Background Asthma is a heterogeneous disease which is usually associated with chronic airway inflammation. Saffron has anti-inflammatory effects and may has beneficial effects on asthma. Hypothesis The present study was intended to survey the effects of saffron supplementation on blood pressure, lipid profiles, basophils, eosinophils and clinical symptoms in patients with allergic asthma. Study design Our study was a clinical trial. Methods Subjects ( N = 80, 32 women and 48 men, 41.25 ± 9.87 years old) with mild and moderate allergic asthma were randomized into two groups: the intervention group who received two capsules of saffron (100 mg/d), and the control group who received two capsules of placebo for 8 weeks. SPSS software (version 16.0) was used for the data analysis. Results Saffron improved the frequency of clinical symptoms of the patients (i.e., frequency of the shortness of breath during the day and night time, use of salbutamol spray, waking up due to asthma symptoms and activity limitation) in comparison to the placebo ( p < 0.001). Besides, asthma severity decreased almost significantly in the saffron group ( p = 0.07). It was also found that saffron, in comparison with the placebo, significantly reduced the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Moreover, eosinophils and basophils concentration reduced in the saffron group ( p = 0.06 and 0.05 respectively). Conclusion Saffron seems to be an effective and safe option (in 8 weeks supplementation) to improve clinical symptoms of patients with allergic asthma but the toxicity and/or long-term effects of saffron intake are not known. Registration ID in IRCT (IRCT2017012132081N2).

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, which usually associated with chronic airway inflammation. The anti-heat shock protein (anti-HSP) 70 is a novel risk factor for asthma. The aim of the present study was to survey the effect of saffron supplementation on anti-HSP70, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and spirometry test in patients with allergic asthma. Basic procedures: In this clinical trial, patients (N = 80, 32 women and 48 men, 18-65 years old) with mild and moderate allergic asthma were randomized into two groups: a group of patients who received two capsules of saffron (100 mg/d) and a control group who received two capsules of placebo for 8 weeks. Anti-HSP70, hs-CRP and spirometry test were determined in patients before (week 0) and after (week 8) intervention. SPSS software (version 16.0; Inc, Chicago, IL) was used for data analysis. Main findings: Saffron in comparison with placebo significantly reduced the hs-CRP (p < 0.001) and anti-HSP70 (p < 0.001) concentrations. In spirometry test, forced expiratory volume in first second(FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio and forced expiratory flow 25-75%.(FEF 25-75) increased significantly in saffron in comparison to placebo group (p < 0.05). Principal conclusions: Results of the present study suggested that saffron supplementation in patients with allergic asthma decreased significantly anti-HSPs 70 and hs-CRP and also improved some spirometry test factors.

Metabolic syndrome is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The heat shock proteins (HSPs) are associated with risk factors for CVD. The aim of the present study was to survey the effect of barberry on antibody titres to HSPs and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with metabolic syndrome. In our study, subjects (N=106, 79 women and 27 men, 18-65 years old) with metabolic syndrome were randomized into two groups: a group of patients who received three capsules of barberry and a control group who received three capsules of placebo for 6 weeks. Antibodies against HSPs 27, 60/65 and 70, hs-CRP and lipid profile were determined in patients before (week 0) and after (week 6) intervention. spss software (version 16.0; Inc, Chicago, IL) was used for data analysis. Results showed that barberry had no significant effect on serum level of anti-HSPs 65 and 70. But there was a significant decrease in anti-HSP 27 in both case and control groups (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively, in the case and control groups). Barberry decreased significantly anti-HSP 60 in the case group (p=0.03). High-sensitivity CRP was decreased non-significantly (p=0.17) in the case group and increased significantly (p=0.04) in the control group. Barberry decreased significantly low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol and increased significantly high-density cholesterol (p<0.05). Results of the present study suggested that barberry supplementation in patients with metabolic syndrome decreased significantly anti-HSPs 27 and 60 and hs-CRP levels and improved lipid profile.

Purpose The purpose of this paper with meta-analysis is to clarify the effects of cranberry consumption on features of the metabolic syndrome of interest of all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature search was conducted on ISI web of science, PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane library and Google Scholar databases, to include trials published up to March 2019. Weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated from a random or fixed-effects models. Between‐study heterogeneity was assessed by Cochrane’s test and I2 index. Findings Ten RCTs were included in this review which involving a total of 371 subjects. Our meta-analysis showed that cranberry consumption had beneficial effects on waist circumference (WMD −0.49, 95% CI −0.96 to −0.036; p = 0.034). No significant effect of cranberry consumption on fasting blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure was found in this meta-analysis. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic review with meta-analysis of RCTs that investigate the effect of cranberry consumption on features of the metabolic syndrome.

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