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 < .001) and swollen (−2.12 ± 2.34 vs. 0.63 ± 2.79, p < .001) joints, pain intensity based on visual analogue scale (−18.36 ± 15.07 vs. −2.33 ± 5.04), p < .001), and disease activity score (DAS28) (−0.75 ± 0.67 vs. 0.26 ± 0.77, p < .001) at the end of intervention between the two groups and in saffron group compared with baseline values. Physician Global Assessment (p = .002) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were significantly improved after intervention (24.06 ± 12.66 vs. 32.00 ± 14.75, p = 0.028). High‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein reduced at the end of the intervention in the saffron group compared with baseline values (12.00 ± 7.40 vs. 8.82 ± 7.930, p = .004). Tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, and malondialdehyde were decreased, and total antioxidant capacity were increased, but their differences between the two groups were not significant (p > .05). According to the results, saffron supplements could positively and significantly improve clinical outcomes in RA patients.

Objectives 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. Methods In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, Sixty-six women older than 18 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 remained for the final analysis. No adverse effects were reported by the patients. Results Saffron supplementation significantly decreased the number of tender and swollen joints, pain intensity based on VAS and disease activity score (DAS28) at the end of the intervention in the Saffron group compared with baseline values (P &lt; 0.001). Also, there was a significant difference between the two groups after intervention for these variables (P &lt; 0.001), PGA and ESR were significantly improved after the intervention (P = 0.002 and P = 0.028 respectively). hs-CRP reduced at the end of the intervention in the Saffron group compared with baseline values (P = 0.004). TNF-α, IFN-γ, and MDA were decreased and TAC was increased but their differences were not significant (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusions  According to the results, the saffron supplement could positively and significantly improve clinical outcomes in RA patients. Funding Sources The present article was supported by Iran University of Medical Sciences grants no. 31,302. The study was approved by the Ethics committee of Iran University of Medical Sciences (IR.IUMS.REC 1396.9,411,323,005).

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease associated with inflammation. In this trial, we aimed to investigate the Immunomodulatory effect of hydroalcoholic extract of black barberry on immune mediators in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. In this randomized, double–blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial, 80 women with active RA were randomly assigned into two groups of two capsules, each containing 1,000 mg black barberry extract (n = 40) or maltodextrin placebo (n = 40) daily for 12 weeks. Demographic indices, physical activity, dietary intake, and disease activity were investigated using suitable questionnaires. Concentration of cytokines IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐10, and IL‐17 in blood sample were measured using PBMC method. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 22). At baseline, there were no differences between the two groups in terms of demographic indices, physical activity, and dietary intake (p > .05). Black barberry supplementation reduced the severity of RA. It showed no significant effect on IL‐2 and IL‐4 cytokines (p > .05). IL‐17 levels decreased significantly after the intervention within the black barberry group, while IL‐10 had a significant increase in this group (p < .05). Barberry extract may reduce inflammatory and increase anti‐inflammatory cytokines in RA, and stimulates the immune response by increasing Th2 production.

Background: Splenectomy is a common treatment for beta thalassemia. It not only eliminates many complications by reducing the need for blood transfusion, but also causes new complications that threaten the patients' health. The aim of this study was to determine if splenectomy could alter the lipid profile and glucose metabolism in beta thalassemia major patients. Methods: In this case-control study, 41 splenectomized and 42 non-splenectomized eligible beta thalassemia patients were selected from Zafar Thalassemia Clinic, Tehran, Iran. Anthropometric, demographic, and biochemical data were collected using standard methods. Physical activity and food intake were measured using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and food frequency questionnaires (FFQ), respectively. Results: Demographic characteristics and dietary intake were not significantly different between the two groups. However, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/TG, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were significantly higher, but HDL-C was significantly lower in splenectomized patients (P < 0.05). Furthermore, fasting blood glucose (P < 0.39) and oral glucose tolerance test (P < 0.53) did not significantly differ between the two groups. Conclusions: Reduced activity of the reticuloendothelial system and reduced removal of cholesterol might be the reason for higher plasma lipid profile and greater risk of cardiovascular diseases in splenectomized patients. On the other hand, glucose metabolism was not affected by splenectomy in adult patients. To clarify this relationship, prospective studies are suggested.

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing among women. Since diet quality and quality of life are two indicators of healthy lifestyle, we conducted this study to examine the relationship between these two indicators among overweight and obese women. Methods: This study was carried out among a sample of 111 overweight and obese women, aged 35-60 years in the west of Tehran, Iran. Dietary data were collected using a 168-item food frequency questionnaire and the Nutrient-Rich Food index (NRF9.3) algorithms were used to estimate the nutrient density. The quality of life was measured using 26-item WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire.  The SPSS 24 was run for statistical analysis. Results: We found that the participants’ quality of life had a significant relationship with their occupational, marital, and educational status, but no significant association was observed between the quality of life and diet quality (P = 0.50). Pearson correlation showed that NRF9.3 score was positively associated with body mass index (P = 0.01), but no difference was found between obese and overweight women regarding quality of life. Conclusion: The NRF9.3 index was not associated with WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire's score, while job, marriage, and education were significantly associated with the quality of life. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between quality of life and diet quality among overweight and obese women.