1.
Preventive Vitamin D Supplementation and Risk for COVID-19 Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Sartini, M, Del Puente, F, Oliva, M, Carbone, A, Bobbio, N, Schinca, E, Giribone, L, Cristina, ML
Nutrients. 2024;(5)
Abstract
Over the past few decades, vitamin D has been found to play a crucial role in bone homeostasis, muscle function, oncogenesis, immune response and metabolism. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous researchers have tried to determine the role vitamin D might play in the immune response to the virus. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to demonstrate that preventive vitamin D supplementation can play a protective role in the incidence of COVID-19, mortality and admission to intensive care units (ICUs). A comprehensive search on the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane and Google Scholar databases was performed on 15 May 2023, and two of the authors independently screened the literature. As effect measures, we calculated the Odds Ratios with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (ICs). The assessment of potential bias and the evaluation of study quality will be conducted independently by two researchers. Sixteen publications were selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Our findings indicate that vitamin D supplementation has a protective effect against the incidence of COVID-19 in RCT studies (OR 0.403, 95% IC 0.218, 0.747), in the incidence of COVID-19 in analytical studies (OR = 0.592, 95% IC 0.476-0.736) and in ICU admission (OR 0.317, 95% IC 0.147-0.680). Subsequent analyses were conducted by type of subject treated (patient/healthcare workers) and type of supplementation (vitamin D vs. placebo/no treatment or high dose vs. low dose). Our meta-analysis suggests a definitive and significant association between the protective role of vitamin D and COVID-19 incidence and ICU admission.
2.
Coffee Consumption and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies.
Sartini, M, Bragazzi, NL, Spagnolo, AM, Schinca, E, Ottria, G, Dupont, C, Cristina, ML
Nutrients. 2019;11(3)
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Plain language summary
Coffee is the second most widely consumed drink worldwide, after water. It contains many active compounds that affect the health and functioning of the digestive tract. Previous population studies on the relationship between coffee consumption and cancer prevention have had mixed results. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide an up to date summary of the relationship between coffee consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer. The authors looked at 26 prospective studies. When results from the 26 studies were pooled, no significant relationship between coffee consumption and colorectal cancer was found. The researchers then looked at the results by ethnicity and found a protective effect for coffee on colorectal cancer in people from the US. For colon cancer, coffee was protective in men and women combined and in men alone, regardless of ethnicity. When the results were separated according to ethnicity, a significant protective effect was noted in European men and in Asian women. There was no association between coffee consumption and rectal cancer. Decaffeinated coffee demonstrated a protective effect against colorectal cancer in both men and women. The authors concluded that ethnicity could explain the mixed results of previous studies. Further research is needed into the relationship between a person’s genetic make-up and the risk of colorectal cancer associated with coffee.
Abstract
Coffee is a blend of compounds related to gastrointestinal physiology. Given its popularity and the epidemiology of colorectal cancer, the impact of this beverage on public health could be considerable. Our aim was to provide an updated synthesis of the relationship between coffee consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 26 prospective studies. Regarding colorectal cancer, no significant relationship was detected. Stratifying for ethnicity, a protective effect emerged in US subjects. Concerning colon cancer, coffee proved to exert a protective effect in men and women combined and in men alone. Stratifying for ethnicity, a significant protective effect was noted in European men only and in Asian women only. Concerning rectal cancer, no association was found. Decaffeinated coffee exhibited a protective effect against colorectal cancer in men and women combined. Studies were appraised for their quality by means of the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for Cohort studies. Only one study proved to be of low quality. Ethnicity could explain the heterogeneity of the studies. However, little is known about the relationship between the genetic make-up and the risk of colorectal cancer associated with coffee. Further research is warranted.