The effect of evening primrose oil on fatigue and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive and inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by demyelination in the central nervous system. In regard to the prevalence of diseases and enormous costs imposed on society and the health system, finding a way to stop the progression of the disease using drugs with fewer side effects seems a serious sanitation issue to the health of the international community. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of evening primrose oil (EPO) on fatigue and quality of life in patients with MS. Materials and methods In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 52 patients with MS were chosen and categorized into 2 groups which received 2 doses of EPO and placebo. In addition, the quality of life and fatigue scale in these patients were investigated before the treatment and again 3 months after therapy. The findings were then compared between the 2 groups. Result EPO consumption significantly increased cognitive function, vitality, and overall life satisfaction and also reduced pain and fatigue compared to placebo (P<0.05). Conclusion Our findings indicated that EPO consumption had no impact on the quality of life in general; however, it had a significant effect on several important aspects of life quality such as the increase of cognitive function, vitality, and overall life satisfaction. It also reduced the pain and fatigue in comparison to the placebo consumption. Herbal medicines are brittle and have fewer side effects than chemical drugs. With use of this plant, reduced fatigue and improved quality of life were observed in MS patients. But the drug did not prevent the progression of the disease. Keywords: cognitive function, vitality, overall life satisfaction, pain, fatigu

The effect of evening primrose oil on fatigue and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis

Nastaran Majdinasab,1 Foroogh Namjoyan,2 Mohsen Taghizadeh,3 Hamid Saki4 1Department of Neurology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, Ahvaz, Iran; 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Marine Natural Pharmaceutical Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; 3Department of Nutrition, Research Center for Biochemistry &amp; Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran; 4Department of Neurology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive and inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by demyelination in the central nervous system. In regard to the prevalence of diseases and enormous costs imposed on society and the health system, finding a way to stop the progression of the disease using drugs with fewer side effects seems a serious sanitation issue to the health of the international community. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of evening primrose oil (EPO) on fatigue and quality of life in patients with MS.Materials and methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 52 patients with MS were chosen and categorized into 2 groups which received 2 doses of EPO and placebo. In addition, the quality of life and fatigue scale in these patients were investigated before the treatment and again 3 months after therapy. The findings were then compared between the 2 groups.Result: EPO consumption significantly increased cognitive function, vitality, and overall life satisfaction and also reduced pain and fatigue compared to placebo (P&lt;0.05).Conclusion: Our findings indicated that EPO consumption had no impact on the quality of life in general; however, it had a significant effect on several important aspects of life quality such as the increase of cognitive function, vitality, and overall life satisfaction. It also reduced the pain and fatigue in comparison to the placebo consumption. Herbal medicines are brittle and have fewer side effects than chemical drugs. With use of this plant, reduced fatigue and improved quality of life were observed in MS patients. But the drug did not prevent the progression of the disease. Keywords: cognitive function, vitality, overall life satisfaction, pain, fatigue&nbsp

Relationship Between Voice and Motor Disabilities of Parkinson's Disease

To evaluate voice of Iranian patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and find any relationship between motor disabilities and acoustic voice parameters as speech motor components. We evaluated 27 Farsi-speaking PD patients and 21 age- and sex-matched healthy persons as control. Motor performance was assessed by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III and Hoehn and Yahr rating scale in the �on� state. Acoustic voice evaluation, including fundamental frequency (f0), standard deviation of f0, minimum of f0, maximum of f0, shimmer, jitter, and harmonic to noise ratio, was done using the Praat software via /a/ prolongation. No difference was seen between the voice of the patients and the voice of the controls. f0 and its variation had a significant correlation with the duration of the disease, but did not have any relationships with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III. Only limited relationship was observed between voice and motor disabilities. Tremor is an important main feature of PD that affects motor and phonation systems. Females had an older age at onset, more prolonged disease, and more severe motor disabilities (not statistically significant), but phonation disorders were more frequent in males and showed more relationship with severity of motor disabilities. Voice is affected by PD earlier than many other motor components and is more sensitive to disease progression. Tremor is the most effective part of PD that impacts voice. PD has more effect on voice of male versus female patients. © 2016 The Voice Foundatio

Iranian consensus on use of vitamin D in patients with multiple sclerosis

Background: Accumulating evidences from experimental, epidemiologic and clinical studies support the potential linkage between poor vitamin D status and the risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis (MS), as well as, an adverse disease course. However, the results of the trials on the clinical outcomes of vitamin D supplementation in MS patients are less consistent which brought many discrepancies in routine practice. In this article we presented a summary of a symposium on vitamin D and MS. In this symposium we aim to review the current data about the relationship between vitamin D and MS, and suggest management guides for practicing neurologists. Discussion: Generally, supplementation seems to be reasonable for all MS and clinically isolated syndrome (Rinaldi et al., Toxins 7:129-37, 2015) patients with serum 25(OH)D level below 40ng/ml. In patients with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency, a large replacing dose (e.g. 50,000IU capsules of D per week for 8-12 week) is recommended. Panel also suggested: the checking of the serum vitamin D, and calcium level, as well as, patients' compliance after the initial phase; a maintenance treatment of 1500-2000IU daily or equivalent intermittent (weekly, biweekly or monthly) Dose, considering the patient's compliance; routine check of serum vitamin D level at least two times a year especially at the beginning of spring and autumn; Serum vitamin D evaluation for first degree relatives of MS patients at high risk age and supplementation in case of insufficiency (25(OH)D less than 40 ng/ml); correction of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency before pregnancy, as well as, a daily dose of 1500-2000IU or equivalent biweekly intake in 2nd and 3rd trimesters; stopping supplementation if 25(OH)D serum level exceeds 100ng/ml. Summary: Although the results of high power studies are not available, correcting vitamin D status seems plausible in all MS and CIS patients. Maintaining the serum 25(OH)D level between 40 and 100 ng/ml is not known to exert adverse effect. More ever, it might be associated with lower disease activity. © 2016 Jahromi et al