Pregnant women may be at higher risk of severe complications associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which may lead to obstetrical complications. We performed a case control study comparing pregnant women with severe coronavirus disease 19 (cases) to pregnant women with a milder form (controls) enrolled in the COVI-Preg international registry cohort between March 24 and July 26, 2020. Risk factors for severity, obstetrical and immediate neonatal outcomes were assessed. A total of 926 pregnant women with a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 were included, among which 92 (9.9%) presented with severe COVID-19 disease. Risk factors for severe maternal outcomes were pulmonary comorbidities [aOR 4.3, 95% CI 1.9–9.5], hypertensive disorders [aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.0–7.0] and diabetes [aOR2.2, 95% CI 1.1–4.5]. Pregnant women with severe maternal outcomes were at higher risk of caesarean section [70.7% (n = 53/75)], preterm delivery [62.7% (n = 32/51)] and newborns requiring admission to the neonatal intensive care unit [41.3% (n = 31/75)]. In this study, several risk factors for developing severe complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection among pregnant women were identified including pulmonary comorbidities, hypertensive disorders and diabetes. Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes appear to be influenced by the severity of maternal disease.

Aiming at investigating the potential effect of minimal dietary changes in NAFLD patients with non-significant fibrosis, 55 patients with NAFLD were enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients were assigned into two isocaloric dietary treatment groups for 24 weeks: (a) nutritional counseling (Control arm, N = 27), (b) nutritional counseling with currants included (two fruit servings, 36 g per day), substituting snacks of similar caloric content (Currant arm, N = 28). Clinical tests, anthropometrics, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were conducted pre- and post-intervention. A total of 50 patients completed the trial. Significant differences between the two arms post-intervention were observed in fasting glucose and in IL-6 levels, these being significantly decreased only in Currant patients. Body weight, BMI, HbA, CRP and EUS values decreased in both arms, differences being insignificant between the two arms post-intervention. Participants in the Currant arm had significantly reduced total body fat, WC and trunk fat. Ultrasound scanning improved significantly in patients snacking currants daily. Also, volunteers enrolled in the Currant arm showed a reduced intake of saturated fatty acids. Because BW regulation has been officially recognised as a treatment approach in NAFLD an additional analysis was repeated in patients adhering to this. Post-intervention, the decrease in IL-6 and in fasting glucose was significantly higher in Currant patients who lost BW compared to their counterparts in the Control arm. Conclusively, minimal modifications in snacking choices, such as the inclusion of dried grapes in diet, are beneficial in NAFLD patients with non-significant fibrosis.

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The aim of this study was to examine the postprandial impact of raisin supplementation in serum resistance to oxidation of healthy subjects, to quantify the bioavailable phenolic compounds and oleanolic acid. The content of phytochemicals in raisins was determined by GC-MS. Fifteen healthy volunteers who consumed 144 g of raisins were subjected to blood collection at time 0 and 1, 2, 3 and 4 h after consumption. Blood samples were used for the quantification of (a) serum oxidizability (b) plasma total polyphenol content and (c) phenolic compounds and oleanolic acid by applying GC-MS analysis. A total of 25 phytochemicals were identified and quantified in raisins, while the triterpenoid oleanolic acid was present at the highest concentration. The peak of plasma total phenolics and serum oxidation resistance appeared 1 h after raisin supplementation (p < 0.05) and correlated strongly with each other. Seventeen phytochemicals (16 phenolics and oleanolic acid) were clearly identified and quantified in volunteers' plasma. Each compound followed different kinetics, however 13 out of 17 peaked in plasma also 1 h after supplementation. The results indicate that raisins influence antioxidant potential in vivo, while the contained phytochemicals are bioavailable.