Pomegranate supplementation has no favourable effect on improvements in glucose and insulin metabolism

Objectives:
The potential glucose-lowering effects of pomegranate have been reported in animal and observational studies, but intervention studies in humans have generated mixed results. Therefore, this review article (meta-analysis) has been conducted.

What are the effects of pomegranate supplementation on measures of glucose control, insulin levels and insulin sensitivity in humans?

Prevalence of stunted and wasted children at the same time is highest in the 12- to 24-month age group, especially among boys and in fragile and conflict-affected states

Objectives:
Children can be stunted and wasted at the same time. Having both deficits greatly elevates risk of mortality.

The aim of this review article is to estimate the prevalence and burden of children aged 6-59 months concurrently wasted and stunted.

Study design:
This review article included data from demographic and health survey and Multi-indicator Cluster Surveys datasets from 84 countries.

Results and conclusions:

Plant-based dietary patterns decrease cancer risk

Objectives:
The aim of this review article (meta-analysis) is to compare empirically derived dietary patterns in relation to cancer risk.

Study design:
This review article included observational studies, which evaluated the association with cancer risk between a posteriori derived dietary patterns.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found a significantly 64% increased risk of cancer for the adoption of high-meat compared to plant-based dietary patterns [RR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.02-2.63].

Coenzyme Q10 supplements result in lower mortality and improved exercise capacity of patients with heart failure

Objectives:
The therapeutic efficacy of coenzyme Q10 on patients with cardiac failure remains controversial. Therefore, this review article (meta-analysis) has been conducted.

Do patients with heart failure benefit from coenzyme Q10 supplements?

Study design:
This review article included a total of 14 RCTs with 1064 patients in coenzyme Q10 (treatment) group and 1085 patients in placebo (control) group.

Egger’s test results showed no significant evidence of publication bias in either endpoint.

N-3 PUFA supplementation improves immune function and reduces the level of inflammation in gastrointestinal cancer patients postoperatively

Objectives:
Surgical resection remains the primary treatment for gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy including early-stage cancer. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have been reported to have beneficial clinical and immune-modulating effects in the prognosis of gastrointestinal cancer patients undergoing surgery. Therefore, this review article (meta-analysis) has been conducted.

What is the impact of n-3 PUFA supplementation on postoperative inflammation status and immune function of gastrointestinal cancer patients?

Mortality effects of vitamin A supplementation in children <5 years do not vary by dosing frequency, total dose, or duration

Objectives:
Although vitamin A supplementation reduces child mortality, it remains unclear whether dosing frequency, total dose, or duration modifies effectiveness. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Do mortality effects of vitamin A supplementation in children 5 years vary by dosing frequency, total dose, or duration?

Study design:
This review article included 17 RCTs with 1,180,718 children. Mean age was 31.5 months at baseline.

Consumption of whole grains, fish, vegetables and fruit decrease risk of cardiovascular diseases

Objectives:
Despite growing evidence for food-based dietary patterns' potential to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, knowledge about the amounts of food associated with the greatest change in risk of specific cardiovascular outcomes and about the quality of meta-evidence is limited. Therefore, this review article (meta-analysis) has been conducted.

Serum zinc/iron levels are decreased in Alzheimer's disease patients

Objectives:
Many publications have investigated the association between metal ions and the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the results were ambiguous. Therefore, this meta-analysis (review article) has been conducted.

What is the association between serum copper/zinc/iron levels and Alzheimer's disease risk?

Study design:
This review article included 44 case-control studies.