This systematic review was conducted to summarize and clarify the evidence on the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin-D [25(OH)D] concentrations and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk and outcomes. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases and Google Scholar were searched up to 26 November 2020. All retrospective and prospective cohort, cross-sectional, case-control, and randomized controlled trial studies that investigated the relation between 25(OH)D and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and COVID-19 severity were included. Thirty-nine studies were included in the current systematic review. In studies that were adjusted (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.24, 2.53; I2: 44.2%) and nonadjusted for confounders (OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.44, 2.13; I2: 33.0%) there was a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the vitamin D deficiency (VDD) group. Fifteen studies evaluated associations between VDD and composite severity. In the studies that were adjusted (OR: 2.57; 95% CI: 1.65, 4.01; I2 = 0.0%) and nonadjusted for confounders (OR: 10.61; 95% CI: 2.07, 54.23; I2 = 90.8%) there was a higher severity in the VDD group. Analysis of studies with crude OR (OR: 2.62; 95% CI: 1.13, 6.05; I2: 47.9%), and adjusted studies that used the Cox survival method (HR: 2.35; 95% CI: 1.22, 4.52; I2: 84%) indicated a significant association of VDD with mortality, while in adjusted studies that used logistic regression, no relation was observed (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.63, 1.75; I2: 76.6%). The results of studies that examined relations between VDD and intensive care unit (ICU) admission, pulmonary complications, hospitalization, and inflammation were inconsistent. In conclusion, although studies were heterogeneous in methodological and statistical approach, most of them indicated a significant relation between 25(OH)D and SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 composite severity, and mortality. With regard to infection, caution should be taken in interpreting the results, due to inherent study limitations. For ICU admission, inflammation, hospitalization, and pulmonary involvement, the evidence is currently inconsistent and insufficient.

Study design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Objective: To assess the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on IL-6, hs-CRP, FBS, anthropometric indices, food intake and blood pressure in male patients with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting: Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Methods: Fifty-eight men with chronic SCI participated in the study. Participants were divided in two groups: one group received 600 mg of supplemental ALA (n = 28) and the other group received placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. At the beginning and end of the study, biochemical parameters, anthropometric indices, blood pressure and dietary intakes were measured. Dietary intake was measured using N4 software, and statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS16. Results: No significant reduction was found in IL-6 (P = 0.97) and hs-CRP levels (P = 0.23). There was significant reduction in fasting blood sugar (P = 0.001), body weight (P = 0.001), BMI (P = 0.001), waist circumference (P = 0.001) and blood pressure (P = 0.001). Dietary intake was significantly reduced, including fat (P = 0.001), carbohydrate (P = 0.001), protein (P = 0.002) and energy intakes (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Lipoic acid supplementation had no significant effect on the measured inflammatory markers but it reduces fasting blood sugar, anthropometric parameters, food intake and blood pressure in men with chronic SCI. Spinal Cord (2015) 53, 621-624; doi:10.1038/sc.2015.35; published online 10 March 2015 INTRODUCTION Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) or thiocitic acid is an eight-carbon, sulfurcontaining compound. It functions as a cofactor in the multienzyme complexes that catalyze the oxidative decarboxylation of α-keto acids. 1 There is general agreement about the antioxidant properties of ALA, which is thought to work by scavenging free radicals directly, chelating metallic ions, increasing intracellular glutathione and activating endogenous antioxidant systems. 2,3 ALA's antioxidant properties are thought to inhibit the deleterious mechanisms associated with inflammation; however, a number of studies suggest contradictory effects for ALA on inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP). [4][5][6] Apart from the antioxidant properties of ALA, it is found to increase nitric oxide synthesis through which endothelial function is probably improved. 7 In addition, ALA reduces body weight and changes other anthropometric indices by suppressing appetite and increasing metabolism. [8][9][10][11][12] Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition and entails considerable burden on the individual and society. 13,14 Persons with chronic SCI are at increased risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and systemic inflammation [15][16][17][18][19] because of changes in their lifestyle, body composition and fat mass. 20 However, these complications may be preventable and treatable. 21 Studying the effect of ALA on cardiovascular risk factors and ...

Background:This study investigated blackberry (Persian mulberry) effects on apo A-I, apo B, high-sensitivity-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in dyslipidemic patients.Materials and Methods:In this 8-week randomized clinical trial, 72 dyslipidemic patients were randomly divided into two groups: Intervention (300 mL/day blackberry juice with pulp) and control group (usual diets). Before and after the intervention, fasting blood samples were taken from both groups and serum concentration of lipoprotein, apo A-I and apo B, serum lipids (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein [HDL], and triglyceride), hs-CRP were measured. Blood pressure before and after the study was measured with a mercury manometer.Results:At week 8 in the intervention group, apo A-I and HDL increased significantly (P = 0.015, P = 0.001, respectively), apo B and hs-CRP decreased significantly (P = 0.044, P = 0.04, respectively). Mean changes in apo A-I and HDL and apo B/apo A-I ratio were significant between the groups (P = 0.005, P = 0.014, and P = 0.009, respectively). After 8 weeks, there was a significant difference between hs-CRP mean values (P = 0.01) of the groups. At week 8, SBP decreased significantly (P = 0.005) in the intervention group with no significant differences for SBP mean values between the groups. No significant changes were observed in other lipid parameters and DBP in the intervention group and between the groups.Conclusion:Blackberry consumption may exert beneficial effects on apolipoproteins, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers in individuals with lipid disorders.