Background The present research aimed to analyze the impacts of magnesium and zinc supplements on glycemic control, serum lipids, and biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in patients suffering from coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods According to the research design, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial has been implemented on 60 subjects suffering from CHD and T2DM. Therefore, participants have been randomly divided into 2 groups for taking placebo (n = 30) or 250 mg magnesium oxide plus 150 mg zinc sulfate (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Results Magnesium and zinc significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (β − 9.44 mg/dL, 95% CI, − 18.30, − 0.57; P = 0.03) and insulin levels (β − 1.37 μIU/mL, 95% CI, − 2.57, − 0.18; P = 0.02). Moreover, HDL-cholesterol levels significantly enhanced (β 2.09 mg/dL, 95% CI, 0.05, 4.13; P = 0.04) in comparison to the placebo. There was an association between magnesium and zinc intake, and a significant decrease of C-reactive protein (CRP) (β − 0.85 mg/L, 95% CI, − 1.26, − 0.45; P < 0.001), a significant increase in total nitrite (β 5.13 μmol/L, 95% CI, 1.85, 8.41; P = 0.003) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (β 43.44 mmol/L, 95% CI, 3.39, 83.50; P = 0.03) when compared with placebo. Furthermore, magnesium and zinc significantly reduced the Beck Depression Inventory index (BDI) (β − 1.66; 95% CI, − 3.32, − 0.009; P = 0.04) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) (β − 1.30; 95% CI, − 2.43, − 0.16; P = 0.02) when compared with the placebo. Conclusions In patients with T2DM and CHD, the 12-week intake of magnesium plus zinc had beneficial effects on FPG, HDL-cholesterol, CRP, insulin, total nitrite, TAC levels, and BDI and BAI score. This suggests that magnesium and zinc co-supplementation may be beneficial for patients with T2DM and CHD. Further studies on more patients and lasting longer are needed to determine the safety of magnesium and zinc co-supplementation. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials http://www.irct.ir: IRCT20130211012438N31 at 11 May 2019 of registration. This study retrospectively registered.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of spirulina on glycemic control and serum lipoproteins in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and related disorders. Two independent authors systematically searched online database including EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception until April 30, 2019. The Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool was applied to assess the methodological quality of included trials. The heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using Cochrane's Q test and I-square (I 2 ) statistic. Pooling effect sizes from studies showed a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose (FPG; weighted mean difference [WMD]: −10.31; 95% confidence interval, CI [−16.21, −4.42]) and insulin concentrations (WMD: −0.53; 95% CI [−0.62, −0.44]) following the administration of spirulina. Pooled analysis showed also a significant reduction in total cholesterol (WMD: −20.50; 95% CI [−38.25, −2.74]), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; WMD: −19.02; 95% CI [−36.27, −1.78]), and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(VLDL-C) concentrations (WMD: −6.72; 95% CI [−9.19, −4.26]) and a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (WMD: 1.42; 95% CI [0.16, 2.68]) following spirulina therapy. This meta-analysis demonstrated the beneficial effects of spirulina supplementation on improving FPG, insulin, total cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and HDL-C levels in patients with MetS and related disorders.

Objective: The present meta-analysis was designed to assess the effects of vitamin C supplementation on serum C-reactive Protein (CRP) levels. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive systematic search of the literature in Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar until May 2018. The pooled Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) and its 95% Confidence Interval (CI) in baseline and at the end of the trial were calculated to assess the net change in serum CRP by using random-effects model. The heterogeneity was assessed by I2 test. Combined and stratified analyses were used in the metaanalysis. Results: From 306 articles found and screened in our initial search, 12 studies were included with 446 participants in supplementation groups and 447 in control groups. The pooled effect size analysis showed a significant reducing effect of vitamin C supplementation on circulating CRP level (−0.23 mg/L, 95% CI, −0.44, -0.03, p=0.02), with a significant heterogeneity effect across the studies involved. Subgroup analyses showed that vitamin C supplementation significantly lowered CRP among trials. The most significant effect was found 1) on hs- CRP as the representative inflammatory marker (-0.43 mg/L, 95% CI -0.76, -0.1) 2) in subjects with a baseline CRP≥3 (-1.48 mg/L, 95% CI -2.84, -0.11) 3) in subjects under <60 years old of age (-0.23 mg/L, 95% CI -0.44,- 0.01) 4) or using intravenous administration of vitamin C (-0.89 mg/L, 95% CI -1.49,-0.3). Conclusion: The present meta-analysis shows that vitamin C supplementation reduces serum CRP level, particularly in younger subjects, with higher CRP baseline level, at a lower dosage and intravenous administration.

The present study was designed to systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that report on the effects of garlic supplementation on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. We conducted a literature search of Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar up to January 2018. Weighted mean differences (WMD) were estimated for net change in serum CRP. Subgroup analyses were also performed by duration of study, dose of supplementation, baseline CRP level, and the quality of studies. From 438 articles found and screened in our initial search, nineRCTs with the sum of total sample size of 363 were included in the meta-analysis.Compared with the controls, garlic intake significantly reduced the concentrations of serum CRP by 0.8 mg/L (95% CI [−1.5, −0.1], p = 0.02) with the evidence of heterogeneity among studies. Subgroup analyses showed that garlic significantly lowered CRP by 0.82 mg/L (95% CI [−1.02, −0.62], p < 0.001) among studies with a daily garlic dose ≥1,200 mg/day and by 2.44 mg/L (95% CI [−4.02, −0.87], p = 0.002) among studies with baseline CRP ≥2 mg/L. Current data confirmed that garlic supplementation would reduce serum CRP levels. However, the changes were related to the supplemental doses and baseline levels of serum CRP.

Background: The present research aimed to analyze the impacts of magnesium and zinc supplement on the metabolic level in the patients suffering from CHD (coronary heart disease) and T2DM (type 2 diabetes mellitus). Methods: According to the research design, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial has been implemented on 55 women suffering from CHD and T2DM. Therefore, the participants have been randomly divided into 2 groups for taking placebo (n = 28) or 250 mg magnesium oxide plus 220 mg zinc sulfate (n =27) or for 12 weeks. Results: Magnesium and zinc considerably declined the levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (β -9.44 mg/dL, 95% CI, -18.30, -0.57; P = 0.03) and levels of insulin (β -1.37 µIU/mL, 95% CI, -2.57, -0.18; P = 0.02). Moreover, levels of HDL-cholesterol have been remarkably enhanced (β 2.09 mg/dL, 95% CI, 0.05, 4.13; P = 0.04) in comparison to the placebo. There have been an association between magnesium and zinc intake and a considerable decrease of C-reactive protein (CRP) (β -0.85 mg/L, 95% CI, -1.26, -0.45; P < 0.001), a considerable enhancement in the total nitrite (β 5.13 µmol/L, 95% CI, 1.85, 8.41; P = 0.003), and total anti-oxidant capacities (TAC) (β 43.44 mmol/L, 95% CI, 3.39, 83.50; P=0.03) in comparison to the placebo. Furthermore, magnesium and zinc remarkably reduced the Beck Depression Inventory index (BDI) (β -1.66; 95% CI, -3.32, -0.009; P = 0.04) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) (β -1.30; 95% CI, -2.43, -0.16; P=0.02) in comparison to the placebo. Conclusions: In patients with T2DM and CVD the 12-week intake of magnesium and zinc affected FPG, HDL-cholesterol, CRP, insulin, NO, TAC levels, and BDI and BAI score usefully. Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials http://www.irct.ir: IRCT20130211012438N31 at 11 May 2019 of registration. This study retrospectively registered.