Background and objective: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by declining cognitive ability. Currently, there are no effective treatments for this condition. However, certain measures, such as nutritional interventions, can slow disease progression. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review was to identify and map the updates of the last 5 years regarding the nutritional status and nutritional interventions associated with AD patients.Study design: A systematic review.Methods: A search was conducted for randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses investigating the association between nutritional interventions and AD published between 2018 and 2022 in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. A total of 38 studies were identified, of which 17 were randomized clinical trials, and 21 were systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses.Results: The results show that the western diet pattern is a risk factor for developing AD. In contrast, the Mediterranean diet, ketogenic diet, and supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics are protective factors. This effect is significant only in cases of mild-to-moderate AD.Conclusion: Certain nutritional interventions may slow the progression of AD and improve cognitive function and quality of life. Further research is required to draw more definitive conclusions.

Sexual dysfunction pertains to any issue that hinders an individual from attaining sexual contentment. This health issue can have a significant impact on the quality of life and psychological health of affected individuals. Sexual dysfunction can generate stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, which can lead to a reduction in overall life satisfaction and the quality of interpersonal relationships. Sexual dysfunction can manifest as erectile dysfunction in men or lack of sexual desire in women. Although both sexes can experience sexual problems, there are some significant differences in the manifestation of sexual dysfunction between men and women. In men, sexual dysfunction is usually physical and associated with problems such as erectile dysfunction, while in women, sexual dysfunction is usually related to psychological factors. Additionally, there was an association between hypertension and sexual dysfunction in both the sexes. In men, hypertension can cause erection problems, whereas in women, it can cause vaginal dryness and a decrease in sexual desire. Furthermore, antihypertensive drugs can negatively impact sexual function, which can decrease adherence to drug treatment. However, nebivolol, an antihypertensive drug, has beneficial effects on erectile dysfunction in men. This is believed to be because nebivolol improves blood flow to the penis by producing nitric oxide, which can help improve erections.

Hyperlipidemia plays a crucial role in increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Recent studies have established that inclisiran positively influences lipid regulation. Nevertheless, its effectiveness in comparison to conventional treatments is still questionable. Hence, a methodical assessment of its effectiveness and safety is required. This research evaluates the efficacy and safety of inclisiran, PCSK9 inhibitors, and the combination of statins with ezetimibe in the treatment of hyperlipidemia via a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We performed an extensive search of English-language publications in the PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases until April 2024. We conducted a web-based meta-analysis and reported in accordance with the guidelines. We selected the percentage change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as efficacy evaluation metrics and the incidence of adverse events as safety evaluation metrics for analysis and comparison. We incorporated 33 studies involving 23,375 patients, evaluating three interventions regarding their effects on LDL-C, TC, TG, HDL-C, and adverse events. All treatments improved metrics over placebo. Inclisiran significantly reduced LDL-C compared to statins (mean − 15.21, 95% CI [-25.19, -5.23]) but showed no significant difference from statin + ezetimibe. Surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) rankings placed inclisiran highest for LDL-C reduction (26.2%). The combination of statin and ezetimibe was the most efficacious for triglyceride reduction (mean 17.2, 95% CI [10.22, 24.19]; mean 15.61, 95% CI [16.87, 24.35]). The safety profiles were comparable across treatments. Inclisiran with its superior LDL-C reduction and low frequency of administration, appears promising for hyperlipidemia treatment, particularly for patients with adherence issues or side effects from other medications. CRD42024550852

Dietary patterns play a vital role in the health management of individuals with metabolic syndrome. Many recent studies have shown that intermittent fasting (IF) has better effects, such as improving obesity. Nevertheless, it warrants further investigation to determine which approach is more effective in comparison to continuous energy restriction (CR), particularly when total calorie intake shows minimal variation. Consequently, it is crucial to evaluate the degree of enhancement of the two dietary patterns concerning different aspects of metabolic syndrome. This study presents a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed at comparing the impacts of IF and CR on obesity and glucolipid metabolism in individuals diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. In August 2024, a thorough examination of English-language literature was performed across the PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. The meta-analyses was performed according to the established guidelines and reported the results. Weight change, Body Mass Index (BMI) change, and triglyceride (TG) level change were designated as key assessment indicators, while blood pressure, blood glucose, hip circumference, and waist circumference served as supplementary indicators for comparative analysis. A total of nine studies involving 626 patients were analyzed, focusing on the influence of dietary patterns on obesity, cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance among individuals diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Both dietary patterns were beneficial for patients with metabolic syndrome. However, IF was better than CRin terms of improvement in obesity over the trial period (mean -1.77, 95% CI [-3.06, -0.48]), and it was more conducive to a reduction in TG levels, which was beneficial in terms of improving insulin resistance (mean -10.16, 95% CI [-18.88, -1.45]). Given its notable advantages for obesity, lipids, and insulin resistance, along with improved patient adherence, IF may be regarded as a more effective dietary approach for individuals with metabolic syndrome. Nonetheless, the long-term effectiveness still necessitates additional validation. CRD42024587335.

Background and objective: Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome of increased intracardiac pressure or decreased cardiac output. There is a lack of conclusive evidence to recommend the regular use of any dietary supplement in patients with HF. However, certain studies have shown nutritional interventions to be beneficial for patients with HF. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review was to understand and map the updates of dietary interventions and nutritional supplementation measures related to patients with HF over the past 5 years.Study design: A systematic review.Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for randomized clinical trials on the association between dietary interventions and nutritional supplements and HF published between 2018 and 2023. A total of 1755 documents were retrieved, of which 19 were finalized for inclusion.Results: The findings suggest that individualized nutritional support reduces mortality and risk of major cardiovascular events in chronic heart failure inpatients at high nutritional risk. The Mediterranean diet improves functionality, quality of life, and cardiac function. Additionally, supplementation with thiamine, ubiquinol, D-ribose, and L-arginine enhances left ventricular ejection fraction. Probiotic yogurt may effectively improve the inflammatory and antioxidative status of chronic heart failure. Whey protein and melatonin have a positive effect on improving endothelial function in HF patients.Conclusion: Certain dietary interventions and nutritional supplements may provide some benefit to patients with HF. However, there is no relevant definitive evidence on the impact of nutritional interventions on the prognosis of HF, and more high-quality clinical trials are needed for further in-depth studies.Systematic review registration: Identifier, CRD42024510847

Background: Astragalus mongholicus Bunge [Fabaceae; Astragali radix] (AM), a traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) botanical drug, has been used for centuries and is gaining growing recognition in medical research for its therapeutic potential. The currently accepted scientific name is Astragalus mongholicus Bunge, with Astragalus membranaceus Fisch. ex Bunge recognized as a taxonomic synonym. This review explores the most relevant scientific studies on AM, focusing on its chemical composition, mechanisms of action, and associated health benefits.Main body: AM is commonly used in clinical practice to treat diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, oncological processes, lipid metabolism disorders, and ulcerative colitis. Recent research has investigated its potential as a product for anti-aging purposes. These therapeutic effects are attributed to the interactions of bioactive metabolites such as Astragaloside IV, Formononetin, and polysaccharides, with various signaling pathways, leading to the activation or inhibition of gene expression. This review aims to map the signaling pathways affected by these metabolites and their effects on different pathologies. Studies suggest that these metabolites act on signaling pathways such as TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB, PI3K/AKT, RNA expression, and tumor receptors. However, further research is necessary to validate the findings in human trials with better methodological quality.Conclusion: AM is rich in bioactive metabolites that interact with various signaling pathways, modulating diseases such as diabetes mellitus type 2, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, lipid metabolism disorders, and ulcerative colitis. Although promising, the majority of the studies are conducted in vitro and animal models, and more rigorous human trials are needed to determine the therapeutic potential of AM.