Effects of royal jelly supplementation on glycemic control and oxidative stress factors in type 2 diabetic female: a randomized clinical trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>It has been proposed that royal jelly has antioxidant properties and may improve oxidative stress and glycemic control. Therefore, we investigated the effects of royal jelly supplementation in diabetic females.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this pilot, parallel design randomized clinical trial, 50 female volunteers with type 2 diabetes were randomly allocated to the supplemented (25, cases) and placebo (25, cases) groups, based on random block procedure produced by Random Allocation Software, given a daily dose of 1,000 mg royal jelly soft gel or placebo, respectively, for 8 weeks. Before and after intervention, glycemic control indices, antioxidant and oxidative stress factors were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After royal jelly supplementation, the mean fasting blood glucose decreased remarkably (163.05±42.51 mg/dL vs. 149.68±42.7 mg/dL). Royal jelly supplementation resulted in significant reduction in the mean serum glycosylated hemoglobin levels (8.67%±2.24% vs. 7.05%±1.45%, P=0.001) and significant elevation in the mean insulin concentration (70.28±29.16 pmol/L vs. 86.46±27.50 pmol/L, P=0.01). Supplementation significantly increased erythrocyte superoxidase dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and decreased malondialdehyde levels (P<0.05). At the end of study, the mean total antioxidant capacity elevated insignificantly in both groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>On the basis of our findings, it seems that royal jelly supplementation may be beneficial in controlling diabetes outcomes. Further studies with larger sample size are warranted.</p>

Urinary and milk iodine status in neonates and their mothers during congenital hypothyroidism screening program in eastern Azerbaijan: a pilot study

Iodine is essential element in thyroid hormones synthesis and normal growth and development of the brain. Milk and iodine concentrations can be appropriate indicator of body iodine status; in this study, we evaluated the concentrations of urine and milk iodine in newborns and their mothers. In a cross-sectional study conducted in 2013, urine and milk iodine in 106 neonates and their mothers referred to healthcare center in Shabestar, Eastern Azerbaijan for congenital hypothyroidism screening program were determined. Median urinary iodine < 100 micro g/L and milk iodine < 50 micro g/L was considered as iodine deficiency. The median urine iodine concentrations [UIC] in mothers and infants were 142.31 micro g/L [.0 - 1260] and 306.76 micro g/L [23.56-1020] respectively. Urine iodine concentrations were < 100 micro g/L in 33.9% of mothers and 14.2% of neonates. The median milk iodine concentration [MIC] was 58.23 micro g/L [20.31- 425] and in 41.9% of mothers was <50 micro g/L. A positive significant correlation was found between milk iodine and maternal urinary iodine concentration [r=0.533, P= 0.000]. There was significant correlation between neonatal UIC and maternal UIC [r=0.462, P= 0.000], neonatal UIC and MIC [r=0.414, P= 0.000]. Urinary and milk iodine concentrations in mothers and infants were within acceptable range, which indicates adequate iodine intake. However, there were moderate and marginal iodine deficiencies in about half percentage of participants. Insufficient amount of milk iodine in about half of the mothers can result in iodine deficiency in breast-fed infants

effect of vitamin d supplementation on adiposity, blood glycated hemoglobin, serum leptin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in type 2 diabetic patients

Since tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] could be one of the risk factors at the development of diabetes complications; as well as serum leptin deficiency is related to increased susceptibility to infections in diabetic patients, they are potential indices from the preventive medicine viewpoint. This study was conducted to represent the effect of supplemental vitamin D3 on serum leptin, TNF-alpha and adiposity in type 2 diabetic patients. In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, study sample was selected through type 2 diabetic patients [n = 51]. A total of 26 patients were orally supplemented by vitamin D3[400 lU/d] [vitamin D group] and 25 patients by placebo [placebo group] for 14 weeks. The blood glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] and the serum ionized Ca, leptin, TNF-alpha, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25[OH] D] were measured at the two groups in the baseline and postintervention stages. It was shown that despite of theplacebo group, serum 25[OH] D and serum leptin was significantly increased [P = 0.001 and P= 0.002, respectively], while serum TNF-alpha was decreased significantly [P = 0.001] in vitamin D group. The remaining parameters, including body fat mass and HbA1c had no alterations between baseline and postintervention stages in vitamin D group. This study may advocate vitamin D supplementation among type 2 diabetic patients due to its beneficial effects on prevention of diabetes complications

Hyperhomocysteinemia and bone mineral density: a case - control study

To find out whether homocysteine has a direct effect on bone or it is an innocent bystander? The study was designed to investigate probable role of homocysteine on bone mineral density [BMD]. This a case-control study wherein, 30 patients with at Least one densitometry criterion of osteoporosis in femoral neck or Lumbar spine were enrolled as the case group along with another 30 normal subjects with normal BMD, as the control group. The patients of the two groups were matched for their ages and sex. In all eligible patients BMD was measured by DEXA and fasting serum homocysteine level were measured by Enzyme Immunoassay Kit. The mean of serum level of homocysteine were 11.67 +/- 4.38 and 11.97 +/- 3.09 imol/l in control and case groups respectively. The difference between two groups was not significant [P=0.761]. Serum homocysteine level and BMC of various areas in case and control groups had no significant correlation [lumbar spine in control group [r= 0.025, p=0.9], lumbar spine in case group [r=0.071, p=0.716], femoral neck in control group [r=0.276, p=0.147], femoral neck in case group [r=0.001, p=0.998fl. Despite numerous studies about direct effect of homocysteine on increase of osteoporotic fracture risk, our study did not show a correlation between serum Level of homocysteine and BMD. Due to multiplicity of factors affecting bone density, final conclusions need extensive investigations with attention to other confounding factors

[Evaluation of effective factors in decreased bone density in patient with osteoporosis and osteopenia]

Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease that characterized by reduced bone strength. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of effective factors in decreased bone density and secondary causes of osteoporosis. This descriptive cross sectional study was done on 105 patients [76 female and 29 male] suffering from osteoporosis, evaluated in the endocrinology Department of Sina hospital, Tabriz- Iran from March 2003 to March 2006. Past medical history clinical symptoms and biochemical results were of patients. Data analyzed using SPSS-14 and chi square test. Osteoporosis and osteopenia were seen in 55% and 45% of patients with reduced bone density, respectively. Daily calcium intake in patients with less than 400 mg, between 400-1000 mg more than 1000 mg were 63.8%, 31,9%, and 3.4%, respectively. The mean +/- SD of sera calcium and vitamin D level were 9.5 +/- 0.6 mg/dl, 45 +/- 37.1 nmol/l respectively. 61.2% of patients had vitamin D deficiency. 33% of patients had secondary osteoporosis. Among the patient with primary osteoporosis 11.3% afflicted to hyper claciuria. This study showed that decreasing bone density was more prominate in women. The rate of daily calcium intake among patients were low. It is suggested these patients osteoporosis could be prevented by consumption food nutrient rich in calcium and vitamin D supplementation