The mechanism of action of curcumin targets diverse markers of both oxidative stress and inflammation to mitigate metabolic syndromes such as obesity, T2D, NAFLD, or even dyslipidemia. Arrow pointing up: Increase; Arrow pointing down: decrease.

Background: Despite the use of available pharmaceutical drugs, high rates of metabolic diseases and cardiovascular disorders are alarming. This calls for alternative therapies that can attenuate these complications. Therefore, we investigated the beneficial effects of okra on glycaemic control in pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).Methods: MEDLINE and Scopus were searched for relevant studies. Collected data were analysed using RevMan and reported as mean difference and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Eight studies, including 331 patients with pre-diabetes or T2D, were eligible.Results: Our findings showed that okra treatment reduced the levels of fasting blood glucose: mean difference (MD) = −14.63 mg/dL; 95% CI (-25.25, −4.00, p = 0.007); I² = 33%, p = 0.17 compared to placebo. Glycated haemoglobin, however, did not differ significantly between the groups: MD = 0.01%; 95%CI (-0.51, 0.54, p = 0.96); I² = 23%, p = 0.28.Conclusion: this systematic review and meta-analysis found that okra treatment improves glycaemic control in patients with pre-diabetes or T2D. The findings suggest that okra may be used as a supplemental dietary nutrient, especially in pre-diabetic and T2D patients due to its potential to regulate hyperglycaemia.

Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggests that coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) can regulate adipokine levels to impact inflammation and oxidative stress in conditions of metabolic syndrome. Here, prominent electronic databases such as MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE were searched for eligible RCTs reporting on any correlation between adipokine levels and modulation of inflammation and oxidative stress in individuals with metabolic syndrome taking CoQ₁₀. The risk of bias was assessed using the modified Black and Downs checklist, while the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. Results from the current meta-analysis, involving 318 participants, showed that CoQ₁₀ supplementation in individuals with metabolic syndrome increased adiponectin levels when compared to those on placebo (SMD: 1.44 [95% CI: −0.13, 3.00]; I² = 96%, p < 0.00001). Moreover, CoQ₁₀ supplementation significantly lowered inflammation markers in individuals with metabolic syndrome in comparison to those on placebo (SMD: −0.31 [95% CI: −0.54, −0.08]; I² = 51%, p = 0.07). Such benefits with CoQ₁₀ supplementation were related to its ameliorative effects on lipid peroxidation by reducing malondialdehyde levels, concomitant to improving glucose control and liver function. The overall findings suggest that optimal regulation of adipokine function is crucial for the beneficial effects of CoQ₁₀ in improving metabolic health.

Aims: Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ10) is well known for its beneficial effects in cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, reported evidence has not been precisely synthesized to better inform on its impact in protecting against cardiovascular‐related complications in diabetic patients.Materials and Methodology: The current meta‐analysis included randomized controlled trials published in the past 5 years reporting on the effect of CoQ10 on metabolic and CVD‐related risk profiles in individuals with diabetes or metabolic syndrome. We searched electronic databases such as MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus and EMBASE for eligible studies. In addition to assessing the risk of bias and quality of evidence, the random and fixed‐effect models were used to calculate the standardized mean difference and 95% confidence intervals for metabolic parameters and CVD outcomes.Results: Overall, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria, enrolling a total of 650 patients. Although CoQ10 supplementation did not statistically affect all metabolic profiles measured, it significantly reduced CVD‐risk‐related indexes such as total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in diabetic patients when compared to those on placebo [SMD = 0.13, 95% CI (0.03; 0.23), Chi² = 43.62 and I² = 29%, P = .07].Conclusions: The overall results demonstrated that supplementation with CoQ10 shows an enhanced potential to lower CVD risk in diabetic patients by reducing total cholesterol and LDL. Moreover, the beneficial effects of CoQ10 in lowering the CVD risk are associated with its ameliorative properties against oxidative stress and improving endothelial health.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) alters platelet reactivity, and as a consequence, patients living with HIV may be at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The current evidence on platelet activation levels in patients with HIV remains inconclusive. We therefore aimed to systematically synthesise evidence on the association of platelet activation in HIV-infected patients on successful treatment. Methods: Electronic databases were searched from inception until November 2019. Studies were included if the primary or secondary outcome of the study was to assess platelet activation in HIV-infected patients on ART. The primary outcome of this review included the levels of platelet activation. The pooled effect estimates were calculated using a random-effects meta-analysis model. Results: We identified 30 studies comprising of 2325 participants. The pooled estimates showed elevated levels of platelet activation in treatment-naïve HIV-infected patients compared to uninfected controls (Hedges’ g 2.00 [95%CI 1.05, 2.94]; z = 4.12, p < 0.0001). These remained elevated despite successful ART (Hedges’ g 2.05 [95%CI 0.58, 3.52]; z = 2.71, p = 0.0067). Conclusion: The levels of platelet activation are elevated in treatment-naïve HIV-infected patients, and these persist during successful ART. Further studies should assess the clinical relevance of monitoring the levels of platelet activation in HIV-infected patients on ART.