Protective effects of vitamins/antioxidants on occupational noise induced hearing loss: A systematic review

Objectives: Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) due to industrial, military, and other job related noise exposure can cause harmful health issues to occupied workers, but may also be potentially preventable. Vitamins/antioxidant have been studied as therapeutic strategies to prevent and/or delay the risks of human diseases as well as NIHL. So, this study was conducted to systematically review the protective effects of vitamins/ antioxidants on occupational noise induced hearing loss. Methods: Online databases including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were systematically searched up to 12.January 2021. Based on 6336 potentially relevant records identified through the initial search in the databases, twelve full-text publications were retrieved, one of which can be viewed as two separate trials, because it has studied the effects of two different antioxidants (Ginseng and NAC) on NIHL, separately. Results: A review of the studies show that vitamin B12, folic acid, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) have a considerable protective effect on NIHL. However, these protective effects are not yet specified in different frequencies. The findings regarding the protective effects of other antioxidants are inconsistent in this field. Conclusion: Vitamin B12, folic acid, and NAC may have a protective effect as an antioxidant on reducing occupational hearing loss. For a conclusive evidence of vitamins/antioxidants protective therapies, future studies with precise criteria for noise exposure and similar outcome parameters are required

The impact of probiotic yogurt consumption on lipid profiles in subjects with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background and aims: Potential beneficial effect of probiotic yogurt on the lipid profile has raised much interest. However, the results are inconsistent in this regard. The aim of the study is to determine the effects of probiotic yogurt on serum lipid profile in individuals with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia. Methods and results: Online databases including PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Science Direct, Google Scholar and Igaku Chuo Zasshi were searched until March 19th 2019. The effect sizes were expressed as the weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95 confidence interval (CI). Seven eligible trials with 274 participants were included in this systematic review. Pooling of 9 effect sizes from these seven articles revealed a significant reduction in total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels following probiotic yogurt consumption (mean difference: �8.73 mg/dl, 95 CI: �15.98, �1.48, p-value = 0.018 and mean difference: �10.611 mg/dl, 95 CI: �16.529, �4.693, p-value = 0.000, respectively) without significant heterogeneity among the studies (I2 = 40.6, p-value = 0.1 and I2 = 24.2, p-value = 0.229, respectively). The results showed no significant changes in high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Also, none of the variables showed a significant change for sensitivity analysis. Conclusion: Available evidence suggests that probiotic yogurt can significantly reduce total cholesterol and LDL-c in subjects with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia without a significant effect on HDL-c and triglyceride levels. © 2019 The Italian Society of Diabetology, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II Universit

The effect of honey on lipid profiles: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Controlled Clinical Trials

Honey is known not only as a natural food but also as complementary medicine. According to the controversial evidence about the effects of honey on blood lipids, this meta-analysis was performed to investigate the potential effects of honey on lipid profiles. Relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. All human controlled clinical trials (either with a parallel or a crossover design) published in English that reported changes in serum lipid markers (Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C), High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C), and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio) following honey consumption were considered. Standardized Mean Differences (SMDs) and their respective 95 Confidence Intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the changes in lipid profiles following honey consumption by random effects model. Statistical heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, publication bias, and quality of the included studies were assessed, as well. The meta-analysis of 23 trials showed that honey had no significant effects on TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio. Significant heterogeneity was seen among the studies for all the studied factors (I2 index > 50). Subgroup analysis based on the lipid profile status, types of honey, and intervention duration revealed no significant effect on TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C. Quality of the evidences varied form very low to moderate according to various parameters. In conclusion, honey consumption did not affect serum lipid profiles (TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio). © 2021 Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved

The Impact of Low Advanced Glycation End Products Diet on Metabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Several randomized clinical trials have investigated the effect of dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on metabolic syndrome risk factors in adults. However, the results of these studies were conflicting. Therefore, our aim was to assess the effect of dietary AGEs on metabolic syndrome risk factors. We searched the PubMed-MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Databases, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Embase databases for papers published up to October 2019 that investigated the effect of dietary AGEs on metabolic syndrome risk factors. From the eligible trials, 13 articles were selected for inclusion in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was determined by I2 statistics and Cochrane Q test. Pooled results from the random-effects model showed a significant reduction for insulin resistance weighted mean difference (WMD): -1.204; 95% CI: -2.057, -0.358; P = 0.006, fasting insulin (WMD: -5.472 μU/mL; 95% CI: -9.718, -1.234 μU/mL; P = 0.011), total cholesterol (WMD: -5.486 mg/dL; 95% CI: -10.222, -0.747 mg/dL; P = 0.023), and LDL (WMD: -6.263 mg/dL; 95% CI: -11.659, -0.866 mg/dL; P = 0.023) in the low-AGEs groups compared with the high-AGEs groups. There were no changes in the other components of the metabolic syndrome. The results of this review suggest that a diet with a low AGEs content has beneficial effects on insulin resistance, fasting insulin, total cholesterol, and LDL. Moreover, following a diet low in AGEs may be a helpful strategy to decrease the burden of metabolic syndrome risk factors in adults and particularly in patients with diabetes. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition