in the melatonin group and 21 participants in the placebo group completed the study. Intervention Participants received 6 mg melatonin or placebo daily, 1 h before bedtime. The intervention period was 12 weeks. Main outcome measures Anthropometric measurements, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, liver enzymes, high sensitive C‑reactive protein (hs-CRP), fatty liver grade, also leptin and adiponectin serum levels, were measured at the baseline and the end of intervention. Results A significant improvement was observed in weight (p = 0.043), waist circumference (p = 0.027), abdominal circumference (p = 0.043), systolic (p = 0.039), and diastolic (p = 0.015) blood pressure, leptin serum levels (p = 0.032), hs-CRP (p = 0.024), alanine aminotransferase (p = 0.011), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.034), also the grade of fatty liver (p = 0.020) in melatonin treated group compared with the placebo. Conclusions Administration of 6 mg/day melatonin had improvement effect on many factors related to NAFLD such as liver enzymes, hs-CRP, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, leptin serum levels and the grade of fatty liver.

Aims This meta-analysis study aimed to assess effects of selenium supplementation on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in randomized controlled clinical trial studies. Methods A systematic literature search on clinical trial studies was performed in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane's Library and ISI Web of Science databases up to June 2018, which was completed by manual searching of the reference lists of all included studies. From 533 articles retrieved in the first step of the search after excluding duplicate findings, only 14 trials with 22 effect sizes were included for pooling the effects of selenium supplementation on serum CRP level with 1082 and 1080 participants in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Results Results of random effects model meta-analysis showed a non-significant reducing effect of selenium supplementation on serum CRP levels (WMD: −0.31 mg/l; 95% CI: −0.63, 0.01; P = 0.06). The results of subgroup analysis showed that selenium supplementation could only decrease significantly serum CRP levels, when the dosage of selenium supplementation is 200 μg/day (WMD: −0.52 mg/l; 95% CI = −1.04, −0.01; P = 0.043), when the trial duration is > 8 weeks (WMD: −1.01 mg/l; 95% CI = −1.88, −0.15; P = 0.021), and when the baseline level of CRP is > 3 mg/l (WMD: −2.02 mg/l; 95% CI = −2.87, −1.18; P Conclusion In conclusion, results of this meta-analysis study showed that selenium supplementation can reduce significantly serum CRP level especially in patients with elevated CRP levels.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disease in which reducing pro-inflammatory and/or increasing anti-inflammatory molecules is the mainstay of treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with resveratrol as an antiinflammatory and antioxidant agent on inflammation and quality of life in patients with active UC.In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 50 eligible patients with active mild to moderate UC were supplemented with either a 500-mg resveratrol or placebo capsule for 6 weeks. Serum inflammatory markers, activity of NF-κB in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and quality of life were assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. Resveratrol supplementation led to a significant reduction in plasma levels of TNF-α (19.70 ± 12.80 to 17.20 ± 10.09 pg/mL) and hs-CRP (4764.25 ± 2260.48 to 2584.50 ± 1792.80 ng/mL) and activity of NF-κB in PBMCs (0.19 ± 0.05 to 0.10 ± 0.04 OD) (p0.001), whereas there were no significant changes of these factors in placebo group. Also, the score of inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire -9 (IBDQ-9) increased, whereas the clinical colitis activity index score decreased significantly in the resveratrol group (32.72 ± 7.52 to 47.64 ± 8.59) (p0.001) and when compared with the placebo group (35.54 ± 9.50 to 41.08 ± 6.59) (p0.001).Our results indicate that 6 weeks supplementation with 500 mg resveratrol can improve quality of life and disease clinical colitis activity at least partially through inflammation reduction in patients with UC. Whether these effects will be continued in longer duration of treatment remains to be determined.

Objective To investigate the association between dietary fatty acids intakes and asthenozoospermia. Design Case-control study. Setting Infertility clinics. Patient(s) A total of 107 men with incident asthenozoospermia and 235 age-matched controls. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Assessments of dietary intakes, semen quality, anthropometry, endocrine parameters, and demographic information. Result(s) According to the fully adjusted model, being in the highest tertile of total saturated fatty acids (odds ratio [OR] = 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24–2.96), total trans-fatty acids (OR = 2.53, 95% CI 1.54–3.92), palmitic acid (OR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.26–2.74), and stearic acid (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.29–3.88) was positively associated with asthenozoospermia. Whereas higher intakes of omega-3 polyunsaturated (OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.58–0.94) and of docosahexaenoic (OR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.29–0.89) fatty acids were significantly associated with reduced odds of asthenozoospermia. Conclusion(s) Our findings suggest that the high intake of saturated and trans-fats was positively related to the odds of having asthenozoospermia. Conversely, inverse and dose-dependent associations were found between asthenozoospermia and intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The observed associations of different types of fatty acids underline the importance of the type of fat in the etiology of asthenozoospermia.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent cause of hepatic injury in the world. One of the most important therapeutic strategies for this disease is modulating insulin resistance and oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that supplementation with cinnamon exerts an insulin sensitizer effect in patients with NAFLD. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with two parallel groups, fifty patients with NAFLD were randomized to receive daily supplementation with either two capsules of cinnamon (each capsule contain 750 mg cinnamon) or 2 placebo capsules, daily for 12 weeks. During the intervention, all patients were given advice on how to implement a balanced diet and physical activity into their daily lives. In the treatment group (P < .05), significant decreases in HOMA (Homeostatic Model Assessment) index, FBS (fasting blood glucose), total cholesterol, triglyceride, ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), GGT (gamma glutamine transpeptidase), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were seen, but there was no significant change in serum high-density lipoproteins levels (P = .122). In both groups, low-density lipoproteins decreased significantly (P < .05). In conclusion, the study suggests that taking 1500 mg cinnamon daily may be effective in improving NAFLD characteristics.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare frequent, multiplex disorder with undefined etiology. Susceptibility to autoimmune hepatitis results from complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. In this study, we investigated the involvement of C77G mutation in CD45 gene in patients with autoimmune hepatitis among Iranian population by genotyping this mutation in 70 patients and 140 healthy individuals. Methods: After amplifying exon 4 by Polymerase chain reaction, we genotyped this mutation with MspI restriction endonuclease among the studied population. Results: None of the cases with AIH was hetero or homozygote for C77G mutation. Controls had normal genotype except one of them who was heterozygote for C77G mutation. Conclusion: Our results do not confirm the genetic link between C77G mutation and autoimmune hepatitis in Iranian population.