Background and aims Curcumin has anti‐inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of curcumin on improvement of the disease activity in ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods In this randomized double‐blind clinical trial, 70 patients with mild‐to‐moderate UC were randomly assigned to curcumin (1,500 mg/day) or placebo intake for 8 weeks. Disease clinical activity, quality of life, serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) values, and complete blood count were measured. Results Changes in Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index score were significantly higher in the curcumin than the placebo group (–5.9 ± 2.08 vs. –2.1 ± 2.6; p = .001). The scores of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire‐9 and quality of life were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (p = .006). Furthermore, the curcumin supplementation reduced the serum hs‐CRP concentration (–6.3 ± 13.6 vs. 3.7 ± 11.6 μg/ml; p = .01) and ESR levels significantly (–1.6 ± 2.7 vs. –0.09 ± 2.4 mm/hr; p = .02) in comparison with the control group. No significant changes were observed in the TNF‐α levels of both groups. Conclusions Consumption of the curcumin supplement, along with drug therapy, is associated with significant improvement of the clinical outcomes, quality of life, hs‐CRP, and ESR in patients with mild‐to‐moderate UC.

Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common complaints of women. The aim of this study was to investigate the adjuvant effect of vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids, separately or in combination, supplements on pain in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. This clinical trial conducted on students of university. Qualified girls completed the VAS before randomization. Arrangement was determined according to the severity of the pain (mild 0-3; moderate 3.1-6; severe 6.1-10). One hundred patients were randomly assigned to four groups receiving omega-3 (n = 25), vitamin E (n = 25), vitamin E- omega-3 (n = 25), or placebo (n = 25). Three hundred milligrams of omega-3 capsules (180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA) and 200 international units (IU) vitamin E were administered daily. Severity of the pain measured in the beginning and the end of the study. Omega-3 and vitamin E supplements effectively relieved menstrual pain compared with the placebo. But in group with combination of vitamin E + omega-3 has a considerable effect on menstrual pain when compared with other groups (p < .05). Using of Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug has high complication; however, Fish oil and vitamin E are helpful in reducing of dysmenorrhea pain and can be replaced with them.

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Findings on the effect of whole-grain consumption on inflammatory biomarkers are conflicting. This study aimed to summarize available studies on the effects of whole-grain consumption on inflammatory biomarkers in adults. Online databases including PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant studies published up to January 2018, using relevant keywords. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of whole-grain foods or diets high in whole-grain foods on markers of inflammation. Studies were selected if they had a control diet low in whole grains or diets without whole grains, whether calorie restricted or not. We did not include studies that examined the effect of individual grain components, including bran or germ, or fiber-based diets. Overall, 14 RCTs, with 1238 individuals aged ≥18 y, were included. Pooling 13 effect sizes from 11 RCTs on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, we found no significant effect of whole-grain consumption on serum CRP concentrations [weighted mean difference (WMD): −0.29 mg/L; 95% CI: −1.10, 0.52 mg/L]. However, the beneficial effects of whole-grain intake on serum CRP concentrations were observed in studies in individuals with elevated serum concentrations of CRP and studies with isocaloric diets. Combining 11 effect sizes from 10 RCTs, we found no significant effect of whole-grain consumption on serum IL-6 concentrations (WMD: −0.08 pg/mL; 95% CI: −0.27, 0.11 pg/mL). Nevertheless, we observed a significant effect of whole-grain consumption on serum IL-6 concentrations in studies in unhealthy individuals. A nonsignificant effect of whole-grain intake on circulating serum TNF-α concentrations was also seen when we summarized effect sizes from 7 RCTs (WMD: −0.06 pg/mL; 95% CI: −0.25, 0.14 pg/mL). Such a nonsignificant effect was observed for serum concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) (WMD: −3.59; 95% CI: −1.25, 8.44 kU/L). Unlike observational studies, we found no significant effect of whole-grain consumption on serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines, including serum concentrations of CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and PAI-1. However, beneficial effects of whole grains were found in some subgroups. Given the high between-study heterogeneity, deriving firm conclusions is difficult.

Background and Aims: Previous studies have shown that vitamin D plays an important role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study was designed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D levels and disease activity in IBD patients in Ahvaz, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on adult IBD patients referring to the outpatient clinic of gastroenterology at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz city, in the southwest of Iran. Each patient's disease activity defined according to Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) in Crohn's disease (CD) and Truelove score in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, serum 25[OH]D was measured using the radioimmunoassay method. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as concentration of <20 nmol/L. Results: Studied subjects were 130 UC and 23 CD patients (62.1% females) with a mean age of 37.5 ± 12.35 years. Vitamin D deficiency was present in 99 (64.7%) IBD patients. Fifty-three patients (34.6%) had active disease who, compared with patients in remission, had more frequent low vitamin D levels (80 vs 56.7%, P = 0.017). In UC patients, disease activity was significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency (P = 0.035), but no such relationship was observed in CD patients (P = 0.74). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with disease activity in IBD, especially in UC patients. Therefore, careful monitoring of vitamin D deficiency in these patients is highly recommended. Prospective cohort studies are also needed to determine the role of vitamin D deficiency and its treatment in the clinical course of IBD.