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Effects of curcumin and/or coenzyme Q10 supplementation on metabolic control in subjects with metabolic syndrome: a randomized clinical trial.
Sangouni, AA, Taghdir, M, Mirahmadi, J, Sepandi, M, Parastouei, K
Nutrition journal. 2022;21(1):62
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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance, and abdominal obesity. MetS is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of curcumin and/or coenzyme Q10 supplementation on metabolic syndrome components in subjects with MetS. This study is a 2×2 factorial, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study which was conducted for 12 weeks. Eighty-eight subjects were randomly assigned into four groups. All subjects completed the trial. Results show that curcumin supplementation improves lipid profile, but it does not have any effect on body composition, hypertension and fasting plasma glucose. However, supplementation with coenzyme Q10 as well as curcumin plus coenzyme Q10 did not show any significant effects on lipid profile, body composition, hypertension and fasting plasma glucose. Authors conclude that curcumin supplementation (especially by its effects on dyslipidaemia) is more effective than coenzyme Q10 as well as the combination of curcumin and coenzyme Q10 in the management of MetS. However, curcumin, coenzyme Q10 and their combination have no effect on body composition, hypertension and glycaemic control.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome (MetS) as a cluster of conditions including hyperlipidemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and abdominal obesity is linked to cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Evidence suggested that intake of curcumin and coenzyme Q10 may have therapeutic effects in the management of MetS. AIMS We investigated the effects of curcumin and/or coenzyme Q10 supplementation on metabolic syndrome components including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), waist circumference (WC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) as primary outcomes, and total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) and body mass index (BMI) as secondary outcomes in subjects with MetS. METHODS In this 2 × 2 factorial, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, 88 subjects with MetS were randomly assigned into four groups including curcumin plus placebo (CP), or coenzyme Q10 plus placebo (QP), or curcumin plus coenzyme Q10 (CQ), or double placebo (DP) for 12 weeks. RESULTS The CP group compared with the three other groups showed a significant reduction in HDL-c (P = 0.001), TG (P < 0.001), TC (P < 0.001), and LDL-c (P < 0.001). No significant differences were seen between the four groups in terms of SBP, DBP, FPG, WC, BMI and weight. CONCLUSION Curcumin improved dyslipidemia, but had no effect on body composition, hypertension and glycemic control. Furthermore, coenzyme Q10 as well as the combination of curcumin and coenzyme Q10 showed no therapeutic effects in subjects with MetS. The trial was registered on 09/21/2018 at the Iranian clinical trials website (IRCT20180201038585N2), URL: https://www.irct.ir/trial/32518 .
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Precision Medicine Approach to Alzheimer's Disease: Successful Pilot Project.
Toups, K, Hathaway, A, Gordon, D, Chung, H, Raji, C, Boyd, A, Hill, BD, Hausman-Cohen, S, Attarha, M, Chwa, WJ, et al
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. 2022;88(4):1411-1421
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Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease are without effective therapeutics. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a precision medicine approach to historical controls in patients with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia. This study is a proof-of-concept study which recruited twenty-five patients with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment, aged between 50–76 years. Patients were treated for nine months with a personalised, precision medicine protocol that addressed each patient’s identified potentially contributory factors. Results show that a precision medicine approach to the cognitive decline of Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment may be an effective strategy, especially with continued optimization over time. Authors conclude that their findings indicate that it is possible to reverse cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment and early dementia with a personalised, precision medicine (/systems medicine) protocol. This is a small study that requires larger scale initiatives, including examining the practicalities of integrating this approach into healthcare systems.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Effective therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease are needed. However, previous clinical trials have pre-determined a single treatment modality, such as a drug candidate or therapeutic procedure, which may be unrelated to the primary drivers of the neurodegenerative process. Therefore, increasing data set size to include the potential contributors to cognitive decline for each patient, and addressing the identified potential contributors, may represent a more effective strategy. OBJECTIVE To determine whether a precision medicine approach to Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment is effective enough in a proof-of-concept trial to warrant a larger, randomized, controlled clinical trial. METHODS Twenty-five patients with dementia or mild cognitive impairment, with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores of 19 or higher, were evaluated for markers of inflammation, chronic infection, dysbiosis, insulin resistance, protein glycation, vascular disease, nocturnal hypoxemia, hormone insufficiency or dysregulation, nutrient deficiency, toxin or toxicant exposure, and other biochemical parameters associated with cognitive decline. Brain magnetic resonance imaging with volumetrics was performed at baseline and study conclusion. Patients were treated for nine months with a personalized, precision medicine protocol, and cognition was assessed at t = 0, 3, 6, and 9 months. RESULTS All outcome measures revealed improvement: statistically significant improvement in MoCA scores, CNS Vital Signs Neurocognitive Index, and Alzheimer's Questionnaire Change score were documented. No serious adverse events were recorded. MRI volumetrics also improved. CONCLUSION Based on the cognitive improvements observed in this study, a larger, randomized, controlled trial of the precision medicine therapeutic approach described herein is warranted.
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Honey does not adversely impact blood lipids of adult men and women: a randomized cross-over trial.
Al-Tamimi, AM, Petrisko, M, Hong, MY, Rezende, L, Clayton, ZS, Kern, M
Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.). 2020;74:87-95
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Restriction of sugar intake is among the most commonly advocated public health strategies, as it is believed to prevent the development of chronic diseases. Unlike sugar, honey has been shown to have various positive health benefits from increasing antioxidant status to lowering postprandial [after a meal] glycaemia and insulinaemia in healthy subjects when compared to responses of more highly refined sugar mixtures. The aim of this study was to assess responses to both short-term (1 week) and relatively long-term (1 month) ingestion of clover honey consumption versus sucrose on changes in dietary intake and serum lipid concentrations in young to middle-aged adults. This study is a crossover design randomised controlled study for which 40 participants were recruited (male [n = 21] and female [n = 19]) with an age range between 25 and 57 years. Results indicate that consumption of clover honey (1.2 g of carbohydrate per kilogram body weight) for up to 1 month produced modestly positive dietary and triglyceride effects compared to sucrose. - there were no positive lipid effects within the clover honey trial. - compared to sucrose, clover honey consumption resulted in a significantly lower intake of energy, carbohydrate, sugars and fat as well as lower triglycerides concentrations at the end of 4 weeks. Authors conclude that honey produces limited, modest health benefits relative to sucrose. Future studies are needed to investigate the possible mechanisms by which honey influences triglyceride production and/or clearance and the metabolic and hormonal regulators of food intake.
Abstract
Consumption of added sugars in the US is estimated to be approximately 1.5 times recommended levels and has been linked to increased risk for developing chronic diseases. We hypothesized that relative to sugar, honey would reduce energy intake and improve serum lipid profiles. To test this, we assessed the short-term (1-week) and relatively long-term (1-month) effects of honey versus sucrose on changes in dietary intake and serum lipid concentrations. Thirty-seven apparently healthy subjects (21 males; 16 females) aged 24-57 years (BMI = 17.6-37.2 kg/m2) completed two 4-week trials in a randomized, cross-over design separated by ≥4-week washout. During each trial, subjects consumed either clover honey or sucrose providing 1.2 g/kg/day of carbohydrate under free-living conditions with instructions to avoid changing their habitual food intake. Serum triglyceride (TG) concentrations were elevated (P < .05) after 1 week for both trials but only remained elevated (P < .05) at the 4-week time-point during sucrose consumption. The elevation after 1 week during the honey trial was concurrent with a transient increase (P < .05) in body weight. No effects on serum concentrations of insulin, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, or high density lipoprotein-cholesterol were detected for either trial. Subjects consumed significantly less energy (P < .05), carbohydrate (P < .005), sugars (P < .05), and saturated fat (P < .05) during the honey trial. These data suggest that honey may serve as a favorable substitute for sucrose with regard to reduced energy intake, carbohydrate and sugars, without negatively influencing serum lipid concentrations.
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Gender Differences with Dose⁻Response Relationship between Serum Selenium Levels and Metabolic Syndrome-A Case-Control Study.
Lu, CW, Chang, HH, Yang, KC, Chiang, CH, Yao, CA, Huang, KC
Nutrients. 2019;11(2)
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Selenium (Se) is an antioxidative micronutrient that activates Se-containing proteins known as selenoproteins. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between serum Se level and metabolic syndrome including each metabolic factor. A secondary aim was to find a correlation between obesity, insulin resistance, and gender. The study is a case control study based on the comparison of Se levels between patients with and without metabolic syndrome. The study enrolled a total of 1165 ambulatory males or females, aged more than 40 years. Results showed a positive association between serum Se level and the risk of metabolic syndrome. Also, the serum Se concentration was positively associated with a number of metabolic factors following a dose–response relationship. Authors conclude that gender stratification analyses clearly highlighted the gender differences in insulin resistance, adiposity, and lipid metabolism.
Abstract
Few studies have investigated the association between selenium and metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to explore the associations between the serum selenium level and metabolic syndrome as well as examining each metabolic factor. In this case-control study, the participants were 1165 adults aged ≥40 (65.8 ± 10.0) years. Serum selenium was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The associations between serum selenium and metabolic syndrome were examined by multivariate logistic regression analyses. The least square means were computed by general linear models to compare the serum selenium levels in relation to the number of metabolic factors. The mean serum selenium concentration was 96.34 ± 25.90 μg/L, and it was positively correlated with waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, fasting glucose, and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in women, but it was only correlated with fasting glucose and HOMA-IR in men. After adjustment, the odds ratios (ORs) of having metabolic syndrome increased with the selenium quartile groups (p for trend: <0.05), especially in women. The study demonstrated that the serum selenium levels were positively associated with metabolic syndrome following a non-linear dose⁻response trend. Selenium concentration was positively associated with insulin resistance in men and women, but it was associated with adiposity and lipid metabolism in women. The mechanism behind this warrants further confirmation.