BackgroundComplementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies are widely used for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) due to the limitations of conventional medicine. However, their efficacy and safety remain controversial. Therefore, this meta-analysis was performed to assess the improvement of CAM therapy on NVP.MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched for where the trial group was CAM and the control group was a conventional medicine or a placebo for NVP. This was done via 8 databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, SinoMed, and VIP, from inception to October 25, 2022. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the quality of evidence. The Stata 15.0 software was used to perform the meta-analysis.ResultsThirty-three RCTs were included in this study. The acupuncture treatment was superior to conventional medicine at the effective rate [RR = 1.71, 95% CI (1.02, 2.86), P = 0.042; Low-quality evidence]. Ginger had more significant effects than conventional medicine at the Rhodes index [WMD = −0.52, 95% CI (−0.79, −0.24), P ≤ 0.001; Moderate-quality evidence] and it had the same effect as drugs to relieve vomiting [SMD = 0.30, 95% CI (−0.12, 0.73), P = 0.160; Low-quality evidence]. Compared with placebo, ginger had a higher effective rate [RR = 1.68, 95% CI (1.09, 2.57), P = 0.018; Low-quality evidence], and lower Visual analog scale (VAS) of Nausea [WMD = −1.21, 95% CI (−2.34, −0.08), P = 0.036; Low-quality evidence]. Ginger had the same antiemetic effect as placebo [WMD = 0.05, 95% CI (−0.23, 0.32), P = 0.743; Low-quality evidence]. Acupressure was superior to conventional medicine at the reduction of antiemetic drugs [SMD = −0.44, 95% CI (−0.77, −0.11), P = 0.008; Low-quality evidence], and at the effective rate [RR = 1.55, 95% CI (1.30, 1.86), P ≤ 0.001; Low-quality evidence]. Acupressure had the same effect as placebo at the effective rate [RR = 1.25, 95% CI (0.94, 1.65), P = 0.124; Low-quality evidence]. Overall, CAM therapy was safer than conventional medicine or a placebo.ConclusionThe results showed that CAM therapies were able to alleviate NVP. However, due to the low quality of existing RCTs, more RCTs with large sample sizes are needed to validate this conclusion in the future.

BackgroundAccumulating evidence suggests that elevated serum uric acid (SUA) may be a risk factor for hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). However, the epidemiological evidence for the association between SUA and HTG is limited. This article aimed to use the data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2007–2018) database to bridge the research gap.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used data from 10027 adults involved in NHANES from 2007-2018. We designed the exposure variable as SUA and the outcome variable as HTG. The covariates included demographics, questionnaires, laboratory, and examination information. Weighted logistic regression and subgroup analysis were used to explore the independent association between SUA and HTG. Furthermore, interaction tests were also carried out to evaluate the strata differences. Generalized additive models (GAM), smooth curve fittings, and threshold effect analysis were applied to examine the non-linear relationship.ResultsA total of 10027 participants were included, of which 3864 were HTG participants and 6163 were non-HTG participants. After fully adjusting for confounders, weighted multiple logistic regression models revealed a 77% increase in the risk of HTG when each unit of log2-SUA increased. There was also a positive association between elevated log2-SUA and developed risk of HTG in the quartile (Q) groups (Q1 OR: 1.00; Q2 OR: 1.17 [95%CI: 0.95,1.45]; Q3 OR: 1.43 [95%CI: 1.16,1.78]; Q4 OR: 1.68 [95%CI: 1.36,2.08]. The subgroup analysis results remained consistent across strata, with a strong positive correlation between SUA and HTG. Interaction tests showed no dependence on physical activity (PA), gender, BMI, smoking status, alcohol intake, hypertension, and diabetes for this positive association between log2-SUA and HTG (all p for interaction >0.05). The participants’ age may impact the strength of the association between SUA and HTG (p for interaction <0.05).ConclusionThere is a positive association between SUA and HTG in US adults. Considering that SUA may be a risk factor for HTG, individuals diagnosed with HTG should prioritize the daily management of SUA as part of their comprehensive care.