Publications (36) View all
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Article: Investigation of the effects of chlorella vulgaris supplementation in patients with non-alcoholic Fatty liver disease: a randomized clinical trial.
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ABSTRACT: Key Words: Chlorella vulgaris; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Insulin resistance; Hepatic injury; Transaminase; Lipid profile. Abbreviations: Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP); Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT); Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST); Body Mass Index (BMI); Chlorella Vulgaris (C. vulgaris); Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS); Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c); High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C); Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR); Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C); Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD); Standard Deviation (SD).Background/Aims: To investigate the advantage of Chlorella vulgaris supplementation as an adjunctive therapy in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methodology: In a randomized, openlabel clinical trial, 76 individuals with NAFLD were randomly assigned to: 1) Chlorella group (n=33), receiving C. vulgaris extract (1200mg/day) + metformin (750mg/ day) + vitamin E (200mg/day) for 3 months, or 2) Metformin group (n=43), receiving metformin (1250mg/ day) + vitamin E (200mg/day) for 3 months. Weight, body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index as well as serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), insulin, total and direct bilirubin, fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), uric acid, albumin and lipid profile were evaluated at baseline and at the end of trial. Results: Weight and BMI were decreased in both groups. Serum ALT, AST, triglycerides, uric acid, HbA1c and HOMA-IR index were reduced only in the Chlorella group whereas significant changes in total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and FBS were only observed in the metformin group. There were also borderline significant reductions in insulin and FBS in the Chlorella group. Conclusions: The findings of the present trial indicated that addition of C. vulgaris extract to the therapeutic regimen of NAFLD including metformin and vitamin E, is associated with favorable effects on serum levels of transaminases, triglycerides as well as insulin sensitivity. Therefore, C. vulgaris extract might be a promising hepatoprotective supplement for patients with NAFLD.Hepato-gastroenterology 11/2012; 59(119). · 0.66 Impact Factor -
Article: A randomized controlled trial on the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin in patients with chronic sulphur mustard-induced cutaneous complications.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Chronic cutaneous complications such as pruritus are among the very frequent complaints of sulphur mustard (SM)-exposed patients. The present trial investigated the impact of curcumin on serum inflammatory biomarkers and their association with pruritus severity and quality of life (QoL). METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind trial among 96 male Iranian veterans (age 37-59 y) who were suffering from chronic SM-induced pruritic skin lesions. Patients were randomly assigned to curcumin (1 g/d, n = 46) or placebo (n = 50) for four weeks. Serum concentrations of interleukins 6 (IL-6) and 8 (IL-8) together with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were measured at baseline and at the end of the trial. Assessment of pruritus severity was performed using the pruritus score and QoL using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). RESULTS: Serum IL-8 and hs-CRP were significantly reduced in both groups but the magnitude of reduction was greater in the curcumin group (P < 0.001). Serum CGRP was only decreased in the curcumin group (P < 0.001). No significant change was observed in serum IL-6. There were significant correlations between CGRP and IL-6 changes (P = 0.011) and between DLQI and IL-8 changes (P = 0.026) in the curcumin group. In the curcumin group, changes in serum IL-8 concentrations were found as the significant predictor of DLQI scores (P = 0.026) but none of the independent variables could predict pruritus scores. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin supplementation effectively mitigates inflammation in patients suffering from chronic SM-induced cutaneous complications. This anti-inflammatory effect might account for the observed pruritus alleviation and QoL improvement by this phytochemical.Annals of Clinical Biochemistry 10/2012; · 2.17 Impact Factor -
Article: Relationship between levels of IFNγ, TNFα, and TGFβ and pruritus in sulfur mustard-exposed veterans.
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ABSTRACT: One of the foremost negative effects of sulfur mustard (SM) is chronic pruritus, which affects the quality-of-life. In the present study, pruritus was assessed in relation with inflammatory factors in the blood. Seventy-two blood samples were collected from SM-injured veterans of the Iran-Iraq War (Case Group; n = 36) and non-exposed patients (Control Group; n = 36) suffering from skin pruritus. Pruritus severity in all subjects was assessed, as were levels of IFNγ, TGFβ, and TNFα. The results indicated that total pruritus severity did not significantly differ between the two groups. While WBC counts in Control patients were significantly higher than among the exposed veterans, there were no significant differences in levels of any specific WBC sub-classes. Levels of serum IFNγ and TGFβ in the control subjects were significantly greater than those in the exposed veterans. In contrast, serum TNFα in the SM-exposed group appeared to be in the normal range, albeit significantly higher than that of the control group. A positive correlation between pruritus and each of the evaluated cytokines was noted in the Case Group. As for the non-SM-exposed veterans, correlations were significant only in the cases of IFNγ (stimulated) and TGFβ. The results of the present study suggested that there might be a relationship between cytokine alterations and pruritus in SM-exposed veterans. Based on these studies, designing of new treatments to modulate blood levels of mediators might be helpful to decrease the problem of SM-induced pruritus, thereby improving the quality-of-life in exposed veterans.Journal of Immunotoxicology 09/2012; · 1.44 Impact Factor -
Article: Impact of Adjunctive Therapy with Chlorellav ulgaris Extract on Antioxidant Status, Pulmonary Function, and Clinical Symptoms of Patients with Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.
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ABSTRACT: This present trial investigated the efficacy of supplementation with Chlorella vulgaris, a bioactive microalga rich in macro- and micronutrients, in the improvement of biochemical and clinical symptoms in patients with obstructive pulmonary disorders. Ninety-seven patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma who were under conventional treatment regimens were randomly assigned to C. vulgaris extract (CVE) (n=48; 2700 mg/day) or no adjunctive therapy (n=49) for eight weeks. Serum levels of antioxidants along with spirometric parameters and clinical symptoms were evaluated pre- and post-trial. The magnitude of increases in the concentrations of glutathione, vitamin E, and vitamin C, and activities of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzymes were all significantly greater in the CVE vs. control group (p<0.05). In spite of increases, none of the assessed spirometric parameters (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and FEF(25-75%)) did significantly differ by the end of the trial in the study groups, apart from a significant elevation of FEV1 in the control group (p=0.03). The frequency of coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and sputum brought up were all significantly reduced in both CVE and control groups (p<0.05). The rate of improvement for sputum brought up and wheezing were significantly greater in the CVE group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Although CVE was found to ameliorate serum antioxidant status, its supplementation was not associated with any bronchodilatory activity. The results of the present trial do not support any clinical efficacy for CVE in patients with obstructive pulmonary disorders.Scientia Pharmaceutica 09/2012; 80(3):719-30. -
Article: Investigation of serum substance P status in patients with chronic pruritic skin lesions due to sulfur mustard: a cross-sectional study.
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ABSTRACT: Purpose: Chronic cutaneous complications of sulfur mustard (SM) are quite common among intoxicated patients. Among these complications, pruritus represents the most frequent symptom which has significant influence on the quality of life (QoL). The present was undertaken to assess serum levels of substance P in patients who suffer from chronic pruritic lesions due to SM. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, patients suffering from chronic SM-induced pruritic skin lesions (n = 40) and atopic dermatitis (AD)-induced pruritus (n = 20) were recruited. Healhy subjects (n = 10) with no dermatologic disorder were also recruited as control groups. Serum substance P was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pruritus severity was assessed using pruritus score and visual analogue scale (VAS). QoL was evaluated using the dermatology life quality index (DLQI). Results: Significantly elevated serum concentrations of SP were found in the SM compared to the control (p < 0.001) and AD group (p < 0.001). Pruritus score was also higher in the SM compared to both control (p < 0.001) and AD groups (p < 0.001). While there was a higher VAS score in the SM vs. AD group (p = 0.019), no significant difference was observed for DLQI scores (p > 0.05). Significant correlations were found between serum SP and pruritus score in all assessed groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In light of the present findings, elevated SP levels might be regarded as an important contributor of SM-induced chronic pruritus and a potential target for reducing the symptoms.Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology 06/2012; · 0.91 Impact Factor
