The effects of phytochemicals and herbal bio-active compounds on tumour necrosis factor-α in overweight and obese individuals: a clinical review

Inflammopharmacology - Obesity is abnormal fat accumulation in the body which acts as a risk factor for various cardiometabolic states. Adipose tissue in excess can release inflammatory factors,...     

Soy Reduces Bone Turnover Markers in Women During Early Menopause: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Menopausal estrogen loss leads to an increased bone loss. Soy isoflavones can act as selective estrogen receptor modulators, their role in bone turnover is unclear. The primary outcome was assessing changes in plasma bone turnover markers. The secondary outcomes were assessing changes in cardiovascular risk markers including insulin resistance, blood pressure, and lipid profile. We performed a double‐blind randomized parallel study in which 200 women within 2 years after the onset of their menopause were randomized to 15 g soy protein with 66 mg isoflavone (SPI) or 15 g soy protein alone (SP), daily for 6 months. There was a significant reduction in type I collagen crosslinked beta C‐telopeptide (βCTX) (bone‐resorption marker) with SPI supplementation (0.40 ± 0.17 versus 0.15 ± 0.09 μg/L; p < 0.01) compared to SP supplementation (0.35 ± 0.12 versus 0.35 ± 0.13 μg/L; p = 0.92) after 6 months. There was also a significant reduction in type I procollagen‐N‐propeptide (P1NP) (bone formation marker) with SPI supplementation (50.5 ± 25.0 versus 34.3 ± 17.6 μg/L; p < 0.01), more marked between 3 and 6 months. Following SPI there was a significant reduction in fasting glucose, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, and systolic blood pressure whereas no significant changes in these parameters was observed with SP. There were no significant changes in fasting lipid profile and diastolic blood pressure with either preparation. There was a significant increase in TSH and reduction in free thyroxine (p < 0.01) with SPI supplementation though free tri‐iodothyronine was unchanged. In conclusion, soy protein with isoflavones may confer a beneficial effect on bone health, analogous to the mode of action of antiresorptive agents, albeit to a less magnitude. There was a significant improvement of cardiovascular risk markers, but a significant increase in TSH and reduction in free thyroxine after SPI supplementation indicating a detrimental effect on thyroid function. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.     

Disparate Effects of Atorvastatin Compared With Simvastatin on C-Reactive Protein Concentrations in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Reduction in LDL and high sensitivity (hs) C-reactive protein (CRP) are independent indicators of successful cardiovascular risk reduction with statins. This study compared the effect of equivalent LDL-lowering doses of simvastatin and atorvastatin on hsCRP in type 2 diabetic patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A crossover study of 26 patients with type 2 diabetes taking either 40 mg simvastatin or 10 mg atorvastatin was undertaken. After 3 months on one statin, lipids and hsCRP were measured on 10 occasions over a 5-week period. The same procedure was then followed taking the other statin.

RESULTS

LDL was comparable on either treatment: atorvastatin 2.2 ± 0.2 vs. 2.1 ± 0.3 mmol/l (mean ± SD; P = 0.19). CRP of individuals taking atorvastatin was significantly lower than when they were taking simvastatin (median 1.08 vs. 1.47 mg/l, P = 0.0002) and was less variable (median SD of logCRP 0.0036 vs. 0.178, P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with simvastatin, atorvastatin reduced hsCRP and its variability in type 2 diabetic patients. This enhanced anti-inflammatory effect may prove beneficial if lower CRP is associated with improved cardiovascular risk.The ability of high sensitivity (hs) C-reactive protein (CRP) to predict cardiovascular risk has been confirmed in diverse population cohorts including type 2 diabetic patients (1). Patients who have lower hsCRP levels after statin therapy have better clinical outcomes regardless of the resultant level of LDL (2,3). Reduction in LDL and hsCRP are independent indicators of the success of statins in reducing cardiovascular risk (4). To assess any difference between the effect of long and short half-life statins on hsCRP and its variability, we conducted a crossover study with equivalent lipid-lowering doses of simvastatin and atorvastatin.