Effects of probiotic and alpha-lipoic acid supplements, separately or in combination on the anthropometric indicators and maintenance of weight in overweight individuals

Background & aims: Weight loss after proper diet is one of the main topics in nutrition. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of probiotic and alpha-Lipoic acid (ALA) supplements on the anthropometric indicators and maintenance of weight in overweight individuals. Methods: This study consisted of two phases of weight loss (8 weeks) and weight maintenance (16 weeks). Eighty-eight overweight participants were randomly divided into 4 groups in phase 1: isocaloric diet with probiotic (500 mg), an isocaloric diet with ALA (600 mg) and probiotic, an isocaloric diet with ALA and isocaloric diet with placebo. In phase 2, participants received a normal diet with the mentioned supplements. In the beginning, end of the phase 1, and at the end of phase 2, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), body fat percentage, and blood pressure (BP) were measured. Also, 10 cc blood samples were taken from subjects to measure C-reactive protein (CRP). Data was analyzed using SPSS software. Results: At the end of the two phases, the differences of changes in the probiotic þ ALA group was significant in weight, WC, and CRP factors when compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Also, at the end of the study, maintain a reduced weight was significantly higher in the probiotic þ ALA group than in the other groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to findings, probiotics and ALA supplementation with normal diet help to maintain decreased weight after adhering to a weight loss diet. This may be due to the reduction of inflammation

Study of the protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract microemulsion of Teucrium polium .L against bromobenzene -induced hepatotoxicity in mice

Background : Liver is a major organ of the body, which can be exposed to various chemicals, drugs and many other xenobiotics such as bromobenzene. The aim of this study was to find out the protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract microemulsion of Teucrium polium against hepatotoxicity induced by bromobenzene. Materials and Methods: Animals were divided into eight groups, with ten animals in each group. Group 1-3 received respectively normal saline base of microemulsion and extract microemulsions in dose of 400 mg/kg orally for 10 days. Group 4 received bromobenzene (0.36 ml/kg, ip) only on the 10th day groups 5-8 received extract microemulsions orally in doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively, during 10 days and bromobenzene (0.36 ml/kg, ip) on the 10th day 1 hour after last dose of extract. 24 hours later, the animals were bled and enzymes ALT, AST and ALP were measured. Animal liver was removed for histological studies. Results: The results showed a significant increase in liver enzyme activity by bromobenzene. The treated groups with Teucrium polium showed a significant decrease in liver enzyme activity in doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg (P<0.05). Histological observations also confirmed the results. Conclusion: The results revealed that hydroalcoholic extract microemulsion of Teucrium polium has protective effect on liver toxicity induced by bromobenzen

The effect of Ellagic acid on sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized double blind clinical trial

Background Oxidative stress can reduce the quality of sleep in patients with type 2 diabetes. Antioxidants such as polyphenols may increase sleep quality by improving oxidative stress conditions. Objective Considering the antioxidant properties of Ellagic acid (EA), this study was designed to evaluate the effect of EA on sleep quality in diabetic patients. Methods In this study, 44 diabetic patients were recruited. Patients who met the inclusion criteria that were randomly allocated consumed a capsule containing 180 mg of EA per day (n = 22) or placebo (n = 22) for 8 weeks. Anthropometric factors, physical activity, food intake, and Petersburg’s Sleep Quality (PSQI) questionnaire were assessed at the beginning and end of the study. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, paired sample t test and independent sample t test were used to analyze the data. Results At the end of the study, the mean scores of PSQI and sleep subgroups in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the placebo group (p 0.05). Conclusion According to these findings, intake of EA may help to improve the sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes. These effects may be due to the antioxidant effects of this polyphenol

The effect of Ellagic acid on sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized double blind clinical trial

Background Oxidative stress can reduce the quality of sleep in patients with type 2 diabetes. Antioxidants such as polyphenols may increase sleep quality by improving oxidative stress conditions. Objective Considering the antioxidant properties of Ellagic acid (EA), this study was designed to evaluate the effect of EA on sleep quality in diabetic patients. Methods In this study, 44 diabetic patients were recruited. Patients who met the inclusion criteria that were randomly allocated consumed a capsule containing 180 mg of EA per day (n = 22) or placebo (n = 22) for 8 weeks. Anthropometric factors, physical activity, food intake, and Petersburg’s Sleep Quality (PSQI) questionnaire were assessed at the beginning and end of the study. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, paired sample t test and independent sample t test were used to analyze the data. Results At the end of the study, the mean scores of PSQI and sleep subgroups in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the placebo group (p  0.05). Conclusion According to these findings, intake of EA may help to improve the sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes. These effects may be due to the antioxidant effects of this polyphenol

The effect of Ellagic acid on sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized double blind clinical trial

Background Oxidative stress can reduce the quality of sleep in patients with type 2 diabetes. Antioxidants such as polyphenols may increase sleep quality by improving oxidative stress conditions. Objective Considering the antioxidant properties of Ellagic acid (EA), this study was designed to evaluate the effect of EA on sleep quality in diabetic patients. Methods In this study, 44 diabetic patients were recruited. Patients who met the inclusion criteria that were randomly allocated consumed a capsule containing 180 mg of EA per day (n = 22) or placebo (n = 22) for 8 weeks. Anthropometric factors, physical activity, food intake, and Petersburg’s Sleep Quality (PSQI) questionnaire were assessed at the beginning and end of the study. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, paired sample t test and independent sample t test were used to analyze the data. Results At the end of the study, the mean scores of PSQI and sleep subgroups in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the placebo group (p < 0.05). According to intragroup comparisons, these changes were significant in the intervention group at the end of the study compared to the beginning of the study (p 0.05). Conclusion According to these findings, intake of EA may help to improve the sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes. These effects may be due to the antioxidant effects of this polyphenol

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial studying the effects of Turmeric in combination with mefenamic acid in patients with primary dysmenorrhoea

Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) is one of the common complaints in women. This study aimed to assess the effects of turmeric and mefenamic acid and a combination compared with placebo on PDM. This clinical trial was conducted on dormitory students with PDM. Subjects completed the visual analog scale (VAS) before randomization. One hundred twenty-eight patients, randomly assigned to one of following groups: Turmeric group (n = 32), mefenamic acid group (n = 32), turmeric and mefenamic acid group (n = 32), and placebo group (n = 32). Turmeric and mefenamic acid were administrated in 500 mg and 250 mg, respectively. Pain severity was assessed in the baseline and the end line by VAS. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. The combination of turmeric and mefenamic acid, dramatically, alleviated pain in comparison to other groups. Our results illustrated that combination of turmeric and mefenamic acid would be better in pain alleviation in PDM

The determination of zearalenone levels in wheat flour of bakeries in Khorramabad city by high performance liquid chromatography

Background : Zearalenone is an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species and is of particular interest because of its widespread occurrence and strong estrogenic effects. Wheat and its flour is amongst the most important food and feeds sources that may become contaminated with zearalenone. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the zearalenone concentration in wheat flour. Materials and Methods: After extraction of zearalenone from wheat flour samples with extraction solvent acetonitrile - water, toxin purification step was conducted using immunoaffinity columns. Samples were analyzed by HPLC using C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm ID, 5µm) with a fluorescence detector, mobile phase of acetonitrile-water (3:2 v/v) at flow rate of 1ml/min. Results: Results of the study showed that the level of found zearalenone in 5% of the samples was higher than maximum level of 200 μg/kg. The mean concentration of zearalenone in samples was 54 µg/kg. LOD and LOQ of this method were 3.5 and 10 ng/g respectively. Conclusion: Although the mean concentration of zearalenone in investigated wheat flour samples was lower than the maximum level recommended by the Codex Alimentations, but high incidence of zearalenone in these samples indicates the need for improving storage conditions in order to reduce the incidence and level of zearalenone contamination in sample

Examining the oleoylethanolamide supplement effects on glycemic status, oxidative stress, inflammation, and anti-mullerian hormone in polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract Objective This clinical trial was designed and conducted due to the anti-inflammatory potential of Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) to examine the effect of OEA supplement on glycemic status, oxidative stress, inflammatory factors, and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Method This study was a randomized clinical trial, double-blinded, placebo-controlled that was carried out on 90 women with PCOS. Patients were divided into two groups: receiving an OEA supplement (n = 45) or a placebo (n = 45). The intervention group received 125 mg/day OEA and the placebo group received the wheat flour for 8 weeks. Demographic data were collected through questionnaires. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin resistance (IR), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and AMH were measured before and after the study. Results Data analysis of food recall and physical activity questionnaires, showed no significant differences between the two groups (p > 0.05). Biochemical factors including glycemic status, MDA, inflammatory factors, and AMH decreased significantly (p < 0.05). TAC increased remarkably (p < 0.05) in comparison between the two groups, after the intervention. Conclusion OEA supplement with anti-inflammatory characteristics could be efficient independent of diet changes and physical activity in improving disrupted biochemical factors, so both supplementation or food resources of this fatty acid could be considered as a compensatory remedy in patients with PCOS. Trial Registration This study was retrospectively (09-01-2022) registered in the Iranian website ( www.irct.ir ) for registration of clinical trials (IRCT20141025019669N20)

Randomized double-blind clinical trial examining the Ellagic acid effects on glycemic status, insulin resistance, antioxidant, and inflammatory factors in patients with type 2 diabetes

Oxidative stress can worsen glycemic status. Considering the antioxidant properties of Ellagic acid (EA), this study was designed to evaluate the effect of EA on glycemic indices, lipid profile, oxidative stress, and inflammation status in type 2 diabetic patients. Overall, 44 patients were recruited and were randomly allocated consumed 180 mg of EA per day (n = 22) or placebo (n = 22) for 8 weeks. The blood sugar (BS), insulin, insulin resistance (IR), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), C-reactive protein (CRP), TNF-α and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured at the beginning and end of the study. At the end of the study, the mean of BS, insulin, IR, HbA1c, TC, TG, LDL, MDA, CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly decreased in the intervention group (p <.05). Also, the mean of TAC (+0.8 ± 0.01) and activity of GPx (+10.26 ± 0.22) and SOD enzymes (+459.6 ± 9.76) significantly increased in the intervention group (p <.05). EA supplementation can be helpful as a diet supplement in patients with type 2 diabetes through improvement in chronic adverse effects