Nutrition
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Meta Analysis
Vitamin E has a beneficial effect on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Vitamin E is often used in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); however, the magnitude of treatment response associated with vitamin E in improving liver function and histology in NAFLD/NASH has not, to our knowledge, been quantified systematically. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using vitamin E in the treatment of NAFLD/NASH. ⋯ Vitamin E significantly improved liver function and histologic changes in patients with NAFLD/NASH.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Protective effects of dietary supplementation with natural ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the visual acuity of school-age children with lower IQ or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Little attention has been paid to the possible protective role of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the visual acuity of school-age children with lower IQs or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary ω-3 PUFAs on the visual acuity and red blood cell (RBC) fatty acid compositions of these children. ⋯ Dietary supplementation with ω-3 PUFAs improves both visual acuity and the RBC fatty acid profile in school-age children with lower IQs or ADHD.
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Review
Exercise and oxidative stress: potential effects of antioxidant dietary strategies in sports.
Free radicals are produced during aerobic cellular metabolism and have key roles as regulatory mediators in signaling processes. Oxidative stress reflects an imbalance between production of reactive oxygen species and an adequate antioxidant defense. This adverse condition may lead to cellular and tissue damage of components, and is involved in different physiopathological states, including aging, exercise, inflammatory, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. ⋯ Aim of this review is to discuss the evidence on the relationship between exercise and oxidative stress, and the potential effects of dietary strategies in athletes. The differences between diet and exogenous supplementation as well as available tools to estimate effectiveness of antioxidant intake are also reported. Finally, we advocate the need to adopt an individualized diet for each athlete performing a specific sport or in a specific period of training, clinically supervised with inclusion of blood analysis and physiological tests, in a comprehensive nutritional assessment.