Effects of Silybum marianum, Pueraria lobate, combined with Salvia miltiorrhiza tablets on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adults: A triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background & Aims: Several medicinal plant extracts have demonstrated hepatoprotective effects. However, data are scarce regarding their combined effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to investigate the effects of tablets containing Silybum marianum, Pueraria lobata, and Salvia miltiorrhiza (SPS) on NAFLD progression in Chinese adults.

Reference Intervals of Serum Iodine Concentration in Chinese Pregnant Women.

The study aims to establish trimester-specific reference ranges for serum iodine (SI) in Chinese pregnant women and explore its associations with maternal and infantile thyroid function. Apparently healthy pregnant women were enrolled during their first antenatal visit. Fasting venous and spot urine samples were collected for determining serum and urinary iodine (UI) levels by a validated inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Associations of Maternal Serum Iodine Concentration with Obstetric Complications and Birth Outcomes-Longitudinal Analysis Based on the Huizhou Mother-Infant Cohort, South China.

This study aimed to explore the temporal associations between maternal serum iodine concentration (SIC) and common pregnancy outcomes in Chinese women. Eligible singleton pregnant women aged 20-34 years were selected, and their fasting blood samples were collected during early (T1, n = 1101) and mid-pregnancy (T2, n = 403) for SIC testing by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Multivariable linear regression indicated that logSIC at T1 (β = -0.

Effects of plant oils with different fatty acid composition on cardiovascular risk factors in moderately hypercholesteremic Chinese adults: a randomized, double-blinded, parallel-designed trial.

Objectives: Plant oil for cooking typically provides 40% to 50% of dietary fat, 65% of linoleic acid, 44% of α-linolenic acid and 41% of oleic acid in the Chinese diet. However, the comparative effects of fatty acids derived from plant oil on cardiovascular risk factors in Chinese are still inconclusive. Hence, the aim of this study is to investigate whether cardiovascular risk factors are altered depending on various types of plant oils such as peanut oil rich in oleic acid, corn oil rich in linoleic acid, and blend oil fortified by α-linolenic acid.

Glycemic load is associated with diabetes and prediabetes among middle-aged and elderly adults in Guangzhou, China.

Background And Objectives: Previous studies have obtained conflicting findings regarding the possible associations between glycemic load (GL) indices and diabetes. In the present study, we examined cross-sectional associations between several GL indices, including the total dietary GL, the energy-adjusted GL, and the prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism, including prediabetes and diabetes.

Methods And Study Design: This study was conducted in Guangzhou, China from July 2011 to December 2011.

A greater glycemic load reduction was associated with a lower diabetes risk in pre-diabetic patients who consume a high glycemic load diet.

Few prospective studies evaluating the association between dietary glycemic load (GL) and diabetes have accounted for changes in GL. However, the diet of patients could be modified in response to an awareness of pre-diabetes. The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal associations between changes in GL and the incidence of diabetes among pre-diabetic patients.

Erythrocyte membrane n-3 fatty acid levels and carotid atherosclerosis in Chinese men and women.

Objective: Prospective studies have supported the beneficial effects of n-3 fatty acid consumption on cardiac deaths, but limited data focused on atherosclerosis. We investigated the associations between n-3 fatty acids in erythrocytes and atherosclerosis in middle-aged and older Chinese.

Methods: 847 subjects (285 men and 562 women), aged 40-65 years, from Guangzhou, China were included in this community-based cross-sectional study between December 2005 and January 2008.

Association of natural intake of dietary plant sterols with carotid intima-media thickness and blood lipids in Chinese adults: a cross-section study.

Background: Many studies showed a moderate cholesterol-lowering effect of plant sterols (PS), but increased circulating PS might be atherogenic. We evaluated the associations between natural dietary intake of PS and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and serum lipids.

Methodology/principal Findings: This community-based cross-sectional study included 1160 men and 2780 women aged 31-75 years.

The relationships between erythrocyte membrane n-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio and blood lipids and C-reactive protein in Chinese adults: an observational study.

Objective: To investigate the relationships between erythrocyte membrane n-6:n-3 PUFAs ratio and blood lipids and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

Methods: The observational study consisted of a population-based cross-sectional study of 456 Chinese and a subsequent 1-year follow-up study of 171 subjects with the fasting plasma total cholesterol of 5.13-8.

Association of interleukin-6 gene -572 C > G polymorphism with dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids on plasma HDL-c level in Chinese male adults.

Objective: Heterogeneity in circulating lipid concentrations in response to different dietary fat intakes may be due, in part, to gene polymorphism of cytokine related to inflammation. The objective was to determine whether dietary n-3 PUFAs intake influenced the effects of IL-6 -572 polymorphism on plasma lipids and apolipoproteins.

Study Design: This cross-sectional study included 195 men and 386 women aged 40-65 y.

[Relationship between dietary soy isoflavones and blood lipid levels in 40 - 65 year-olds in Guangzhou].

Objective: To study the relationship between dietary soy isoflavones and blood lipids among residents of 40 - 65 years old, in Guangzhou.

Methods: Dietary soy isoflavones and other nutrients intakes were assessed with quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) in plasma were measured with colorimetry.

Validation of an FFQ to estimate the intake of fatty acids using erythrocyte membrane fatty acids and multiple 3d dietary records.

Objective: The estimation of dietary intake in population-based studies is often assessed by the FFQ. The objective of our study is to evaluate the validity of an FFQ used to assess dietary fatty acid intake among middle-aged Chinese adults in Southern China.

Design: The method of triads was applied to obtain the validity coefficients (VC) of the FFQ for specific fatty acids.

Greater habitual soyfood consumption is associated with decreased carotid intima-media thickness and better plasma lipids in Chinese middle-aged adults.

Many clinical studies have shown high-dose supplemental soy protein has beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors. We examined the association between habitual soyfood intake and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plasma lipids in a cross-sectional study including 406 (M 134, F 272) middle-aged Chinese adults (40-65 years) without confirmed relevant diseases. We found significantly dose-respondent decreases in bifurcation IMT, total and LDL cholesterol associated with increased usual soyfood intake after adjusting for potential confounders (p for trend, all p<0.

Effects of dietary medium-chain triglyceride on weight loss and insulin sensitivity in a group of moderately overweight free-living type 2 diabetic Chinese subjects.

Prior studies of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) suggest that MCT might be a useful tool for body fat mass management in obese nondiabetic humans. We now report a pilot study that tests if MCT is beneficial for moderately overweight subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study was conducted in a group of 40 free-living subjects in an urban area of China.