Efficacy of Curcumin on Cognitive Function Scores in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome and Dysmenorrhea: A Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the efficacy of a curcumin supplementation on cognitive abilities in women suffering from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea.@*METHODS@#A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted from December 2019 to March 2020. A total of 124 women who had both PMS and dysmenorrhea were enrolled, and were equally and randomly assigned to the curcumin group or placebo group, 62 cases in each. Each subject received either a capsule containing 500 mg of curcuminoid, or a placebo daily, for 10 days (7 days before and until 3 days after the onset of menstrual bleeding) over 3 menstrual cycles. The cognitive abilities questionnaire was used to measures cognitive functions in 7 specific areas. Adverse reactions were monitored during and after the trial in both groups.@*RESULTS@#Administration of curcumin was associated with a significant increase in memory score (P=0.002), inhibitory control and selective attention (P=0.020), and total cognitive ability task (P=0.024). In addition, significant increments were found in scores of memory (3.5±3.1 vs. 0.4±3.8 in the curcumin and placebo groups, respectively; P=0.035), inhibitory control and selective attention (3.0±3.7 vs. 0.4±3.7; P=0.027) and total cognitive abilities (8.3±12.3 vs. 2.2±12.4; P=0.025) in the curcumin group versus placebo groups. Curcumin was safe and well-tolerable in current clinical trial.@*CONCLUSION@#Curcumin has a beneficial efficacy on cognitive function scores in women with PMS and dysmenorrhea, with improvements in memory, inhibitory control and selective attention. (Registration No. IRCT20191112045424N1, available at: https://www.irct.ir ).

Malondialdehyde-modified LDL IgG antibody levels and indices of cardiac function in valvular heart and coronary artery disease patients

To compare the changes in anti-malondialde-hyde-modified low-density lipoprotein [MDA-LDL] IgG levels among patients undergoing off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] or valvuloplasty. A total of 38, 39 and 34 patients who underwent off-pump CABG, on-pump CABG and valvuloplasty, respectively, were enrolled in this study. Serum anti-MDA-LDL IgG values were measured 24 h before and after the operative procedures and at discharge. Echocardiogra-phy was also done before surgery and before discharge. The results were compared with values from 50 healthy controls. In all patients, a reduction in antibody titers was observed post-operatively. However, the decrease was significant only in the off-pump CABG - before surgery: 42.33 [25.83-58.51], after surgery: 30.86 [16.36-51.33] and at discharge: 10.96 [6.82-23.57; p = 0.027]. There was a significant positive association between anti-MDA-LDL IgG levels and ejection fraction [r = 0.248, p = 0.036] and a negative association with E/E', a marker of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, in the coronary patients [r = -0.345, p = 0.012], but no significant associations were found in patients with valvular heart disease. Serum anti-MDA-LDL IgG levels were associated with cardiac function indices in coronary patients undergoing CABG

Dietary macronutrient intake of Saudi males and its relationship to classical coronary risk factors

To investigate whether the dietary intake of energy; macronutrients; and fiber differ between age groups, racial groups and socio-economic classes among males from the Western province of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]. Data were collected from 303 male subjects, aged 15-80 years. They were selected randomly from King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, KSA from October 2001 to November 2003 and grouped according to their age into 3 groups. The subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning their demographic characteristics, health history, lifestyle, and dietary habits. Energy and carbohydrates intake fell with age [p<0.05]. Total dietary carbohydrates and fat intake were similar for all groups when expressed as a percentage of energy intake. The percentage energy as protein increased with age [p<0.05]. Mean cholesterol intake was high for all groups, but fell with age group [p<0.0001]. Saturated fat and monounsaturated fat intake, expressed as percentage energy intake were both high, whereas polyunsaturated fat intake was low. The youngest group had the highest percentage energy provided by saturated fatty acid [p<0.001], and the lowest percentage energy as polyunsaturated fatty acid [p<0.05] compared to the other groups. The intake of fibre rose with age was significantly higher in the older group [p<0.05]. Diet consumed by urban dwellers in KSA appears to have resulted in an imbalance of macronutrient intake among all sectors of the population. This problem can only be averted by raising public awareness and the development of appropriate population-specific nutritional guidelines