Plasma Carotenoids and Premenstrual Symptoms in a Multi-Ethnic Population of Young Women.

Premenstrual symptoms are experienced by most women of reproductive age, but effective therapies are limited. Carotenoids may have an attenuating effect on premenstrual symptoms; however, studies to date are equivocal. The objective of the present study was to examine the association between plasma concentrations of seven carotenoids and premenstrual symptom severity in 553 women from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health study.

Variation in the vitamin D receptor gene, plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and risk of premenstrual symptoms.

Background: Vitamin D status has been associated with the presence and severity of several premenstrual symptoms (PMSx) in some, but not all studies. Inconsistencies among findings may be explained by unaccounted genetic variation in the vitamin D receptor (VDR).

Objective: To determine whether associations between vitamin D status and individual PMSx are influenced by VDR genotype.

The modifying effect of nutritional factors on the association between IL1-β single nucleotide polymorphism and serum CXCL10 levels in young Canadian adults.

Background: Genetic and nutritional factors play an important role in inflammatory response and diseases. CXCL10 is a critical biomarker that is involved in multiple inflammatory diseases, and elevated levels of CXCL10 have been associated with the development of several chronic and infectious diseases. In contrast, micronutrients can attenuate inflammatory responses.

Association between Vitamin D Status and Premenstrual Symptoms.

Background: Premenstrual symptoms are experienced by up to 95% of women, and few treatments are available. Previous studies suggest that 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) may be associated with the severity of premenstrual symptoms, but the findings have been inconclusive.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether vitamin D status is associated with the severity of individual premenstrual symptoms.

Metabolites of prostaglandin synthases as potential biomarkers of Lyme disease severity and symptom resolution.

Background: Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the commonest vector-borne disease in the North America. It is an inflammatory disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The role of the inflammatory processes mediated by prostaglandins (PGs), thromboxanes and leukotrienes (LTs) in LB severity and symptoms resolution is yet to be elucidated.

Hormonal contraceptive use and prevalence of premenstrual symptoms in a multiethnic Canadian population.

Background: Hormonal contraceptive use may be associated with a reduction in some premenstrual symptoms, however, the evidence remains equivocal. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the associations between ethnicity and hormonal contraceptive use with premenstrual symptoms.

Methods: One thousand one hundred two women participating in the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health Study provided data on their premenstrual symptoms and hormonal contraceptive use.