The effects of green cardamom supplementation on blood pressure and endothelium function in type 2 diabetic patients: A study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Cardamom possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and blood pressure lowering properties, which might improve endothelial function in type 2 diabetic patients. However, no study has examined the effect of cardamom on diabetic patients. The present study aimed to examine the effects of 10-week green cardamom intake on blood pressure, concentrations of inflammatory and endothelial function biomarkers in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, and its potential mechanisms. METHODS AND ANALYSIS DESIGN: Eighty overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (aged 30-60 years) will be recruited into the trial and will assign to receive either cardamom (3 g/day, 6 capsules) or placebo (rusk powder, 6 capsules) for a period of 10 weeks. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and nitric oxide will be measured. Serum inflammatory markers namely interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor-α, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and factors related to endothelial function including intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, CD62 antigen-like family member E, and cluster of differentiation 163 will be measured at baseline and at the end of the trial. Sociodemographic, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and three 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires will be collected for each participant. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by The Ethics Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (IR.TUMS.REC.1395.2700). Each participant will sign a written informed consent at the beginning of the study. At the end of the study, results will be published timely manner. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: (http://www.irct.ir, identifier: IRCT-2016042717254N5) Date of registration: 2016-11-23.

Internet Use in Relation to Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional Studies.

Although several studies have investigated the association between Internet use and odds of overweight and obesity, results are inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to summarize evidence on the association between Internet use and odds of overweight and obesity. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar up to February 2019 to identify relevant publications. Finally, 9 cross-sectional studies were considered in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Combining 11 effect sizes from 9 studies, we found a significant, positive association between the highest Internet use, compared to the lowest (ranged from ≥5 h/d to no use among studies), and odds of overweight and obesity (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.21-1.78; I2, 69.6%; P < 0.001), such that Internet users had 47% greater odds of being overweight or obese. We also observed a significant, positive association between the highest Internet use, compared to the lowest (ranged from ≥5 h/d to no use among studies), and overweight/obesity (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.06-1.25; I2, 0.0%; P = 0.426), obesity (OR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.88-3.54; I2, 0.0%; P = 0.637), and overweight (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.16-1.64; I2, 13.1%; P = 0.330). A linear dose-response meta-analysis revealed that each additional 1 h/d of Internet use was associated with 8% increased odds of overweight and obesity (OR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.05-1.11; I2, 3.8%; P = 0.403). Findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that Internet use was positively associated with increased odds of being overweight and obese.

The Effects of Resveratrol on Oxidative Stress Markers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

OBJECTIVE: Recent trial studies have found that resveratrol supplementation beneficially reduces oxidative stress marker, but, there is no definitive consensus on this context. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of resveratrol supplementation on oxidative stress parameters. METHODS: We searched databases of Pubmed, Scopus and Cochrane Library up to December 2018 with no language restriction. Studies were reviewed according to preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) and Cochrane handbook. To compare the effects of resveratrol with placebo, weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled based on the random-effects model. RESULTS: Among sixteen clinical trials, we found that resveratrol supplementation increased GPx serum levels significantly (WMD: 18.61; 95% CI: 8.70 to 28.52; P<0.001) but had no significant effect on SOD concentrations (WMD: 1.01; 95% CI: -0.72 to 2.74; P= 0.25), MDA serum levels (WMD: -1.43; 95% CI: -3.46 to 0.61; P = 0.17) and TAC (WMD: -0.09; 95% CI: -0.29 to 0.11; P = 0.36) compared to placebo. Finally, we observed that resveratrol supplementation may not have a clinically significant effect on oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: However, the number of human trials is limited in this context, and further large prospective clinical trials are needed to confirm the effect of resveratrol supplement on oxidative stress markers.

Beneficial effects of green cardamom on serum SIRT1, glycemic indices and triglyceride levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Cardamom has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects which may help to remedy diseases. Studies on the health benefits of cardamom in diabetic patients are very limited. Thus, this study is designed to determine the effect of cardamom supplementation on blood lipids and glycemic indices in type 2 diabetic patients. To investigate the mechanism of cardamom effect on blood glucose and lipid levels, serum sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) was assessed. RESULTS: In a parallel, double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 83 overweight or obese type 2 diabetic patients were randomly allocated into an intervention (n = 41) or a control group (n = 42). The intervention and the placebo group received 3 g of green cardamom or rusk powder, respectively for 10 weeks. Physical activity level, dietary intake, anthropometric measurements (weight, height and waist circumference), glycemic indices [glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)], blood lipids [triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c)] and SIRT1 levels were measured. Body mass index and homeostasis model assessment as an index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated before and after intervention. Compared to the control group, a significant decrease in serum HbA1C (-0.4%), insulin (-2.8 µIU dL-1 ), HOMA-IR (-1.7) and TG (-39.9 mg dL-1 ), and an increase in SIRT1 (2.3 ng mL-1 ) was observed in cardamom group. There were no significant changes in serum TC, HDL-c and LDL-c levels between the two groups before and after adjustment for potential confounders including glyclaside dose, duration of disease and weight. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that cardamom can decrease HbA1c, insulin level, HOMA-IR and TG level via increase in SIRT1 concentration in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dairy intake and acne development: A meta-analysis of observational studies.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: In the past, some observational studies have been carried out on the relationship between milk and dairy intake and risk of acne occurrence; however, their results were conflicting. This study is a meta-analysis and dose-response analysis designed to evaluate the relationship between milk and dairy products and acne development. MATERIALS & METHODS: Data of the study were searched and collected from Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases. Study design, sex, age, exposure (i.e. dairy, milk, yogurt, cheese), dietary assessment method, acne ascertainment, total sample size, number of total subjects and cases in each category of exposure intake, OR, RR and PR with 95% CI in each category of exposure intake and adjusted variables were extracted. RESULTS: Highest compared with lowest category of dairy (OR: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.20 to 5.67), total milk (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.31 to 1.66), low-fat milk (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.43) and skim milk (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.34 to 2.47) intake significantly was associated with the presence of acne. Results of dose-response analysis revealed a significant linear relationship between dairy, whole milk and skim milk and risk of acne and nonlinear association between dairy, milk, low-fat milk and skim milk intake and acne. CONCLUSION: In this meta-analysis we found a positive relationship between dairy, total milk, whole milk, low-fat and skim milk consumption and acne occurrence. In contrary, no significant association between yogurt/cheese and acne development was observed.

The effects of green cardamom supplementation on blood glucose, lipids profile, oxidative stress, sirtuin-1 and irisin in type 2 diabetic patients: a study protocol for a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic activities of cardamom may improve diabetes. However, the effect of this spice has not been investigated in diabetic subjects. This study was planned to determine the effects of green cardamom on blood glucose, lipids and oxidative stress status in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS/DESIGN: Eighty overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes will be selected. They will be randomly assigned to receive 3 g/d green cardamom or placebo for 10 weeks. The socio demographic, physical activity and 24-h food recall questionnaires will be collected for each subject. Weight, height and waist circumference will be measured. Determination of blood glucose, lipid profile, and oxidative stress biomarkers including serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in red blood cells will be performed. The homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and the quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI) will be calculated. Also, serum levels of irisin, and Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) will be measured. DISCUSSION: This trial will be the first study to explore the effects of green cardamom supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profile and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The results from this trial will provide evidence on the efficacy of green cardamom in type 2 diabetes mellitus. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ( http://www.irct.ir , identifier: IRCT2016042717254N5), Registration date: 23.11.2016.

Higher dietary diversity is related to better visual and auditory sustained attention.

Attention is a complex cognitive function that is necessary for learning, for following social norms of behaviour and for effective performance of responsibilities and duties. It is especially important in sensitive occupations requiring sustained attention. Improvement of dietary diversity (DD) is recognised as an important factor in health promotion, but its association with sustained attention is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the association between auditory and visual sustained attention and DD. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 400 women aged 20-50 years who attended sports clubs at Tehran Municipality. Sustained attention was evaluated on the basis of the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test using Integrated Visual and Auditory software. A single 24-h dietary recall questionnaire was used for DD assessment. Dietary diversity scores (DDS) were determined using the FAO guidelines. The mean visual and auditory sustained attention scores were 40·2 (sd 35·2) and 42·5 (sd 38), respectively. The mean DDS was 4·7 (sd 1·5). After adjusting for age, education years, physical activity, energy intake and BMI, mean visual and auditory sustained attention showed a significant increase as the quartiles of DDS increased (P=0·001). In addition, the mean subscales of attention, including auditory consistency and vigilance, visual persistence, visual and auditory focus, speed, comprehension and full attention, increased significantly with increasing DDS (P<0·05). In conclusion, higher DDS is associated with better visual and auditory sustained attention.