BackgroundType 2 diabetes (T2D) is accompanied by elevated inflammation, oxidative stress, hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia which all contribute to cardiovascular disease pathogenesis. Saffron as a complementary medicine and source of antioxidants could play a role in alleviating diabetes and its complications. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of saffron supplementation as an adjunct therapy in T2D.Patients and methodsThis randomized controlled trial included 80 T2D patients with a mean age of 54.1 years. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups to take either saffron tablets (100 mg/day; n=40) or placebo (n=40) for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were obtained at the beginning and after the intervention period to quantify glycemic factors, lipid profile, and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Anthropometric indices and dietary intakes were also measured at baseline and at study end.ResultsCompared with placebo, saffron supplementation resulted in significant decreases in waist circumference (p<0.001) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p=0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in other indices, including anthropometric parameters, serum insulin, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin sensitivity indices, lipid profile, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, total antioxidant capacity, and tumor necrosis factor-α between the study groups (p>0.05).ConclusionOverall, 12 weeks of saffron supplementation in diabetic patients had beneficial effects on waist circumference and serum MDA levels. However, saffron did not influence other evaluated cardio metabolic risk markers in diabetic patients.

C1q/TNF-Related Protein-3 (CTRP3) and CTRP13 are two newly discovered adipokines regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. But their role in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) is still in infancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of gene expression and serum levels of CTRP3 and CTRP13 with CAD, metabolic and inflammatory markers in patients with and without T2DM. Serum levels of CTRP3, CTRP13, adiponectin and inflammatory cytokines and their gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined in 172 subjects categorized as group I (without T2DM and CAD), group II (with CAD but no T2DM), group III (with T2DM but no CAD) and group IV (with T2DM and CAD). Serum levels and gene expression of CTRP3, CTRP13 and adiponectin in the group I were higher compared to other groups. Inflammatory cytokines in the control group were lower than other groups too. CTRP3 serum levels have an independent association with BMI, smoking and CTRP3 gene expression; also CTRP13 serum levels has an independent association with BMI, HDL-C, insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c and TNF-α. Decreased serum levels of CTRP3 and CTRP13 were also associated with CAD. It appears that the decreased levels of CTRP3 and especially CTRP13 were associated with increased risk of T2DM and CAD. These findings suggest an emerging role of these adipokines in the pathogenesis of CAD, but further studies are necessary to establish this concept.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by oxidative stress and inflammation in the hepatocytes. Saffron and its constituents are reported to have several properties such as anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects. Materials and methods: In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial with two parallel groups including 76 eligible men and female patients with NAFLD aged 18-65, recruited from Hazrat Rasul Akram Hospital in Tehran, Iran. NAFLD was defined by a Gastroenterologist based on the American Gastrointestinal and Liver Association standards. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups receiving daily supplementation of either one tablet of 100 mg saffron (n = 38) or one placebo (n = 38) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and secondary outcomes were alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC), leptin, adiponectin, anthropometric, and body composition Both groups were assigned similar diet and physical activity. Results: In the treatment group, significant decreases in hs-CRP (−1.80 ng/ml, 95% CI = −2.97, −0.63, p = .032), leptin (−0.27 ng/ml, 95% CI = −0.65, −0.10, p = .040), MDA (−1.01 ng/ml, 95% CI = −1.89, −0.14, p = .023) and significant increase in TAC (0.34 μmol/L, 95% CI = 0.08, 0.61, p = .011) were observed compared to the placebo group. However, there were no significant changes in serum alanine aminotransferase, AST, TNF-α, body composition, and anthropometric indexes (p > .05). Conclusion: In the present study, 12 weeks of 100 mg of saffron supplementation indicated beneficial effects on serum levels of some inflammatory, oxidative stress, and adipokines biomarkers but it had no significant effect on serum concentrations of liver enzymes, anthropometric, and body composition measurements.

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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with a substantial increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), which is partly related to dyslipidemia and low HDL-C level. The cardioprotective activity of HDL in the body is closely connected to its role in promoting cholesterol efflux, which is determined by cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC). Hitherto, the role of HDL, as defined by CEC has not been assessed in NAFLD patients. In this research study, we present the results of a study of cAMP-treated J774 CEC and THP-1 macrophage CEC in ApoB-depleted plasma of 55 newly diagnosed NAFLD patients and 30 controls. Circulating levels of ApoA-I, ApoB, preβ-HDL, plasma activity of CETP, PLTP, LCAT and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) were estimated. cAMP-treated J774 and THP-1 macrophage CEC were found to be significantly lower in NAFLD patients compared to controls (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively). In addition, it was discovered that both ApoA-I and preβ1-HDL were significantly lower in NAFLD patients (P < 0.001). Furthermore, cAMP-treated J774 CEC showed independent negative correlation with cIMT, as well as the presence of atherosclerotic plaque in NAFLD patients. In conclusion, our findings showed that HDL CEC was suppressed in NAFLD patients, and impaired cAMP-treated J774 CEC was an independent risk factor for subclinical atherosclerosis in NAFLD patients, suggesting that impaired HDL functions as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis in NAFLD.