Nutrition and health

Objectives:
Due to the high incidence of liver disease and the severity of adverse outcomes, liver disease has become a serious public health problem, bringing a huge disease burden to individuals, families and society. Most studies have shown significant differences in serum carotenoid content and dietary carotenoid intake between liver disease patients and non-liver disease patients, but some studies have reported contrary results.Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Do higher serum concentrations of carotenoids (such as, α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, cryptoxanthin and lutein/zeaxanthin) or higher dietary intakes of carotenoids reduces the risk of liver disease?

Study design:
This review article included 3 RCT studies, 6 cohort studies, 11 case-control studies, 9 cross-sectional studies and 1 RCT-combined cross-sectional study.

The Egger test showed no publication bias.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found pooled meta-analysis showed that higher serum α-carotene [SMD = -0.58, 95% CI = -0.83 to -0.32, p < 0.001], β-carotene [SMD = -0.81, 95% CI = -1.13 to -0.49, p < 0.001] and lycopene [SMD = -1.06, 95% CI = -1.74 to -0.38, p < 0.001] significantly reduced the risk and severity of liver disease. 

The investigators found, however, no significant difference was observed between serum β-cryptoxanthin [SMD = 0.02, 95% CI = -0.41 to 0.45, p = 0.92] and lutein/zeaxanthin [SMD = 0.62, 95% CI = -1.20 to 2.45, p = 0.502] and the risk and severity of liver disease. 

The investigators found dietary β-carotene intake [SMD = -0.22, 95% CI = -0.31 to -0.13, p < 0.001] significantly reduced the risk of liver disease. 

The investigators found an intake of more than 6 mg of carotenoids on an energy-restricted diet can effectively alleviate the symptoms of NAFLD. 

The investigators concluded that higher serum concentrations of α-carotene, β-carotene and lycopene reduce risk of liver disease. Meanwhile, dietary intake of β-carotene reduces the incidence of liver disease. 

Original title: 
A systematic review of dietary and circulating carotenoids and liver disease by Hu B, Sui J, […], Xia H. 

 

Link:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39229651/

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on cohort studies/significantly, carotenoids and chronic disease right here. 

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease worldwide.

Objectives:
The aim of this review article (meta-analysis) was to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of oral ginger for symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis (OA).

Study design:
This review article included 5 RCTs with in total 593 patients.

The average age of the patients ranged from 47 years to 66 years and the percentage of women included in the studies ranged from 26% to 80%.
The dose of oral administration of ginger ranged from 500 mg/day to 1000 mg/day.
Trial duration ranged from 3 to 12 weeks.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found compared to placebo, ginger intake significantly reduced pain [SMD = -0.30, 95% CI = -0.50 to -0.09, p = 0.005, I2 = 27%].

The investigators found compared to placebo, ginger intake showed a statistically significant reduction in disability [SMD = -0.22, 95% CI = -0.39 to -0.04, p = 0.01, I2 = 0%].

The investigators found patients given ginger were more than twice as likely to discontinue (due to adverse events) treatment compared to placebo [RR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.04 to 5.22, p = 0.04, I2 = 0%].

The investigators concluded that 500-1000 mg/day oral ginger intake is able to reduce pain and disability in osteoarthritis patients.

Original title:
Efficacy and safety of ginger in osteoarthritis patients: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials by Bartels EM, Folmer VN, […], Christensen R.

Link:
http://www.oarsijournal.com/article/S1063-4584(14)01276-X/pdf

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on chronic diseases right here. 

Objectives:
The aim of this review article was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in assessing active Crohn’s disease (CD) in adults.

Study design:
This meta-analysis included 15 studies involving 1558 adults with active Crohn’s disease.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found overall, the pooled sensitivity (0.88) and LR- (0.14) were not heterogeneous, whereas the pooled specificity [0.97, I2 = 72.9%] and LR + [15.10, I2 = 71.8 %] were.

The investigators found the DOR of ultrasound for assessing active CD was 121.70, with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 63.3%).
A symmetrical summary ROC curve was plotted showing that the area under the curve was 0.94, indicating good diagnostic accuracy.

The investigators found meta-regression and subgroup analysis showed that the disease location may be a major cause of heterogeneity.

The investigators concluded ultrasound has high diagnostic accuracy in detecting active Crohn’s disease in adults, especially for small bowel Crohn’s disease.

Original title:
Ultrasound as a diagnostic tool in detecting active Crohn’s disease: a meta-analysis of prospective studies by Dong J, Wang H, [...], Li J.

Link:
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00330-013-2973-0

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on chronic diseases right here.