Background: Polyphenol is considered to exert a favorable impact on cardiovascular health. Methods: To summarize the role of polyphenol antioxidant supplements in cardiovascular disease, we searched for randomized controlled trials up to 10th November 2024 that reported estimates of the effects of polyphenol antioxidant supplements on cardiometabolic risk factors. Results: Of the 17,126 participants in the 281 studies, weighted mean differences [95% confidence intervals] were derived for the intervention condition utilizing random effects modeling. Our results suggest that multiple polyphenol supplements improved cardiovascular risk markers in the overall population. For example, catechin supplementation decreased systolic (−1.56 [−2.75, −0.37] mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (−0.95 [−1.69, −0.20] mmHg), anthocyanin supplementation improved multiple blood lipid profiles, and curcumin supplementation benefited indicators of glucose metabolism. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis provides comprehensive evidence that antioxidant polyphenol supplementation can have beneficial effects on various cardiometabolic risk factors in the general population. The observed improvements in blood pressure, lipid profile, and glycemic status support the potential role of these supplements in cardiovascular health promotion. However, the heterogeneity among studies indicates that more research is needed to fully understand the optimal use of different polyphenols. Future research should concentrate on conducting a greater number of well-designed randomized controlled trials over extended periods of time to evaluate the long-term impact on cardiovascular endpoints and to ascertain the optimal doses and durations of antioxidant polyphenol supplementation. Furthermore, additional research is required to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible for these cardioprotective effects.

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) impose a substantial global burden, particularly in older and immunocompromised adults. Western therapies (antivirals, vaccination, and analgesics) reduce viral replication and acute pain but frequently fail to prevent chronic neuropathic pain or fully restore function. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is widely used as an adjunctive treatment in routine practice, yet its integration with Western care remains variably implemented and synthesized. Objective: To provide a clinically oriented narrative synthesis of epidemiology, mechanisms, and treatment strategies for HZ/PHN from Western and TCM perspectives; to summarize the evidence base for integrated Western–TCM management; and to identify safety considerations, evidence gaps, and priorities for future research. Methods: We conducted a narrative review of English- and Chinese-language literature on HZ/PHN by searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and major Chinese databases (eg, CNKI) up to 2025. We included clinical trials, observational studies, and mechanistic research evaluating Western therapies, TCM interventions (herbal medicine, acupuncture/electroacupuncture, and other external modalities), or integrated regimens used alongside standard Western care. Study quality and risk of bias were appraised qualitatively with attention to sample size, blinding, outcome measures, and reporting of adverse events. Results: HZ pathobiology involves varicella–zoster virus reactivation, neuroinflammation, peripheral and central sensitization, and small-fiber loss, which together drive acute pain and the transition to PHN. Western care provides effective viral suppression and evidence-based analgesia but offers limited strategies for neural repair. TCM interventions have demonstrated complementary effects on pain relief, lesion healing, and functional recovery in small randomized and practice-based studies. Across trials, integrated Western–TCM approaches are associated with faster rash healing, greater reductions in acute pain (particularly with acupuncture-based techniques), a possible reduction in PHN incidence, and improvements in sleep, mood, and quality of life. However, the certainty of the evidence is constrained by small sample sizes, protocol heterogeneity, non-standard outcome measures, and incomplete reporting of adverse events. Safety considerations include herb–drug interactions and quality control of herbal products; acupuncture- and moxibustion-related adverse events are uncommon and typically mild when performed by trained practitioners. Conclusion: Integration of Western and TCM modalities for HZ/PHN is mechanistically plausible and clinically promising, targeting viral burden, neuroinflammation, pain modulation, and neural repair along complementary pathways. Current data support the cautious use of selected TCM therapies as adjuncts to guideline-based Western care in appropriate patients, while underscoring the need for high-quality pragmatic trials with standardized endpoints, mechanistic biomarkers, and robust safety monitoring to establish the effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of scalable integrated care pathways.

The aims of this study were to determine the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Yaotuitong (translation: low back and leg pain) capsules, a Chinese herbal preparation, and the histological changes it induces in experimental rats with chemically induced radicular neuritis.

Sarcopenia is an age-related condition with a slow and prolonged decrease in muscular mass, strength, and function. As the population ages, the frequency of sarcopenia rises, and aggressive prevention methods and effective treatment options are in urgent need. Here, we explore the hypothesis that nutritional interventions can ameliorate skeletal muscle aging in mice affected by sarcopenia, and the aforementioned hypothesis was validated through histopathological characterization and behavioral experiments. The model group exhibited reduced muscle mass (Lean Mass, GAS Index), muscular strength (Maximum Limb Muscle Strength), and muscular function (Exhaustion Time, Inverted Grid Time), along with increased fat content and smaller myofiber size compared to the control group. Treatments with lactoferrin and CoQ10, both individually and in combination, enhanced muscle indices and facilitated muscle tissue regeneration, with the combined treatment showing the most significant improvement. Research further shows that Lactoferrin and CoQ10, whether administered alone or in combination, were discovered to restrain the progression of sarcopenia by inhibiting both protein metabolism and mitochondrial energy metabolism, and compared to groups treated with lactoferrin or CoQ10 alone, the combined treatment demonstrated varying degrees of improvement across all evaluated metrics, such as Lean Mass (2.273 ~ 5.365%), Fat Mass (−1.058 ~ −0.359%), GAS index (0.259 ~ 0.335%), Maximum Limb Muscle Strength (6.83 ~ 53.498 g), Inverted Grid Time (563 ~ 859 s), Exhaustion Time (386 ~ 468 s).

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a chronic, progressive, and fatal fibrotic pulmonary interstitial lung disease characterized by excessive fibrosis. Its incidence is increasing globally, and the challenges associated with treatment and poor prognosis make it a significant public health burden, underscoring the urgent need for effective interventions. Nutritional interventions have garnered considerable attention for their potential to ameliorate PF. Notably, certain natural plant-derived bioactive compounds, exemplified by Astragalus and its constituents, demonstrate multifaceted benefits in combating PF. These include attenuating inflammatory responses, modulating immunity, exerting antioxidant effects, and promoting metabolic regulation. Through a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature, this review explores how nutritional interventions may improve the prognosis and quality of life for PF patients. It specifically focuses on discovering and summarizing the therapeutic effects of Astragalus and its active ingredients on PF, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation and reference for developing more effective therapeutic and management strategies for this disease.