A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, evaluating the sesamin supplement effects on proteolytic enzymes, inflammatory markers, and clinical indices in women with rheumatoid arthritis
Inflammation is one of the main characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis. Based on the
antiinflammatory properties of sesame, this study was conducted to evaluate the
sesamin supplement effects on serum levels of some proteolytic enzymes, inflammatory biomarkers, and clinical indices in women with rheumatoid arthritis. In this randomized, triple‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial, 44 patients were randomly divided in
intervention and control groups. Patients received 200‐mg/day sesamin supplement or
placebo in the intervention and control group for 6 weeks. Serum levels of proteolytic
enzymes (hyaluronidase, aggrecanase, and matrix metalloproteinases‐3) and inflammatory biomarkers (hs‐CRP, IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and cyclooxygenase‐2) were measured
with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method at the beginning and end of the
study. After intervention, serum levels of hyaluronidase and matrix
metalloproteinases‐3 decreased significantly in sesamin group. Also, serum levels of
hs‐CRP, TNF‐α, and cyclooxygenase‐2 in intervention group were significantly
decreased in intervention group compared with placebo group. Sesamin supplementation also caused a significant reduction in the number of tender joints and severity of
pain in these patients. According to the results, it seems that the sesamin by reducing
inflammatory mediators can relieve clinical symptoms and pathological changes that
caused by inflammatory impairment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
KEYWORDS
inflammatory factors, proteolytic enzymes, rheumatoid arthritis, sesami
