Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Epidemiological studies have shown that dietary flavonoids are inversely related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to determine whether quercetin supplementation can improve inflammatory factors, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and quality of life (QOL) in patients following MI. This randomized double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial was conducted on 88 post‐MI patients. Participants were randomly assigned into quercetin (n = 44) and placebo groups (n = 44) receiving 500 mg/day quercetin or placebo tablets for 8 weeks. Quercetin supplementation significantly increased serum TAC compared to placebo (Difference: 0.24 (0.01) mmol/L and 0.00 (0.00) mmol/L respectively; p < .001). TNF‐α levels significantly decreased in the quercetin group (p = .009); this was not, however, significant compared to the placebo group. As for QOL dimensions, quercetin significantly lowered the scores of insecurity (Difference: −0.66 (12.5) and 0.00 (5.55) respectively; p < .001). No significant changes in IL‐6, hs‐CRP, blood pressure and other QOL dimensions were observed between the two groups. Quercetin supplementation (500 mg/day) in post‐MI patients for 8 weeks significantly elevated TAC and improved the insecurity dimension of QOL, but failed to show any significant effect on inflammatory factors, blood pressure and other QOL dimensions.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia that affects millions of individuals worldwide. It is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by memory loss, impaired learning and thinking, and difficulty in performing regular daily activities. Despite nearly two decades of collective efforts to develop novel medications that can prevent or halt the disease progression, we remain faced with only a few options with limited effectiveness. There has been a recent growth of interest in the role of nutrition in brain health as we begin to gain a better understanding of what and how nutrients affect hormonal and neural actions that not only can lead to typical cardiovascular or metabolic diseases but also an array of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Vitamins and minerals, also known as micronutrients, are elements that are indispensable for functions including nutrient metabolism, immune surveillance, cell development, neurotransmission, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this review, we provide an overview on some of the most common vitamins and minerals and discuss what current studies have revealed on the link between these essential micronutrients and cognitive performance or AD.

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Objective The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of probiotic/synbiotic supplementation on anthropometric measures in adults with diabetes, independent of body weight. Methods PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up until December 14, 2022. The effect sizes were pooled using an inverse-variance random-effects model. The methodological quality of studies as well as the quality of evidence was assessed using standard tools. Results Thirty-two RCTs met the established inclusion criteria. Overall, compared with the respective control groups, probiotic/synbiotic supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in body weight (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -0.50 kg; 95% CI: -0.83, -0.17; I2 = 79.8%, n = 27 studies]), body mass index (WMD: -0.24 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.39, -0.09; I2 = 85.7%, n = 30 studies), and waist circumference (WMD: -0.90 cm; 95% CI: -1.13, -0.52; I2 = 0%, n = 11 studies). However, hip circumference and waist to hip ratio were not significantly improved. Conclusions Our analysis revealed that probiotic/synbiotic supplementation may assist with weight management in patients with diabetes, especially when consumed at higher doses, in younger adults, and in participants with obesity. However, more studies are needed to elucidate the anti-obesity effects of specific strains of probiotics/synbiotics.

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Objective The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of probiotics/synbiotics supplementation on anthropometric measures in adults with diabetes, regardless of body weight. Methods PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to February 10, 2021. The effect sizes were pooled with the use of an inverse-variance random-effects model. The methodological quality of studies as well as quality of evidence was assessed using standard tools. Results Twenty-seven RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Overall, compared with their respective control groups, probiotics/synbiotics supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in body weight (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -0.62 kg; 95% CI: -0.97, -0.28; I2 = 81.1%, n = 23 studies]), body mass index (WMD: -0.20 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.33, -0.07; I2 = 78.4%, n = 25 studies), and waist circumference (WMD: -0.93 cm; 95% CI: -1.34, -0.53; I2 = 0%, n = 8 studies). However, no significant improvement was observed for hip circumference and waist to hip ratio. Conclusions Our analysis revealed that probiotics/synbiotics supplementation may assist with weight management in patients with diabetes, especially when used at higher doses, in younger adults, and in participants with obesity. However, more studies are needed to elucidate the anti-obesity effects of specific probiotic/synbiotic strains.

Background:The amount and type of dietary protein affect glucose metabolism. However, the association between dietary protein intake and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk is vague. We examined this association. Methods: We included 152 GDM and 168 non-GDM participants (total 320), age 18–45 years from Arash Women's Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Protein intake was ascertained from 168-item Food Frequency Questionnaire at 24–40 weeks’ gestation. GDM was defined as fasting blood sugar >95 mg/dL and/or oral glucose tolerance test >155 mg/dL. Dietary data were assessed using N4 software and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21. We tested the association between the amount of protein consumed from red and processed meat, poultry, dairy, egg, seafood, and vegetable plus sociodemographic and lifestyle covariates and GDM risk using multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results:There was a significant association between the physical activity (P < 0.035), socioeconomic status (P < 0.013), body mass index, age, and each trimester's weight (P < 0.001), and risk of GDM. No significant association was observed between the intake of protein from major protein sources and risk of GDM. The only significant association was observed for egg consumption which was lower in GDM participants (P = 0.004), yet this association turned nonsignificant after adjustment for confounders, except for the fourth quartile (odds ratio: 0.43, 95% confidence interval: 0.208, 0.893).Conclusions:According to our findings, dietary intake of total and major protein sources could not affect the GDM risk. Differences between Iranian and Western population and the reverse causality might be the main reasons for this nonsignificant association.