This tab will answer the following nutritional question: How can nutrition contribute positively to my health?

One swallow does not make a summer. A famous Dutch saying that could not be any more obvious. Just because one single scientific study about a certain topic makes certain claims, it does not necessarily mean it is true. On the other hand, a review article (a collection of scientific studies on a certain topic) of randomized, placebo-controlled double blind clinical trials (RCTs) will answer the following question:
"Do taking dietary supplements make sense?" Yes for a positive conclusion and no for a negative conclusion.

One swallow does not make a summer. A famous Dutch saying that could not be any more obvious. Just because one single scientific study about a certain topic makes certain claims, it does not necessarily mean it is true. On the other hand, a review article (a collection of scientific studies on a certain topic) of cohort studies or case-control studies will answer the following question:
"Should I change my diet?".

Find scientific studies on vitamin A: type vitamin A in Search field.

Nutritional advice

Vitamin D deficiency increases blindness in people with diabetes

Vitamine D tekort en diabetische retinopathie.jpg

Objectives:
Vitamin D levels have been shown to be associated with diabetic retinopathy, however to date, no review has examined the relationship between vitamin D and sight threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR) and non-sight threatening diabetic retinopathy (NSTDR). Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Does vitamin D deficiency (defined as 25(OH)D levels of 20 ng/mL) increase risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes?

Study design:
This review article included 11 cross-sectional studies and 1 case-control study with a total of 9,057 participants.
There was no publication bias.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found vitamin D deficiency significantly increased risk of sight threatening diabetic retinopathy with 80% [OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.40 to 2.30, p ≤ 0.001, I2 = 39.39%].
However, this increased risk was not found for non-sight threatening diabetic retinopathy [OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.90 to 1.27, p = 0.48, I2 = 30.21%].

The investigators concluded that vitamin D deficiency (defined as 25(OH)D levels of 20 ng/mL) increases risk of sight threatening diabetic retinopathy but not non-sight threatening diabetic retinopathy. Given the well-reported associations between vitamin D deficiency and other unfavourable outcomes, it is important that vitamin D deficiency is managed appropriately and in a timely manner to reduce the risk of blindness in people with diabetes.

Original title:
Associations between vitamin D status and sight threatening and non-sight threatening diabetic retinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis by Trott M, Driscoll R, […], Pardhan S.

Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9167360/

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on vitamin D and diabetes right here.

Diabetic retinopathy, also known as diabetic eye disease (DED), is a complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (retina). It can cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated.

50 g/d almond decreases causally bad cholesterol in patients with type 2 diabetes

Objectives:
An enhanced risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) still exists even when patients with type 2 diabetes have tight control on blood sugar. Thus, identification of treatment approaches that address CVD risk factors may be useful for patients beyond the blood sugar management. Although emerging evidence suggests that nuts consumption have beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health, the effects of almond intake in patients with type 2 diabetes are still controversial. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Does almond consumption improve risk factors (cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), body mass index, weight, body fat, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and CRP) of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes?

Study design:
This review article included 9 RCTs.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found there was a causal relationship between almond dietary intake and a significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol) [WMD = -5.28 mg/dL, 95% CI = -9.92 to -0.64, p = 0.026] in patients with type 2 diabetes compared with the control group.
This lowering effect of LDL cholesterol was robust in subgroups with almond consumption >50 g/day and baseline LDL cholesterol level 130 mg/dL.

The investigators found, however, the effect of almond on total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol or good cholesterol), fasting plasma glucose, insulin, HbA1c, body mass index, weight, body fat, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and CRP was not significant compared with the control group.

The investigators concluded that a dietary intake of at least 50 g/d almond decreases causally LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) but has no favourable effect on other cardiometabolic outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. Further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the almond.

Original title:
Effects of almond on cardiometabolic outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by Moosavian SP, Rahimlou M, […], Jalili C.

Link:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35443097/

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on almond consumption and diabetes right here.

Ginger supplementation reduces blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes

Objectives:
There is some evidence regarding the positive effects of ginger supplementation on metabolic profile in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, they are conflicting and therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Does ginger supplementation improve metabolic profile (FBS, HbA1c, TC, TG, LDL, HDL, SBP and DBP) in patients with type 2 diabetes?

Study design:
This review article included 10 RCTs.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found pooled meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in fasting blood sugar (FBS) level following ginger supplementation by polling 8 effect sizes [WMD = -18.81, 95% CI = -28.70 to -8.92, I2 = 77.4%].

The investigators found pooled meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in HbA1c level following ginger supplementation by polling 7 effect sizes [WMD = -0.57, 95% CI = -0.93 to -0.20, I2 = 88.6%].

The investigators found pooled meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) following ginger supplementation by polling 5 effect sizes [WMD = -4.20, 95% CI = -7.64 to -0.77, I2 = 97%].

The investigators found pooled meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) following ginger supplementation by polling 5 effect sizes [WMD = -1.61, 95% CI = -3.04 to -0.18, I2 = 93.2%].

The investigators found pooled meta-analysis showed ginger supplementation had no significant influence on lipid profile involving triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol.

The investigators concluded supplementation with ginger reduces fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes. Further large RCTs are required to shed light on this issue.

Original title:
The effect of ginger supplementation on metabolic profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by Ebrahimzadeh A, Ebrahimzadeh A, […], Milajerdi A.

Link:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35031435/

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on lowering blood pressure and diabetes right here.