Search

Objective: Recent evidence reported that some dietary compounds like quercetin and apigenin as the most well-known flavonoids with anti-inflammatory effects may inhibit SARS-CoV-2 main protease. The hypothesis of the promising effects and possible mechanisms of action of quercetin against COVID-19 were assessed in this article.Materials and Methods: Related papers on the inhibitory effects of quercetin against COVID-19 were collected using the following search strategy: “corona or coronavirus or COVID or COVID-19 or viral or virus” AND “nutrient or flavonoid or Quercetin”.Results: The findings indicated that quercetin can be considered an effective agent against COVID-19 because of its SARS-CoV-2 main protease and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitory effects. In addition, quercetin may attenuate angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptors leading to a reduction of SARS-CoV-2 ability to enter host cells. Moreover, the antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities of quercetin have been frequently reported.Conclusion: Quercetin may be an effective agent for managing the complications of COVID-19. Further longitudinal human studies are warranted.

IntroductionDiabetes adversely affects a number of hepatic molecular pathways, including the kynurenine (KYN) pathway. KYN is produced by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). This study evaluated the effect of endurance training (EndTr) and nettle leaf extract (NLE) on the IDO1-KYN-AHR pathway in the livers of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.MethodsWe divided 48 rats into six groups: controls (Ct), treated with EndTr (EndTr), diabetes-induced (D), D treated with NLE (D + NLE), D treated with EndTr (D + EnTr), and D treated with EndTr and NLE (D + EndTr + NLE). EndTr, D + EnTr, and D + EndTr + NLE groups were subjected to training with running on treadmill for 8 weeks, 5 days per week, 25 min in first session to 59 min at last session with intensity of 55% to 65% VO2max. Using real-time PCR gene (Ahr, Cyp1a1, and Ido1) expressions and ELISA, malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein (IDO1, AHR, and CYP1A1) levels were determined in the liver samples.ResultsA significant three-way interaction of exercise, nettle, and diabetes was observed on the all variables (P< 0.001). In particular, significant increases in blood glucose level (BGL), in gene and protein expression, and in MDA and KYN levels were observed in the liver samples of the D group versus the Ct group (P< 0.05). BGL and liver MDA levels were significantly lower in the D + EndTr and D + NLE groups than that in the D group. However, the D + EndTr + NLE group showed a more significant decrease in these factors (P< 0.05). In addition, liver KYN levels were significantly lower in the EndTr group compared with that in the Ct group as well as in the D + EndTr + NLE and D + EndTr groups compared with that in the D groups (P< 0.05). Whereas both the EndTr and D + NLE groups showed lower Ahr expression and AHR level compared with the Ct and D groups, respectively (P< 0.05), the D + EndTr + NLE group showed a higher significant reduction in the AHR level than the D group (P< 0.05). The Cyp1a1 expression and IDO1 level significantly decreased only in the D + EndTr + NLE group compared to that in the D group (P< 0.05).ConclusionOverall, this study showed that the combination of EndTr and NLE may synergistically restore the imbalanced IDO1-KYN-AHR pathway in diabetic liver.

Background: Nutrient imbalance can frequently occur in patients with indications for parenteral nutrition (PN) after gastrointestinal surgery. This study aimed to compare the recommendations of a surgeon to those of a dietitian in the field of parenteral nutrition.Methods: This study was performed on 256 patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery who received PN, which included 120 patients who received PN based on recommendations of the surgeons and 136 patients who were referred to receive PN under the supervision of a dietitian in Razi Hospital in Rasht, Iran. Data on PN and clinical outcomes of the patients were collected.Results: Patients under the supervision of dietitians received higher vitamin B complex and lipids and lower vitamin A and vitamin E than the surgeon-supervised patients (all P < 0.001). In the group receiving PN under the supervision of a surgeon, the level of blood glucose (207 vs. 182, P < 0.01), sodium (138 vs. 136, P = 0.01), potassium (3.97 vs. 3.53, P < 0.01), and white blood cell count (9.83 vs. 9.28, P < 0.01) increased significantly at the end of the PN compared to baseline. In the group receiving PN under the supervision of a dietician, the level of serum Cr (1.23 vs. 1.32, P = 0.04), Mg (2.07 vs. 1.84, P < 0.01), and pH (7.45 vs. 7.5, P = 0.03) significantly improved after receiving parenteral nutrition compared to baseline.Conclusion: The amounts of nutrients recommended for PN by the surgeon and dietitian were different. Implementation of dietitian recommendations in critically ill patients under PN can improve patients' clinical parameters.