Maryam Rahimi

Oral carnitine supplementation reduces body weight and insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Limited data are available for evaluating the effects of oral carnitine supplementation on weight loss and metabolic profiles of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study was designed to determine the effects of oral carnitine supplementation on weight loss, and glycaemic and lipid profiles in women with PCOS.

A comparison between the effects of metformin and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on some metabolic and endocrine characteristics of women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Abstract Objective: To compare N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and metformin on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Method: Study was performed as a randomized double-blind clinical trial on women with diagnosis of PCOS without additional complications. In one group, oral NAC 600 mg, three times a day and in the other group, 500 mg oral metformin, three times a day were prescribed. Duration of treatment was 24 weeks, and after finishing this period of treatment, fasting blood glucose (FBS) and insulin, lipid profile and Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index were measured (all the blood samples were taken while fasting) and were compared in the two groups. Results: Forty-six women in NAC group and 48 women in metformin group finished the study. The two groups did not show significant difference according to age, body mass index (BMI) of more than 30; mean BMI, AUB, FBS, fasting blood insulin, lipid profile and HOMA index before treatment. After 24 weeks of treatment; BMI >30 [17 (35.4%) versus 7 (15.2%), p = 0.033], mean BMI [(28.36 ± 2.27) versus (27.11 ± 3.55), p = 0.44], number of women with the complain of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) [24 (50%) versus 13 (28.3%), p = 0.037], FBS [(90.02 ± 6.24) versus (86.61 ± 7.81), p = 0.021], fasting insulin (10.40 ± 2.64 versus 8.89 ± 2.20, p = 0.004), HOMA Index (2.09 ± 0.69 versus 1.71 ± 0.45, p = 0.001), low density lipoprotein (LDL) (141.83 ± 26.98 versus 127.89 ± 28.70, p = 0.017) were less in NAC group. Triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol did not show significant difference between the two groups after treatment. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) was higher in NAC group. Conclusion: NAC can improve lipid profile and fasting blood sugar (FBS) and fasting blood insulin better than metformin.

The effects of vitamin D and evening primrose oil co-supplementation on lipid profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress in vitamin D-deficient women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

ABSTRACT Purpose of the study: There was inconsistent evidence about the benefit of vitamin D plus evening primrose oil (EPO) supplement intake on lipid profiles and reduced oxidative stress among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The current study was performed to evaluate the effects of vitamin D plus EPO supplementation on lipid profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress in vitamin D-deficient women with PCOS. Materials and methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed among 60 vitamin D-deficient women with PCOS. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups to receive either 1000 IU vitamin D3 plus 1000 mg EPO (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Metabolic profiles were quantified at baseline and after the 12-week intervention. Results: Compared with the placebo group, women in vitamin D and EPO co-supplementation group had significant increases in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) (+10.7 ± 8.4 vs. −0.5 ± 1.6 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and plasma total glutathione (GSH) (+62.7 ± 58.0 vs. −0.7 ± 122.7 µmol/L, p = 0.01), while there were significant decreases in triglycerides (−7.3 ± 23.8 vs. +6.9 ± 26.3 mg/dL, p = 0.03), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol levels (−1.5 ± 4.7 vs. +1.4 ± 5.3 mg/dL, p = 0.03), total/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (−0.3 ± 0.4 vs. −0.02 ± 0.4, p = 0.02), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration (−0.4 ± 0.4 vs. +0.5 ± 1.8 µmol/L, p = 0.008). Conclusion: Overall, vitamin D and EPO co-supplementation for 12 weeks among vitamin D-deficient women with PCOS significantly improved triglycerides, VLDL cholesterol, GSH, and MDA levels.

Oral carnitine supplementation influences mental health parameters and biomarkers of oxidative stress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract Introduction: Limited data are available assessing the effects of oral carnitine supplementation on mental health parameters and biomarkers of oxidative stress of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).This study was designed to determine the effects of oral carnitine supplementation on mental health parameters and biomarkers of oxidative stress in women with PCOS. Methods: In the current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 60 patients diagnosed with PCOS were randomized to take either 250 mg carnitine supplements (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Results: After 12 weeks’ intervention, compared with the placebo, carnitine supplementation resulted in a significant improvement in Beck Depression Inventory total score (−2.7 ± 2.3 versus −0.2 ± 0.7, p < 0.001), General Health Questionnaire scores (−6.9 ± 4.9 versus −0.9 ± 1.5, p < 0.001) and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale scores (−8.7 ± 5.9 versus −1.2 ± 2.9, p = 0.001). In addition, changes in plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (+84.1 ± 151.8 versus +4.6 ± 64.5 mmol/L, p = 0.01), malondialdehyde (MDA) (−0.4 ± 1.0 versus  +0.5 ± 1.5 μmol/L, p = 0.01) and MDA/TAC ratio (−0.0005 ± 0.0010 versus +0.0006 ± 0.0019, p = 0.003) in the supplemented group were significantly different from the changes in these indicators in the placebo group. Conclusions: Overall, our study demonstrated that carnitine supplementation for 12 weeks among patients with PCOS had favorable effects on parameters of mental health and biomarkers of oxidative stress.

Evaluation of prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis g virus infection among hemodialysis patients referred to Iranian army hospitals in tehran during 2012-2013.

Background: GB virus C (GBV-C) or hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a newly discovered and enveloped RNA positive-stranded flavivirus-like particle, which has not yet been proven to have major negative effects on liver. Objectives: Increasing the risk of blood-borne infections in hemodialysis patients is a main health care concern in different countries. Therefore, it is important to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis G virus infection in Iranian hemodialysis patients to design standard prevention and treatment plans. Patients and Methods: In this multicenter observational or epidemiologic study, 138 patients who underwent hemodialysis in Iranian Army hospitals in Tehran were included. Serum HIV antibody (Ab), HCV antibody and HBS antigen (Ag) were assessed. Demographic data such as gender, age, blood group, cause of renal failure, dialysis onset and duration were collected from medical files. GBV-C/HGV was evaluated by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Then, all data were analyzed by SPSS ver. 13. Results: In total, 81 males and 57 females were included. The mean age of patients was 62.16 ± 14.86 years. Six (4.3%) had positive results for GBV-C/HGV by RT-PCR. Except gender (P = 0.045) and duration of dialysis in a week (P < 0.001), other demographic factors revealed no significant difference (P > 0.05). All patients had negative results for HIV Ab, HCV Ab and HBS Ag. Conclusions: Overall, 4.3% of patients had positive results for GBV-C/HGV and all negative for HIV, HCV and HBV. Further studies are needed to elucidate real prevalence, risk factors and characteristics of HGV infection in Iranian hemodialysis patients.

The effects of ginger intake on weight loss and metabolic profiles among overweight and obese subjects: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ABSTRACT This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to summarize the effect of ginger intake on weight loss, glycemic control and lipid profiles among overweight and obese subjects. We searched the following databases through November 2017: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The relevant data were extracted and assessed for quality of the studies according to the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Data were pooled using the inverse variance method and expressed as Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI). Heterogeneity between studies was assessed by the Cochran Q statistic and I-squared tests (I2). Overall, 14 studies were included in the meta-analyses. Fourteen RCTs with 473 subjects were included in our meta-analysis. The results indicated that the supplementation with ginger significantly decreased body weight (BW) (SMD −0.66; 95% CI, −1.31, −0.01; P = 0.04), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (SMD −0.49; 95% CI, −0.82, −0.17; P = 0.003), hip ratio (HR) (SMD −0.42; 95% CI, −0.77, −0.08; P = 0.01), fasting glucose (SMD −0.68; 95% CI, −1.23, −0.05; P = 0.03) and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) (SMD −1.67; 95% CI, −2.86, −0.48; P = 0.006), and significantly increased HDL-cholesterol levels (SMD 0.40; 95% CI, 0.10, 0.70; P = 0.009). We found no detrimental effect of ginger on body mass index (BMI) (SMD −0.65; 95% CI, −1.36, 0.06; P = 0.074), insulin (SMD −0.54; 95% CI, −1.43, 0.35; P = 0.23), triglycerides (SMD −0.27; 95% CI, −0.71, 0.18; P = 0.24), total- (SMD −0.20; 95% CI, −0.58, 0.18; P = 0.30) and LDL-cholesterol (SMD −0.13; 95% CI, −0.51, 0.24; P = 0.48). Overall, the current meta-analysis demonstrated that ginger intake reduced BW, WHR, HR, fasting glucose and HOMA-IR, and increased HDL-cholesterol, but did not affect insulin, BMI, triglycerides, total- and LDL-cholesterol levels.