Objective: Primary dysmenorrhea is believed to be common and associated with reduced quality of life among menstruating women. Recent studies have shown a possible association between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of primary dysmenorrhea. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on pain and systemic symptoms in patients with primary dysmenorrhea.Methods: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on female students aged 18 to 32 years with primary dysmenorrhea and vitamin D deficiency (25 [OH]D <30 ng/mL). The participants (n=116) received either 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) or placebo capsules on a weekly basis for eight consecutive weeks. The outcomes were pain intensity (scored 0 to 10), number of days with pain, number of consumed pain-relief medications (per day), and severity of systemic symptoms (fatigue, headache, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea; total score of 0 to 12).Results: Compared with baseline, our participants who received vitamin D experienced significant reductions in pain intensity (-1.0 and -1.5 score at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001), the number of days with pain (-1.0 day at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001), the number of consumed pain-relief medications (-1.0 at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001), and systemic symptoms severity (-1.0 score at weeks 4 and 8, P<0.001). No significant improvements were observed in the placebo group in terms of these outcomes.
Conclusion:Vitamin D supplementation in women with primary dysmenorrhea and vitamin D deficiency could improve systemic symptoms and reduce pain intensity, the number of days with pain, and the need for consuming pain-relief medications.
Abstract. Introduction: The effect of using high dose pomegranate extract on sepsis and its safety is not clarified. Considering the fact that proper immune and inflammatory responses are needed to cope with infection, the aim of current study was to assess the effect of high dose pomegranate extract consumption on oxidative and inflammatory responses after disease induction in rat model of sepsis. Methods: Sepsis was induced by Cecal Ligation and Perforation (CLP) surgery. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups of eight animals: Sham; CLP and POMx [consumed POMx (250 mg of pomegranate fruit extract/kg/day) for four weeks before CLP]. Results: Peritoneal neutrophil myeloperoxidase activity was significantly lower in POMx compared with Sham and CLP groups ( p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Although antioxidant enzymes were higher in POMx group after sepsis induction, lower serum total antioxidant status (TAS) (p < 0.01 compared with both CLP and Sham groups) and higher liver thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) levels were observed in this group ( p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, compared with Sham and CLP groups, respectively). Conclusion: High dose POMx consumption prior to sepsis induction, suppressed the vital function of neutrophils in early hours after sepsis initiation, resulting in higher oxidative stress. These findings indicate that caution should be made in using high dose pomegranate products. The main message of current study is that such useful compounds as antioxidants including pomegranate juice which have beneficial effects on general health status may have detrimental effects if misused or used in high doses.
BACKGROUND: The worldwide prevalence and severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are increasing in parallel with the growing obesity epidemic. According to the US Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of NAFLD, weight loss interventions based on hypocaloric diets-either alone or in conjugation with physical activity-can reduce hepatic steatosis. Hence, understanding the ways in which calorie restriction affects NAFLD can help in developing optimal treatments. METHOD: In this review study, the main focus was on possibly disturbed pathways in NAFLD, and how calorie restriction may attenuate them. For this purpose, both human and animal studies available through Pubmed were reviewed. RESULTS: Calorie restriction can upregulate energy-sensing pathways , including AMPK/SIRTUIN, and downregulate insulin-signaling pathway IGF1/PI3K/AKT. In NAFLD, AKT is over-activated through the PI3K-active mTOR and FOXO recruitment. Consequences include gluconeogenic and lipogenic enzyme alteration, insulin resistance, autophagy reduction, and liver cells apoptosis, all of which may be inverted through calorie restriction. Moreover, increased mitochondrial biogenesis, reduced inflammation, and increased fatty acid oxidation are mediated through AMPK, SIRTUIN, and PPARS, all of which are altered in NAFLD. CONCLUSION: This review outlines prominent pathways, the targeting of which may be promising for NAFLD treatment, according to evidence-based studies.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.