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Introduction Recent studies have addressed the role of micronutrients in fertilization, such as vitamin D. The present study aims to explore the effects of using calcitriol, an active form of vitamin D, on IVF results in women with vitamin D deficiency. Method This double-blinded randomized clinical trial was done on 180 infertile women, undergone IVF treatment. Out of them, 95 were found to have vitamin D deficiency (blood serum 25-dihydroxy vitamin D <30 ng/ml). Fifty one women in experimental group were treated with two 0.25 µg calcitriol pills daily during 4 weeks (discontinued 8 hours prior to the embryo transfer) and 44 subjects to the placebo group (mean vitamin D deficiency 27.5 ±1.8 in case group vs. 27.6±1.8 in control group, P>0.05). Final analysis includes outcomes of chemical and clinical pregnancy was done on 74 women (including 36 in case and 38 in control group). Results Our study showed that in the experimental group, chemical pregnancy success was significantly higher than that in the control group, 31.4 vs. 18.2% (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups in reaching the clinical pregnancy stage (25.5% in case group vs. 13.6% in control group) and continuation of pregnancy into week 20 (9.8% in case group vs. 11.6% in control group) (P>0.05). Conclusion Calcitriol administration by improving the implantation process can significantly increase the chances of successful IVF cycle results in infertile women with vitamin D deficiency.

Background Post-menopausal osteoporosis is a concern of health organizations, and current treatments do not seem enough. Postbiotics as bioactive compounds produced by probiotics may be an attractive alternative for bone health. In this study, we prepared, formulated, and compared the effects of cell lysate and supernatant of five native probiotic strains (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bacillus coagulans) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods The probiotic strains were isolated, and their cell-free supernatants and biomasses as postbiotics were extracted and formulated using standard microbial processes. The Sprague-Dawley rats were fed by 1 × 109 CFU/ml/day postbiotic preparations for 4 weeks immediately after ovariectomy. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans were accomplished to evaluate femur, spine, and tibia BMD. The serum biochemical markers [calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase] were assessed. Results Postbiotics could considerably improve the global and femur area in OVX rats. In the case of global bone mineral density (BMD), Lactobacillus casei lysate and supernatant, Bacillus coagulans lysate and supernatant, lysate of Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus reuteri supernatant significantly increased BMD. We found Bacillus coagulans supernatant meaningfully enriched tibia BMD. Conclusion Postbiotic could ameliorate bone loss resulting from estrogen deficiency. Also, the effects of postbiotics on different bone sites are strain-dependent. More clinical studies need to explore the optimal administrative dose and duration of the specific postbiotics in protecting bone loss.

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Background: Pioglitazone, as a PPAR gamma agonist, is used for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nevertheless, evidence showed that the therapeutic modulation of PPAR gamma activity using pioglitazone might be linked with bone mass reduction and fracture risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. The objective of the current research was to inspect the preventive role of some types of probiotic strains, including (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bacillus coagulans) against pioglitazone-induced bone loss. Methods: Streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) was administered for diabetes induction. Diabetic rats were fed orally with pioglitazone (300 mg/kg) and probiotics (1 × 10 9 CFU/ml/day) alone and in combination for four weeks. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess BMD, BMC, and area of the femur, spine, and tibia at the end of the experiment. Serum glucose, serum calcium (Ca), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), phosphorus (P), Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and urine calcium were also analyzed. Results: Administration of pioglitazone and probiotics alone and, in combination, significantly reduced elevated blood glucose. Pioglitazone treatment significantly increased urinary calcium and BUN and decreased ALP and creatinine. Co-treatment of probiotics with pioglitazone significantly decreased urinary calcium, creatinine, and ALP. Pioglitazone showed detrimental effects on femur-BMD, whereas treatment with probiotics remarkably ameliorated these effects. Among the tested probiotics, Bifidobacterium longum displayed the best protective effects on pioglitazone-induced bone loss in diabetic rats. Conclusion: This study suggests probiotic supplementation in diabetic patients on pioglitazone regime could be considering as an excellent strategy to ameliorate bone loss induced by pioglitazone.

Background: There is limited evidence about the anti-diabetic effects of selenium supplementation in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Objective: This study investigates the effects of selenium supplementation on glucose homeostasis in women with GDM. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 pregnant women with GDM were enrolled in this prospective randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial. They were randomly assigned to take either 100μg selenium supplements as tablet or a placebo daily for 12 wk since 24-28 wk of gestation. The primary outcomes were changes in the glucose homeostasis, including fasting plasma glucose, the 2-hr post prandial blood glucose, serum insulin level, glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A1C), and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA_IR) at the initial period and 3 months after intervention. Results: The mean maternal age of the patients who took selenium supplements was 29.19 ± 6.16 (range 18-41) years. In the placebo group, the mean maternal age was 31 ± 4.43 (range 24-39) years. Compared with the placebo group, fasting plasma glucose, 2- hr post-prandial blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin(Hb A1C), serum insulin level, and homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance(HOMA_IR) were not significantly changed in the selenium group at the end of study (p = 0.25, p = 0.87, p = 0.34, p = 0.57, and p = 0.31, respectively). Conclusion: The results of this trial suggest that supplementation with 100μg of selenium does not modulate glucose homeostasis in women with GDM. Key words: Diabetes, Gestational, Selenium.

Background: Pioglitazone as a PPAR-g agonist are used for management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nevertheless, evidence showed that the therapeutic modulation of PPARg activity using Pioglitazone may be linked with bone mass reduction and fracture risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. The objective of the current research was to inspect the preventive role of some types of probiotic strains including (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidiobacterum longum and Bacillus coagulans) against pioglitazone-induced bone loss.Methods: Streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) was administered for diabetes induction. Diabetic rats were fed orally with pioglitazone (300 mg/kg) and probiotics (1×109 CFU/ml/day) alone and in combination of both for 4 weeks. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) were used to asses BMD, BMC and area of the femur, spine and tibia at the experiment termination. Serum glucose, serum calcium, alkaline phosphatase, phosphorus, BUN, Creatinine, and urine calcium were also analyzed. Results: Administration of pioglitazone and probiotics alone and in combination significantly improved elevated blood glucose. Pioglitazone treatment significantly increased urinary calcium and BUN, and decreased ALP and creatinine. Co-treatment of probiotics with pioglitazone significantly decreased urinary calcium, creatinine and ALP. Pioglitazone showed detrimental effects on femur-BMD whereas treatment with probiotics remarkably ameliorated these effects. Among the tested probiotics Bifidiobacterum longum displayed the best protective effects on pioglitazone-induced bone loss in diabetic rats.Conclusion:This study suggests probiotic supplementation in diabetic patients on pioglitazone regime could be considering as a good strategy to ameliorate bone loss induced by pioglitazone.