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Context: Ginger consumption may have an inverse relationship with obesity and metabolic syndrome parameters; however, clinical trials have reported contradictory results., Objective: To systematically review and analyze randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of ginger on body weight and body composition parameters., Methods: Databases were searched for appropriate articles up to August 20, 2022. All selected RCTs investigated the impact of ginger on glycemic indices in adults. A random effects model was used to conduct a meta-analysis, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Net changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and percent body fat were used to calculate the effect size, which was reported as a weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The risk of bias was assessed., Results: A total of 27 RCTs involving 1309 participants were included. The certainty in the evidence was very low for WC and BMI, and low for body weight and percent body fat as assessed by the GRADE evidence profiles. The meta-analysis showed a significant association between ginger supplementation and a reduction in body weight (WMD, -1.52 kg; 95%CI, -2.37, -0.66; P < 0.001), BMI (WMD, -0.58 kg/m2; 95%CI, -0.87, -0.30; P < 0.001), WC (WMD, -1.04 cm; 95%CI: -1.93, -0.15; P = 0.021), and percent body fat consumption (WMD, -0.87%; 95%CI, -1.71, -0.03; P = 0.042). The results of the nonlinear dose-response analysis showed a significant association between the ginger dose with body weight (Pnonlinearity = 0.019) and WC (Pnonlinearity = 0.042). The effective dose of ginger intervention for body mass reduction was determined to be 2 g/d in dose-response analysis. The duration of ginger intervention had a significant nonlinear relationship with body weight (Pnonlinearity = 0.028) with an effective duration of longer than 8 weeks., Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence that ginger consumption may significantly affect body composition parameters nonlinearly. More, well-constructed RCTs are needed., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Context: Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive effects on metabolic factors of consuming chia seeds. However, the results of clinical trials have been inconsistent., Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials to explore the effects of chia seed consumption on body weight (BW), body composition, blood pressure, and glycemic control., Data Sources: A comprehensive search was conducted on the Scopus, PubMed, Medline via Ovid, ISI Web of Science, and Scholar Google databases up to August 2023., Data Extraction: The outcomes of interest included systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), BW, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, waist circumference (WC), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)., Data Analysis: Weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% CIs were used to determine the effect size., Results: A total of 8 eligible studies were included in the analysis. The findings revealed a significant reduction in SBP (WMD: -7.19 mmHg; 95% CI, -10.63 to -3.73; P < .001) and DBP (WMD: -6.04 mmHg, 95% CI, -9.58 to -2.49; P = .001). However, no significant effects were observed on BW, body fat percentage, WC, BMI, FBG, and HbA1c. Subgroup analysis indicated that the effect of chia seed on SBP was significant in participants with a baseline SBP of less than 140 mmHg, but the effect was not dependent on the administered dose., Conclusion: Chia seed consumption has positive effects on SBP and DBP but does not significantly impact BW, body composition, or glycemic parameters. However, the limited amount of data from included studies should be considered as a limitation while interpreting these findings., Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023462575., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is a major consequence of obesity, increases mortality risks. Evidence shows favorable effects of nutritional approaches in the management of MetS. Accordingly, the use of functional foods has increased to enhance weight loss and reduce the risk factors associated with MetS. So, we aimed to investigate the effects of daily consumption of a functional acorn-based cake in conjunction with energy-restricted diet on some complications of patients with MetS. The study included 66 participants who were randomly assigned to either (A) a calorie-restricted diet + functional cake (FC) ( n  = 33) or (B) a calorie-restricted diet + a placebo cake (PC) ( n  = 33). Sociodemographic information, anthropometric measurements, dietary intakes, and serum biochemical parameters (inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, leptin, and endothelin) were measured before and after 8 weeks of intervention. Sixty-three participants completed this trial. After adjustment for baseline levels, consumption of FC compared to the PC resulted in a significant decrease in IL-6 ( p  = .03) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( p  = .04) levels. No differences were observed between groups with regard to serum malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, endothelin, and leptin levels ( p  > .05). Acorn-based cake could improve inflammation as an adjunct to an energy-restricted diet in overweight and obese patients with MetS. However, it is not clear whether acorn-based cake can be used to prevent or treat MetS because of indecisive findings regarding its ability to manage oxidative stress and serum hormones., (© 2024 The Author(s). Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: To assess whether mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) affect mental health and cognitive abilities in older adults., Methods: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to June 2023. Weight mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were provided as summary statistics., Results: In total, 26 articles were eligible. Overall, MBIs showed a statistically significant improvement in depression, anxiety, quality of life, and working memory compared to controls. However, no significant effects of MBIs on other cognitive parameters were found. In moderator analysis, less than eight weeks of MBIs showed greater improvement in anxiety and quality of life than longer periods. There was no evidence for publication bias., Discussion: Mindfulness-based interventions can be an encouraging alternative in place of conventional treatments in improving depression, anxiety, quality of life and working memory in cognition among older adults. However, findings strongly recommend future research to have definite conclusion., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background and Objective: Almond consumption has an inverse relationship with obesity and factors related to metabolic syndrome. However, the results of available clinical trials are inconsistent. Therefore, we analyzed the results of 37 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and evaluated the association of almond consumption with subjective appetite scores and body compositions., Methods: Net changes in bodyweight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), fat mass (FM), body fat percent, fat-free mass (FFM), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subjective appetite scores were used to calculate the effect size, which was reported as a weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI)., Results: This meta-analysis was performed on 37 RCTs with 43 treatment arms. The certainty in the evidence was very low for appetite indices, body fat percent, FFM, VAT, and WHR, and moderate for other parameters as assessed by the GRADE evidence profiles. Pooled effect sizes indicated a significant reducing effect of almond consumption on body weight (WMD: -0.45 kg, 95% CI: -0.85, -0.05, p = 0.026), WC (WMD: -0.66 cm, 95% CI: -1.27, -0.04, p = 0.037), FM (WMD: -0.66 kg, 95% CI: -1.16, -0.17, p = 0.009), and hunger score (WMD: -1.15 mm, 95% CI: -1.98, -0.32, p = 0.006) compared with the control group. However, almond did not have a significant effect on BMI (WMD: -0.20 kg m -2 , 95% CI: -0.46, 0.05, p = 0.122), body fat percent (WMD: -0.39%, 95% CI: -0.93, 0.14, p = 0.154), FFM (WMD: -0.06, 95% CI: -0.47, 0.34, p = 0.748), WHR (WMD: -0.04, 95% CI: -0.12, 0.02, p = 0.203), VAT (WMD: -0.33 cm, 95% CI: -0.99, 0.32), fullness (WMD: 0.46 mm, 95% CI: -0.95, 1.88), desire to eat (WMD: 0.98 mm, 95% CI: -4.13, 2.23), and prospective food consumption (WMD: 1.08 mm, 95% CI: -2.11, 4.28). Subgroup analyses indicated that consumption of ≥50 g almonds per day resulted in a significant and more favorable improvement in bodyweight, WC, FM, and hunger score. Body weight, WC, FM, body fat percent, and hunger scores were decreased significantly in the trials that lasted for ≥12 weeks and in the subjects with a BMI < 30 kg/m 2 . Furthermore, a significant reduction in body weight and WC was observed in those trials that used a nut-free diet as a control group, but not in those using snacks and other nuts. The results of our analysis suggest that almond consumption may significantly improve body composition indices and hunger scores when consumed at a dose of ≥50 g/day for ≥12 weeks by individuals with a BMI < 30 kg/m 2 ., Conclusion: However, further well-constructed randomized clinical trials are needed in order ascertain the outcome of our analysis., (© 2024 World Obesity Federation.)

Context: Hypertension (HTN) is regarded as a serious public health issue throughout the world. High blood pressure (BP) may be improved by carotenoid supplementation; however, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) provide conflicting evidence., Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of carotenoid supplementation on BP in RCTs by systematically review and meta-analysis., Data Sources: A comprehensive literature search was performed in the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases until October 2023, with no limitation on the date or language of publication., Data Extraction: Studies that evaluated the net effects of carotenoids in the form of supplements on BP in adults were selected. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated on the basis of a fixed or random-effects model. Sensitivity analysis, meta-regression, publication bias, and heterogeneity were assessed using standard methods. Cochrane quality assessments were used to evaluate the included studies' bias risks. Evidence certainty was calculated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework)., Data Analysis: Reports on a total of 19 RCTs involving 1151 participants were included in this review. Carotenoid supplementation significantly reduced the systolic BP (SBP) (WMD, -2.492 mmHg; 95%CI, -4.52, -0.47; P = 0.016) and diastolic BP (DBP) (WMD, -1.60 mmHg; 95%CI, -2.73, -0.47; P = 0.005). Greater effects were observed in Asian participants, those aged >50 years, nonhealthy participants, and participants with a baseline SBP ≥130 mmHg and DBP ≥80 mmHg, at dose >10 mg. Dose-response analysis showed that carotenoid supplementation decreased SBP and DBP levels at doses of, respectively, 0-25 and 0-20 mg/d. Evidence for all SBP, DBP, and heart rate values was high quality., Conclusions: Carotenoid supplementation had a beneficial effect on BP parameters, especially in nonhealthy study participants with high BP baseline levels., Prospero Registration No: CRD42023402740., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background/objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder in women that can alter blood glucose, lipid profile and sexual hormonal level. Therefore, the evaluation of potential therapeutic agents in this population is important. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of cinnamon, ginger, and metformin intake on improvement of sex hormones level, metabolic health (lipid profiles, insulin level and fasting blood glucose) and anthropometric indices (weight, body mass index (BMI), etc.) in women with PCOS., Methods: A total of 100 women with PCOS were randomly assigned to one of the following four groups: cinnamon (500 mg of cinnamon, 3 × day), ginger (500 mg of ginger, 3 × day), metformin (500 mg of metformin 3 × day) or placebo. However, 17 participants were excluded for various reasons and consequently, 83 participants were considered for analysis. Sexual hormones, anthropometrics, glycemic and lipid markers were evaluated before and after the 8-week intervention., Results: Weight and BMI decreased significantly in all intervention groups. The consumption of metformin and cinnamon significantly decreased insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in comparison to the placebo and ginger groups ( P < 0.05). Moreover, a significant decrease in FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (Luteinizing hormone) levels were observed in the ginger compared to the placebo group. While metformin and cinnamon significantly lowered testosterone levels ( P < 0.05), none of the groups experienced a significant change in DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that in women with PCOS, cinnamon supplementation causes similar reductions in insulin resistance and testosterone level to that of metformin. Ginger supplementation decreased FSH and LH, hormonal effects not seen following metformin consumption. Overall, cinnamon and ginger supplementations may potentially be used as alternative treatment in women with PCOS., Clinical Trial Registration: [https://www.irct.ir/trial/28548], identifier [IRCT20171227038105N1]., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Dastgheib, Barati-Boldaji, Bahrampour, Taheri, Borghei, Amooee, Mohammadi-Sartang, Wong, Babajafari and Mazloomi.)

There is evidence that alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation plays an important role in preventing cardiovascular diseases. However, its effect, specifically, on endothelial function (EF) is unclear. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of ALA supplementation on EF. Databases including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science were searched to identify eligible publications from inception up to April 2020. Randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of ALA supplementation on flow-mediated dilation (FMD) levels in adults were included. The pooled results were obtained using the random-effects model and are expressed as weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Five studies including six effect sizes and 300 participants were included. ALA supplementation significantly increased FMD levels by 2.36% (95% CI: 1.21-3.51; p < .001), compared with the control. Subgroup analyses suggested that the effects of ALA on FMD could be changed by age and health status of the participants. Dose-response analysis also showed that ALA dosage had a significant non-linear effect on FMD levels. The results showed that ALA supplementation appears to improve the EF. However, the role of ALA supplementation in improving other biomarkers of EF requires further research., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Conjugated Linoleic Acids (CLA) may have beneficial effects on the prevention of atherosclerosis, but their net effects on circulating levels of lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] are unclear. The present study aimed to systematically review and analyze the Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of CLA on circulating Lp (a) concentrations. A literature search of SCOPUS, PubMed-Medline, ISI, Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases was conducted for the relevant RCTs investigating the effects of CLA supplementation on circulating Lp (a) levels, which had been published up to 20 August 2020. Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were reported as the summary statistics. Statistical analysis were done with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) V2 software (Biostat, NJ). Totally, six studies with 13 treatment arms including 752 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed a significant increase in circulating Lp (a) levels after CLA supplementation (WMD: 16.68 mg/L, 95% CI: 5.43-27.93; P=0.004) with no evidence of heterogeneity across the studies. In the subgroup analysis, a more significant elevation of Lp (a) levels was observed in the trials lasting for six months or more (WMD: 21.61 mg/L, 95% CI: 9.85-33.37, P<0.001) as well as in those with a supplementation dosage of ≥3.5 g/d (WMD: 26.13 mg/L, 95% CI: 7.02-45.24, P=0.007). These findings were sensitive to one study. It can be concluded that CLA supplementation with a dose of ≥3.5 g/d over a six-month period might significantly increase the circulating Lp (a) concentrations., Competing Interests: None., (AJCD Copyright © 2021.)

Background: Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease with indefinite treatment. The present study aimed to assess the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Carum copticum L. (CC) extract on induced colitis in rats., Methods: Sixty male rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=10 per group). Acetic acid-induced colitis rats were orally administered with doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg CC extract, and 100 mg/kg sulfasalazine for seven consecutive days, respectively. Colonic biopsies were taken to measure histopathological parameters as well as the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH). Data analysis was performed using the one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test for normally distributed data. Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's test was used for non-normally distributed data. The analysis was performed at P≤0.05 using SigmaStat software (version 10.0)., Results: The control colitis group had a significantly higher total colitis index (P=0.01), TNF-α (P=0.01), IL-6 (P=0.01), MPO (P=0.01), and MDA (P=0.01); and lower GSH (P=0.01) than those of the sham group. The colitis group receiving a dose of 200 mg/kg/day CC extract had a significantly lower total colitis index (P=0.01), TNF-α (P=0.01), IL-6 (P=0.01), MPO (P=0.01), and MDA (P=0.01); and higher GSH (P=0.01) than those of the control colitis group. The colitis group receiving a dose of 200 mg/kg/day CC extract had a significantly lower total colitis index (P=0.04), TNF-α (P=0.03), IL-6 (P=0.04), MPO (P=0.03), and MDA (P=0.03); and higher GSH (P=0.01) than those of the colitis group receiving sulfasalazine., Conclusion: The present study revealed that CC extract had healing effects on colitis, possibly due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties., (Copyright: © Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.)

Background: Kidney stone is a common and costly disease, but it may be improved by a healthy diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between dietary intake and stone formation in patients with urinary stones in Shiraz. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 110 patients with kidney stone were selected from Faghihi hospital, Shiraz. Demographic information was collected, and anthropometric indices, disease-related variables, physical activity (using IPAQ), and dietary intake (using food frequency questionnaire, analyzed by Nut 4 software, to estimate micro and macro nutrients) were evaluated. Independent sample t test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare the quantitative variables between the 2 groups and multi groups, respectively. Chi square test was also used to compare qualitative variables. The correlation between variables was determined using Pearson test. Results: Out of 110 participants in this study, 37 (33.6%) were female, with the mean BMI of 27.0 ± 4.68 kg/m2, and 73 (66.4%) were male, with the mean BMI of 24.21±2.96 kg/m2. The mean intake of calcium-containing foods (p=0.02) and high-fructose beverages (p=0.03) was significantly greater in patients with calcium stones compared to those with uric acid stones. The mean intake of high-purine foods was significantly higher in patients with uric acid stones than in those with calcium stones (p=0.007). The mean intake of vitamin A (p=0.02), beta-carotene (p=0.03), and fructose (p=0.03) was significantly higher in patients with calcium stones than in those with uric acid stones, while caffeine intake was significantly higher in patients with uric acid than in those with calcium stones (p=0.01). There was a significant correlation between consumption of high-oxalic beverages (p=0.005, correlation coefficient = 0.26) and high-fructose (p=0.048, correlation coefficient = 0.18) with spontaneous stone expulsion. Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between consuming vitamin A, beta-carotene, and foods containing calcium, purine, fructose, and oxalate and formation of kidney stones. Therefore, adopting a healthy diet and increasing physical activity may be effective in the treatment of kidney stones.

Background & Aims: Melatonin supplementation may be associated with blood lipids improvement; however, the current evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is inconsistent. The present study aimed to systematically review and analyze RCTs assessing the effects of melatonin supplementation on blood lipids., Methods: A comprehensive literature search in several database was performed up to January 2017. Quantitative data synthesis was performed using a fixed or random-effects model, with weight mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Standard methods were used for assessment of heterogeneity, meta-regression, sensitivity analysis and publication bias., Results: A total of 8 RCTs were eligible. Meta-analysis suggested a significant association between melatonin supplementation and a reduction in triglycerides (WMD: -31.54 mg/dL, 95% CI: -50.71, -12.38, p = 0.001), and total cholesterol levels (WMD: -18.48 mg/dL, 95% CI: -35.33, -1.63, p = 0.032), while no significant effect on LDL-C (WMD: -2.37 mg/dL, 95% CI: -11.61, -6.86, p = 0.615) and HDL-C (WMD: 1.28 mg/dL, 95% CI: -0.66, 3.23, p = 0.197) was found. In sub-group analysis, a significant decrease in triglycerides was found at doses ≥8 mg/d and when trials last ≥8 weeks. In addition, a significant decrease of total cholesterol was found at doses ≥8 mg/d and when total cholesterol baseline levels were ≥200 mg/dL., Conclusions: Melatonin supplementation has significant effects on triglycerides and total cholesterol levels, which was more evident in higher dose and longer duration and also in a higher concentration of cholesterol levels. Further studies are required to determine the benefits of melatonin on lipid profile., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.)

Bachground and Aims: Endothelial dysfunction can promote atherosclerosis pathogenesis. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to determine the effects of walnut consumption on peripheral endothelial function (EF) in adults., Methods: PUBMED, MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched to identify studies up to August 2017. Eligible studies conducted randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of walnut consumption compared with a control on EF. Standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported as summary statistics. Standard methods were used for assessment of heterogeneity, meta-regression, sensitivity analysis and publication bias., Results: Five studies comprising a total of 323 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed a significant increase in EF after walnut consumption (SMD: 0.40%; 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.62; p < 0.001) with no evidence of heterogeneity across studies. Sensitivity analysis showed that the effect size was robust and not sensitive to any single study. Meta-regression did not indicate any significant association for an increase in EF after walnut consumption with dose of treatment, duration of treatment, or baseline EF., Conclusion: The available evidence from RCTs suggests there may be a clinically relevant effect of walnut consumption on EF., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background and Aims: Obesity is a complex and multifaceted condition. Thus, functional foods need investigation as novel adjunct treatments for obesity. The objective was to determine the effects of daily consumption of a fortified yogurt (FY) on weight loss in overweight and obese patients with metabolic syndrome on a caloric-restricted diet., Methods and Results: This was a randomized, double-blind, 10-week study. Participants were randomly allocated to two groups receiving either two servings (2 × 250 g)/day of FY with whey protein, calcium, vitamin D, prebiotic fibre and probiotic cultures (n = 44) or a low-fat plain yogurt (PY) (n = 43). All participants were put on a calorie-restricted diet throughout the 10-week study. Body composition and biochemical indices were assessed before and after the intervention. Body mass decreased by 4.3 ± 1.9 kg and 5.1 ± 3.0 kg in the PY and FY groups, respectively, following the 10-week intervention. Compared to PY, consumption of FY resulted in a significant reduction in body fat mass (FM) (p = 0.023), body fat percentage (p = 0.028), waist circumference (p = 0.002), homoeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p = 0.025), triglyceride concentration (p = 0.003), and a significant increase in total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration (p < 0.001), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (p = 0.009) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) (0.022). Participants consuming the FY lost less fat-free mass (FFM) compared to the PY group (Δ = -0.9 ± 3.5 kg vs. Δ = -2.0 ± 2.7 kg; p = 0.025)., Conclusions: Consuming FY for 10-weeks improved body composition and metabolic parameters, while on a caloric-restricted diet. Further research is needed to elucidate whether FY can be used as a preventative strategy for metabolic syndrome in obese persons., Trial Registration: www.irct.ir (IRCT2017050633836N1)., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Context: The results of human clinical trials investigating the effects of flaxseed on glucose control and insulin sensitivity are inconsistent., Objective: The present study aimed to systematically review and analyze randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of flaxseed consumption on glycemic control., Data Sources: PubMed, Medline via Ovid, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and ISI Web of Sciences databases were searched up to November 2016., Study Selection: Clinical trials in which flaxseed or its products were administered as an intervention were included., Data Extraction: The outcomes were fasting blood glucose, insulin concentration, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), insulin sensitivity (QUIKI), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)., Results: A total of 25 randomized clinical trials (30 treatment arms) were included. Meta-analysis suggested a significant association between flaxseed supplementation and a reduction in blood glucose (weighted mean difference [WMD], -2.94 mg/dL; 95%CI,  -5.31 to - 0.56; P = 0.015), insulin levels (WMD,  -7.32 pmol/L; 95%CI, -11.66 to -2.97; P = 0.001), and HOMA-IR index (WMD, -0.49; 95%CI,: -0.78 to - 0.20; P = 0.001) and an increase in QUIKI index (WMD, 0.019; 95%CI, 0.008-0.031; P = 0.001). No significant effect on HbA1c (WMD, -0.045%; 95%CI, -0.16 to - 0.07; P = 0.468) was found. In subgroup analysis, a significant reduction in blood glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR and a significant increase in QUIKI were found only in studies using whole flaxseed but not flaxseed oil and lignan extract. Furthermore, a significant reduction was observed in insulin levels and insulin sensitivity indexes only in the subset of trials lasting ≥12 weeks., Conclusions: Whole flaxseed, but not flaxseed oil and lignan extract, has significant effects on improving glycemic control. Further studies are needed to determine the benefits of flaxseed on glycemic parameters., (© The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Life Sciences Institute. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The results of human clinical trials examining the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on leptin concentration are inconsistent. Our objective was to elucidate the role of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on leptin through a systematic review and a meta-analysis of available randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs). We searched the PubMed, SCOPUS, and ISI web of science up to February2017, in English, to identify RCTs investigating the effect of CLA supplements on plasma leptin concentrations. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the efficacy of CLA on leptin concentration by using random effects. Statistical heterogeneity, study quality, meta-regression and publication bias were used based on standard methods. Nineteen RCTs (comprising 26 treatment arms) with 1045 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. Random-effect meta-analysis found a slight but not significant reduction in plasma leptin concentrations (WMD: -0.38 ng/ml, 95% CI: -1.08, 0.32, p=0.286); I 2 =53.24%, p=0.001), following CLA supplementation. The pooled effect size was robust and remained non-significant in the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis. Subgroup analysis based on BMI status showed that the CLA supplementation significantly reduces leptin when used for obese subjects (WMD: -1.47 ng/ml, 95% CI: -2.15, -0.79, p<0.001) and in the subset of trials lasting<24 weeks of duration (WMD: -0.76 ng/ml, 95% CI: -1.40, -0.12, p=0.019). CLA supplementation might moderately decrease circulatory leptin levels only among obese adults for shorter than 24 weeks. Additional high-quality studies are needed to replicate our results., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Promising experimental studies suggest that quercetin has potential anti-inflammatory effects. However, the results of current clinical trials on quercetin's effects on the C-reactive protein (CRP), a sensitive inflammatory biomarker, are ambiguous. We conducted a meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to resolve this inconsistency and quantify the net effect of quercetin on circulating CRP concentrations. A systematic search was performed in several databases including SCOPUS, PubMed-Medline and Google Scholar until 16 June 2016. We used a random-effects model in combination with weight mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for data analysis. Standard methods were used for the assessment of heterogeneity, meta-regression, sensitivity analysis and publication bias. The meta-analysis of seven RCTs (10 treatment arms) showed a significant reduction of circulating CRP levels (WMD: -0.33 mg/l; 95% CI: -0.50 to -0.15; P<0.001) following quercetin supplementation. In the subgroup analysis, a significant reducing effect was observed in trials with ⩾500 mg/day dosage (WMD: -0.34 mg/l; 95% CI: -0.52, -0.16; P⩽0.001) and in those with CRP <3 mg/l (WMD: -0.34 mg/l; 95% CI: -0.51, -0.18; P⩽0.001). In meta-regression, there was no association between changes in CRP concentrations, dose of supplementation and CRP baseline values. Our findings showed a significant effect of quercetin supplementation on the C-reactive protein-especially at doses above 500 mg/day and in patients with CRP <3 mg/l.

Flaxseed consumption may be inversely associated with obesity; however, findings of available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are conflicting. The present study aimed to systematically review and analyse RCTs assessing the effects of flaxseed consumption on body weight and body composition. PubMed, Medline via Ovid, SCOPUS, EMBASE and ISI Web of Sciences databases were searched up to November 2016. Mean changes in body composition indices including body weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were extracted. Effect sizes were expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity between studies was assessed with the I 2 test. Publication bias and subgroup analyses were also performed. The quality of articles was assessed via the Jadad scale. A total of 45 RCTs were included. Meta-analyses suggested a significant reduction in body weight (WMD: -0.99 kg, 95% CI: -1.67, -0.31, p = 0.004), BMI (WMD: -0.30 kg m -2 , 95% CI: -0.53, -0.08, p = 0.008) and waist circumference (WMD: -0.80 cm, 95% CI: -1.40, -0.20, p = 0.008) following flaxseed supplementation. Subgroup analyses showed that using whole flaxseed in doses ≥30 g d -1 , longer-term interventions (≥12 weeks) and studies including participants with higher BMI (≥ 27 kg m -2 ) had positive effects on body composition. Whole flaxseed is a good choice for weight management particularly for weight reduction in overweight and obese participants., (© 2017 World Obesity Federation.)

The results of human clinical trials have revealed that the effects of resveratrol on adipokines are inconsistent. Our objective was to elucidate the role of resveratrol supplementation on adipokines through a systematic review and a meta-analysis of available randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs). 1 The search included PubMed-MEDLINE, SCOPUS and ISI web of sciences database till up to 6th November 2016. Weight mean differences (WMD) 2 were calculated for net changes in adipokines using fixed-effects or random-effects models; meta-regression analysis and publication bias were conducted in accordance with standard methods. Nine RCTs with 11 treatment arms were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of data from 10 treatment arms showed a significant change in plasma adiponectin concentrations following resveratrol supplementation (WMD: 1.10μg/ml, 95%CI: 0.88, 1.33, p<0.001); Q=11.43, I 2 =21.29%, p=0.247). There was a significant greater adiponectin-reducing effect in trials with higher than or equal to 100mg/day (WMD: 1.11μg/ml, 95%CI: 0.88, 1.34, p<0.001), versus those with less than 100 mg/day dosage (WMD: 0.84μg/ml, 95%CI: -0.62, 2.31, p=0.260). Meta-analysis of data from 5 treatment arms did not find any significant change in plasma leptin concentrations following resveratrol supplementation (WMD: 3.77ng/ml, 95% CI: -2.28, 9.83, p=0.222; Q=8.00, I 2 =50.01%). Resveratrol significantly improves adiponectin but does not affect leptin concentrations. Additional studies are required to further evaluate the potential benefits of resveratrol on adipokines in humans., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic soymilk fortified with omega-3 in diabetic rats., Methods: Soymilk (SM), fermented soymilk (FSM), and fermented soymilk fortified with omega-3 (FSM + omega-3) were prepared. Rats were randomly assigned to five groups of 13 animals per group. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of streptozotocin (STZ) 15 min after the intraperitoneal administration of nicotinamide (NA). Normal control (NC) and diabetic control (DC) rats received 1 mL/day of distilled water and three groups of diabetic rats were given 1 mL/day of SM, FSM, and FSM + omega-3 products by oral gavage for 28 days., Results: Three products significantly (P < 0.05) reduced blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations compared to the DC group, with the maximum reduction seen in the FSM + omega-3 group. Body weight, red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) also significantly increased in the FSM + omega-3 group. In the FSM + omega-3 group, MDA level compared with the SM and FSM groups and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentrations compared with the DC and FSM groups were significantly lower (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Fermented soymilk fortified with omega-3 may be beneficial in diabetes.