The Effects of Vitamin B-Complex Supplementation on Serum Homocysteine Levels and Migraine Severity in Children A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Given that deficiency in B vitamins can lead to the accumulation of homocysteine (Hcy), and hyperhomocysteinemia may have a role in migraine pathogenesis, the present prospective randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin B-complex supplementation on the alleviation of migraine in children through a possible reduction in Hcy levels. Materials & Methods: Ninety children under 15 years of age suffering from typical migraine were included in the present trial. They were randomly assigned into two groups (forty-five patients in each group) to receive either vitamin B-complex or a matching placebo for six months. Serum Hcy levels and headache characteristics were evaluated and compared before and after administering vitamin B-complex or placebo. Results: Unlike the placebo group, the monthly headache frequency, severity of headache, headache disability, and serum Hcy levels were significantly decreased after the vitamin administration. The headache duration was not significantly different before and after the treatment. In the vitamin group, there were significant positive correlations between the frequency and severity, frequency and disability, and severity and disability of headaches. Hcy also had significant positive correlations with the frequency and disability of headaches. In the placebo group, the only found significant correlation was between headache frequency and disability. Conclusion: The administration of vitamin B-complex might effectively relieve migraine severity in children by reducing serum Hcy. However, further studies are needed to confirm the results.

The effects of ketogenic diet on beta-hydroxybutyrate, arachidonic acid, and oxidative stress in pediatric epilepsy.

The exact mechanism of a ketogenic diet (KD) as a suitable alternative therapeutic approach for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) in alleviating seizures is not yet fully understood. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of the KD in reducing oxidative stress (OS) by increasing the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and Arachidonic acid (ARA), an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid, as a possible mechanism in relieving seizure attacks in children with DRE. Forty children with refractory epilepsy were included in the present study. The serum levels of BHB, ARA, and OS markers, malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxyl-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), were evaluated in children with DRE and compared before and after the three months of KD therapy. Thirty-four of 40 included children could complete the three-month KD therapy. Twenty-one (61.76%) patients had more than a 50% reduction in seizure frequency after the KD (responders). The remaining 13 children were considered non-responders to the diet. The serum levels of ARA and BHB significantly (p < 0.05) increased after the KD therapy. The serum levels of OS parameters MDA and 8-OHdG before the diet therapy were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those after the administration. The serum levels of BHB and MDA after the KD therapy in the responders were respectively higher and lower than those in the non-responders (p < 0.001). Ketogenic diet might reduce brain OS by increasing BHB and ARA. The role of BHB in diminishing OS and seizure might be more remarkable than ARA.

A review of protein-phenolic acid interaction: reaction mechanisms and applications.

Phenolic acids (PA) are types of phytochemicals with health benefits. The interaction between proteins and PAs can cause minor or extensive changes in the structure of proteins and subsequently affect various protein properties. This study investigates the protein/PA (PPA) interaction and its effects on the structural, physicochemical, and functional properties of the system. This work particularly focused on the ability of PAs as a subgroup of phenolic compounds (PC) on the modification of proteins. Different aspects including the influence of structure affinity relationship and molecular weight of PA on the protein interaction have been discussed in this review. The physicochemical properties of PPA change mainly due to the change of hydrophilic/hydrophobic parts and/or the formation of some covalent and non-covalent interactions. Furthermore, PPA interactions affecting functional properties were discussed in separate sections. Due to insufficient studies on the interaction of PPAs, understanding the mechanism and also the type of binding between protein and PA can help to develop a new generation of PPA. These systems seem to have good capabilities in the formulation of low-fat foods like high internal Phase Emulsions, drug delivery systems, hydrogel structures, multifunctional fibers or packaging films, and 3 D printing in the meat processing industry.

Immobilization of α-amylase in ethylcellulose electrospun fibers using emulsion-electrospinning method.

α-Amylase encapsulated in water in oil (W/O) emulsion was prepared using poly ethylene glycol (PEG 10000) (2%w/v) as water phase and ethylcellulose (EC) in ethyl acetate as oil phase at the ratio of 10:90 v/v. Next, the electrospun fibers were prepared by mixing enzyme loaded emulsion with EC solution (20%w/v) in acetic acid/ethyl acetate (20:80 v/v) at the 2:1 ratio. The emulsion showed good physical stability. The immobilized enzyme showed high activity across a board range of pHs and temperatures. The storage stability of the immobilized enzyme was 2 fold of free enzyme activity after 45 days. The residual activity of immobilized α-amylase onto of fibers after 10 and 15 repeated cycles, was approximately 100% and 50%, respectively. The results of this study indicated that the α-amylase loaded EC fibers have acceptable activity against harsh conditions and excellent reusability.