The Influence of β-Alanine Supplementation on Recovery Biomarkers in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Clinical studies, investigating the effect of β-Alanine (BA) supplementation on recovery biomarkers in physically active individuals, have generated inconsistent results. This systematic review and meta-analysis study aimed to clarify the clinically relevant dietary effects of BA supplementation. Methods: A comprehensive search was done in the electronic databases of Scopus, PubMed, ISI Web of Science and Embase from inception to 2022. Meta-analysis was done using the random-effects model. Pooled effect size was evaluated using standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity of between-study was evaluated according to Cochran’s Q test and I2 . Subgroup analysis was conducted to identify the potential sources of heterogeneity. Results: Overall, 32 studies were included in the current study. The results suggested that BA supplementation increases carnosine level significantly (SMD: 0.22mmol/L, 95%CI: -0.17, 0.61, P=0.27) but no effect was shown about lactate, fatigue, VO2 , pH and bicarbonate (HCO3 - ) (P>0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed a significant association of VO2, carnosine and fatigue with supplementation dosage, gender and duration of administration respectively. Conclusion: BA supplementation emerged its beneficial effects on enhancing carnosine level which highlights its ergogenic effects. In contrast, no significant effects had been shown in term of fatigue delay and blood levels of lactate, HCO3 - , pH, and VO2 value. These results warrant more investigation in a prospective design to clarify the exact mechanism in this way

Protein biomarkers of neural system.

The utilization of biomarkers for in vivo and in vitro research is growing rapidly. This is mainly due to the enormous potential of biomarkers in evaluating molecular and cellular abnormalities in cell models and in tissue, and evaluating drug responses and the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention strategies. An important way to analyze the development of the human body is to assess molecular markers in embryonic specialized cells, which include the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. Neuronal development is controlled through the gene networks in the neural crest and neural tube, both components of the ectoderm. The neural crest differentiates into several different tissues including, but not limited to, the peripheral nervous system, enteric nervous system, melanocyte, and the dental pulp. The neural tube eventually converts to the central nervous system. This review provides an overview of the differentiation of the ectoderm to a fully functioning nervous system, focusing on molecular biomarkers that emerge at each stage of the cellular specialization from multipotent stem cells to completely differentiated cells. Particularly, the otic placode is the origin of most of the inner ear cell types such as neurons, sensory hair cells, and supporting cells. During the development, different auditory cell types can be distinguished by the expression of the neurogenin differentiation factor1 (Neuro D1), Brn3a, and transcription factor GATA3. However, the mature auditory neurons express other markers including βIII tubulin, the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT1), the tyrosine receptor kinase B and C (Trk B, C), BDNF, neurotrophin 3 (NT3), Calretinin, etc. KEYWORDS: Biomarker; Differentiation; Nervous system; Neural system; Otic placode; Stem cel

The effect of family support on anxiety and depression in pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies hospitalized in the third trimester of pregnancy: Results of randomized controlled trial

Background. During pregnancy, it is crucial to minimize maternal anxiety to maintain the mental and physical health of both the mother and fetus, especially in high-risk pregnancies. This study aimed to investigate the effect of family support on decreasing depressive and anxiety symptoms in women hospitalized with high-risk pregnancies in their third trimester. Methods. This randomized controlled clinical trial was performed on 70 high-risk pregnant women in their third trimester. Samples were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group walked for five weeks, five days a week, with their spouse or a family member for half an hour a day in the hospital. The control group received routine care. Participants completed the Spielberger Anxiety and Beck Depression Inventory once before and once a week during the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS.21 software using ANCOVA, independent t-test, and Mann-Whitney U. Results. Results showed that the subjects were homogeneous in terms of mean overall score of anxiety before the intervention, and there is no significant difference between the intervention group 43.2 (±2.93) and the control group 42.63 (±3.3) (P=0.53). Statistical tests showed that, three weeks after the intervention, the mean anxiety score in the study group decreased significantly, and there was a significant difference in the mean anxiety score of women in the intervention 41.3(±3.07) and control 42.12(±3.6) groups (P=0.032). On the other hand, the level of state anxiety in the study group decreased (P=0.03). The results showed that the depression score after the intervention in the study group decreased significantly (P=0.001). Conclusion. Anxiety level and depression score decreased after the intervention. Practical Implications. The current study's results showed that talking to a spouse or relatives during pregnancy can increase women's peace of mind, and social support during hospitalization can reduce the anxiety and depression of the pregnant mother. Therefore, using such methods will be beneficial for the pregnant mother

Vitamin D Status in Preeclamptic and Non-preeclamptic Pregnant Women: A Case-Con­trol Study in the North West of Iran

Background: There are few studies on the vitamin D status in preeclamptic women. The objective of this case-control study was to determine vitamin D status, in preeclamptic women and compare it with that of healthy pregnant controls. Methods: Forty preeclamptic women, aged 18 to 45yr and forty age- and pregnancy weight-matched healthy controls participated in the study. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were meas­ured and its levels of <10, 10-30, 30-90 and >90 nanogram per milliliter (ng/ml) were considered as vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, sufficiency, and toxicity, respectively. Results: Sixty and forty percent of preeclamptic women were vitamin D deficient and insufficient, while in the control group they were 10% and 90%, respectively. No significant difference was found in the median intake of vitamin D between preeclamptic and non preeclamptic women (1.45 and 1.20µg/day respectively), but serum 25(OH)D concentration was significantly lower in preeclamptic cases compared to controls (10.09 ± 6.66 and 15.73 ± 5.85ng /ml respectively, P= 0.002). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is common among preeclamptic and non-preeclamptic pregnant women in the north-west of Iran. Preeclampsia can cause decreasing of serum level of 25(OH)D

Quercetin and polycystic ovary syndrome, current evidence and future directions: a systematic review

Abstract Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a polygenic endocrine disorder and the most common gynecological endocrinopathy among reproductive-aged women. Current remedies are often used only to control its signs and symptoms, while they are not thoroughly able to prevent complications. Quercetin is an herbal bioactive flavonoid commonly used for the treatment of metabolic and inflammatory disorders. Thus, this systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of quercetin supplementation in subjects with PCOS. Databases until March 2019 were searched. All human clinical trials and animal models evaluating the effects of quercetin on PCOS women were included. Out of 253 articles identified in our search, 8 eligible articles (5 animal studies and 3 clinical trials) were reviewed. The majority of studies supported the beneficial effects of quercetin on the ovarian histomorphology, folliculogenesis, and luteinisation processes. The effects of quercetin on reducing the levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and insulin resistance were also reported. Although quercetin improved dyslipidemia, no significant effect was reported for weight loss. It is suggested that the benefits of quercetin may be more closely related to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory features of quercetin rather than weight-reducing effects. Therefore, this review article provides evidence that quercetin could be considered as a potential agent to attenuate PCOS complications. However, due to the paucity of high-quality clinical trials, further studies are needed

Mechanistic and therapeutic insight into the effects of cinnamon in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review

Abstract Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine diseases in the women at their reproductive age. Nowadays, the use of herbal compounds for lesser side effects, as compared to drug treatments, has become popular for the prevention and reduction of the complications of this disease. Evidence suggests that cinnamon, given its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, can be associated with reduced metabolic complications from chronic non-communicable diseases. This systematic review aimed to determine the potential effect of cinnamon on the metabolic status in the PCOS. PICO framework for current systematic review was Population (P): subjects with PCOS; Intervention (I): oral cinnamon supplement; Comparison (C): the group as control or administered placebo; and Outcome (O): changed inflammatory, oxidative stress, lipid profile, glycemic, hormonal and anthropometric parameters and ovarian function. PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, ProQuest and Google Scholar were searched from their very inception until January, 2020, considering specific keywords to explore the related studies. Out of 266 studies retrieved by the search strategy, only nine were eligible for evaluation. All clinical trials, animal studies, and published English-language journal studies were eligible for this review. The results showed that increased high-density lipoprotein and insulin sensitivity were increased by the cinnamon supplementation while low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and blood glucose were decreased in patients with PCOS. However, the results related to the potential effects of cinnamon on body weight and body mass index were inconsistent, thus calling for further studies. Also, despite improved results regarding the effect of cinnamon on oxidative stress and ovarian function, further studies are required to explore the precise mechanisms. Overall, the effects of cinnamon on the improvement of metabolic status in PCOS were promising. However, to observe clinical changes following cinnamon supplementation in PCOS, more clinical trials with higher doses of cinnamon and a longer duration of intervention are needed