The effects of resveratrol on the expression of VEGF, TGF-β, and MMP-9 in endometrial stromal cells of women with endometriosis

Resveratrol is a phytochemical with anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The present study has evaluated the effect of resveratrol on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as factors related to endometriosis progression. Thirteen eutopic (EuESCs) and 8 ectopic (EESCs) endometrial stromal cells from women with endometriosis and 11 control endometrial stromal cells (CESCs) were treated with resveratrol (100 µM) for 6, 24 and 48 h. The gene and protein expression levels of VEGF, TGF-β, and MMP-9 were measured using real-time PCR and ELISA methods, respectively. Results showed that the basal gene and protein expression of VEGF and MMP-9 were higher in EESCs compared to EuESCs and CESCs (P < 0.01 to < 0.001 and P < 0.05 to < 0.01 respectively). Also, resveratrol treatment decreased the gene and protein expression of VEGF and MMP-9 in EuESCs, EESCs and CESCs (P < 0.05 to < 0.01 and P < 0.05 to < 0.01 respectively) and gene and protein expression of TGF-β in EESCs and EuESCs (P < 0.05 to < 0.01). The effect of resveratrol in reduction of VEGF gene expression was statistically more noticeable in EESCs compared to EuESCs and CESCs (P < 0.05). According to the findings, resveratrol may ameliorate endometriosis progression through reducing the expression of VEGF, TGF-β, and MMP-9 in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). © 2021, The Author(s)

The effect of ginger (Zingiber Officinale) as an ancient medicinal plant on improving blood lipids

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) is a plant that is used as a popular spice in foods, desserts and drinks all around the world. This plant is native to Asia and has been used since ancient times in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. To date, several properties of ginger such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulation activities have been studied and the effect of the plant to reduce pain and improve nausea and vomiting has been established. Among human and animal studies that have been carried out in recent years on the properties of ginger, some literature aimed to investigate the effect of this plant on blood lipids. In this review, we consider those studies and their possible enzymatic and molecular mechanisms regarding the effect of ginger on lipid profiles. © 201

CLA Has a Useful Effect on Bone Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, chronic disease which may increase the risk of osteoporosis. This study was carried out in order to examine the effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on bone markers in rheumatoid arthritis disease which is the most common autoimmune disease. The present study is a randomized double-blind clinical trial. Subjects included 52 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who were divided into two groups. Group I received standard treatment plus 2 daily 1.25 g capsules (Containing about 2 g of 9-cis 11-trans isomer and 10-cis 12-trans isomer in ratio of 50 �50 CLA in glycerinated form), Group II received standard treatment plus 2 Placebo 1.25 g capsules containing sunflower oil with high oleic acid. Telopeptides C, osteocalcin, and MMP3 were analyzed by ELISA method, PGE2 was done by competitive enzymatic immunoassay method, and IGF-1 was analyzed by the IRMA method based on the sandwich method and ALK-P of bone. Before and after the intervention, the questionnaires about general information, nutrition assessment and medical history were filled out by the subjects. Nutritional assessment was done by a 24-h record questionnaire for the three-day diet. The results were analyzed using SPSS software (version 18). Findings: There was no significant difference between the groups in enzyme activity of ALK-P of bone, PGE2 and MMP3 variables. However, differences between the two groups in terms of activity of telopeptides C, Osteocalcin, and IGF1 were significant (P &lt; 0.05). CLA has a potentially beneficial effect on bone markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, in order to study the effect of CLA on bone health in patients with RA and all patients with autoimmune and bone diseases more studies with longer duration and evaluation of bone mass density are required. © 2016, AOCS

Effects of probiotic and prebiotic supplementation on metabolic parameters, liver aminotransferases, and systemic inflammation in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized clinical trial

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of probiotic and prebiotic supplementation on the metabolic parameters, liver enzymes, and inflammation in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this study, patients with NAFLD were assigned to receive either probiotic capsule + placebo of prebiotic (probiotic group), oligofructose + placebo of probiotic (prebiotic group), or placebo of probiotic + placebo of prebiotic (control group) for 12 weeks. All participants followed a weight loss diet and physical activity recommendation during intervention. Anthropometric measurements decreased in all three groups, but there was no significant difference among groups. Probiotic supplementation was able to decrease triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase compared to control group. The serum levels of triglyceride, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, ALT, AST, and GGT differed significantly in prebiotic group in comparison to the placebo. High-sensitive C-reactive protein significantly decreased within all groups; however, there was no significant difference among groups after intervention. Probiotic and prebiotic may be beneficial in improving liver enzymes and lipid profile in patients with NAFLD. © 2020 Institute of Food TechnologistsÂ

Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation has no Impact on Aerobic Capacity of Healthy Young Men

Abstract This study investigated the effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the aerobic capacity and anthropometric measurements of humans. Although this effect has been shown in animal studies, human studies have reported controversial results. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, 80 non-trained healthy young men received a 50:50 mixture of cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10 cis-12 CLA (CLA 4 � 0.8 g day-1) ora placebo (PLA; soybean oil) in an 8-week intervention. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), time to exhaustion, weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured. CLA had no effect on VO2 max (p = 0.5) also no change was seen in time to exhaustion (p = 0.51), weight (p = 0.7), BMI (p = 0.7) and WC (p = 0.8) vs PLA. Our results suggest that CLA has no significant effect on VO2 max, time to exhaustion and anthropometric measurements in untrained healthy young male students. © 2015 AOCS

The effect of ginger supplementation on some immunity and inflammation intermediate genes expression in patients with active Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ginger supplementation on the expression of some immunity and inflammation intermediate genes in patients who suffer from RA. Methods: In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, seventy active RA patients were allocated randomly into two groups who either received 1500 mg ginger powder or placebo daily for 12 weeks. Disease activity score and gene expression of NF-κB, PPAR-γ FoxP3, T-bet, GATA-3, and RORγt as immunity and inflammation intermediate factors were measured using quantitative real-time PCR before and after the intervention. Results: After the intervention, FoxP3 genes expression increased significantly within ginger group and between the two groups (P-value = 0.02). Besides, T-bet and RORγt genes expression decreased significantly between the two groups (P-value < 0.05). In ginger group, PPAR-γ genes expression increased significantly (P-value = 0.047) but the difference between the two groups wasn't statistically significant (P-value = 0.12). The reduction in disease activity score was statistically significant within ginger group and between the two groups after the intervention. Conclusion: It seems that ginger can improve RA by decreasing disease manifestations via increasing FoxP3 genes expression and by decreasing RORγt and T-bet genes expression. © 201

The effect of saffron supplement on clinical outcomes and metabolic profiles in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune and inflammatory disease. Our study aimed to determine the effect of saffron supplement on clinical outcomes and metabolic profiles in patients with active RA. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 66 women older than 18 years old received 100 mg/day either saffron supplement in the intervention group (n = 33) or matched placebo in the placebo group (n = 33) for a period of 12 weeks. Sixty-one patients (30 in the control and 31 in the saffron group) remained for the final analysis. No adverse effects were reported by the patients. Saffron supplementation significantly decreased the number of tender (�1.38 ± 1.66 vs. 0.10 ± 0.40, p .05). According to the results, saffron supplements could positively and significantly improve clinical outcomes in RA patients. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

The effect of Cornus mas fruit extract consumption on lipid profile, glycemic indices, and leptin in postmenopausal women� A randomized clinical trial

Menopause, which occurs following a declined ovarian activity and reduced estrogen levels, can lead to long-term changes in lipid and glycemic profiles and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants, which appears to be useful in reducing the postmenopausal complications. This interventional, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial carried out on 84 menopaused women aged 45�60 years old. They were randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group received three capsules of 300 mg of Cornus mas extract (CME), and control group received three capsules of 300 mg of starch powder per day for 8 weeks. Then, BMI, waist circumference, glycemic indices, lipid profile, serum apoproteinase, apoprotein B100, fibrinogen, and leptin were measured. The dietary intakes were evaluated using 24-hr dietary recall questionnaire. The consumption of CME in comparison with the control group resulted in a significant reduction in weight, body mass index, waist circumference, LDL to HDL ratio, total cholesterol to HDL ratio, and fibrinogen. There was also a significant increase in HDL and ApoA1 levels in the treatment group. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in BMI, waist circumference, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance index after 8 weeks of using CME. Summing up the results, it can be concluded that CME can have possible effects on decreasing BMI, waist circumference, and improving some aspects of lipid profile and glycemic indices in postmenopausal women. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd