Chronic diseases

Objectives:
Vitamin D deficiency has been related to the risk of sepsis. However, previous studies showed inconsistent results regarding the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 (OH)D) and mortality risk in septic patients. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Does a low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D level in blood) increase mortality risk in septic patients?

Objectives:
The relationship between dietary pattern and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been described; however, the exclusive role of dietary factors remains controversial. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Does a dietary intake of fruits and vegetables, dietary fiber, fish, n-3 or n-6 fatty acids and antioxidant vitamins reduce risk of COPD in adults?

Objectives:
There is some inconclusive evidence for the role of fish consumption in susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS). Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Does fish consumption reduce multiple sclerosis (MS)?

Objectives:
Soy products contain several compounds with anti-inflammatory properties like genistein and daidzein which reported to act through different pathways. However, there are inconsistent results and lack of any comprehensive review regarding randomized controlled trials which assess the effect of soy products on inflammatory markers. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Does soy product supplementation reduce levels of inflammatory markers, like CRP, IL-6?

Objectives:
A dietary protein intake (DPI) of between 0.6 and 0.8 g protein per kilogram body weight per day (g/kg/day) is frequently recommended for adults with moderate-to-advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, evidence on whether patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) actually benefit from a DPI of ≤ 0.8 g/kg/day and from a low-protein diet (LPD) at CKD stages 1-3 has not been consistent. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Objectives:
Do melatonin supplements improve sleep quality as assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in adults with various diseases?

Study design:
This review article included a total of 23 RCTs.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found that melatonin supplements had significant effects on sleep quality as assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) [WMD = -1.24, 95% CI = -1.77 to -0.71, p = 0.000, I2 = 80.7%, p = 0.000].

Objectives:
Taurine plays a pivotal role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, blood pressure homeostasis and obesity largely due to its cytoprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. Despite promising data from animal studies in this scenario, the efficacy of taurine supplementation in human studies has been inconsistent. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Does taurine supplementation lower blood pressure and improve the lipid profile in patients with liver dysregulation?

Objectives:
Are serum albumin concentrations lower in patients with stable COPD compared to non-COPD controls?  

Study design:
This review article included 26 studies with a total of 2,554 COPD patients (74% males) and 2,055 non-COPD controls (63% males).
Overall, the mean age of participants across all studies was 61.7 years in COPD patients and 64.6 years in controls (patients without COPD).
Almost all (24 out of 26) were prospective cohort studies.

Objectives:
Is there a causal relationship between ginger intake and improvements of major oxidative stress (OS) parameters, such as glutathione peroxidase activity, total antioxidant capacity, alondialdehyde (MDA) levels and CAT activity?   

Objectives:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health problem worldwide. Evidence supporting the use of probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic supplementation in the management of CKD is mixed, although some studies suggest they may be useful. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Do probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic supplementation improve cardiometabolic and oxidative stress parameters in patients with chronic kidney disease?