Cinnamon Consumption Improves Clinical Symptoms and Inflammatory Markers in Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of cinnamon on disease activity, serum levels of some inflammatory markers, and cardiovascular risk factors in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, 36 women with RA were randomly divided to 2 groups, receiving 4 capsules of either 500 mg cinnamon powder or placebo daily for 8 weeks. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipid profile, liver enzymes, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), blood pressure, and clinical symptoms were determined at baseline and end of the week 8.

Results: At the end of the study, there was a significant decrease of serum levels of CRP (p < 0.001) and TNF-α (p < 0.001) in the cinnamon group as compared to the placebo group. Diastolic blood pressure was also significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group (p = 0.017). Compared with placebo, cinnamon intake significantly reduced the Disease Activity Score (DAS-28) (p < 0.001), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (p < 0.001), and tender (TJC) (p < 0.001) and swollen joints (SJC) (p < 0.001) counts. No significant changes were observed for FBS, lipid profile, liver enzymes, or ESR.

Conclusion: Cinnamon supplementation can be a safe and potential adjunct treatment to improve inflammation and clinical symptoms in patients with RA.     

Metabolic Profile and Bone Status in Post-Menopausal Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Monocentric Retrospective Survey

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are chronic conditions that share common inflammatory mechanisms. Both diseases can lead to an impairment of the bone microarchitecture. The aims of our study were to evaluate clinical, metabolic, and bone parameters in RA patients with or without MetS (MetS+, MetS−) and potential correlations between the glico-lipidic profile, RA disease activity, and bone status. Methods: A total of thirty-nine RA female post-menopausal patients were recruited (median age 66.6 ± 10.4, disease duration 3 ± 2.7). Anthropometric data, medical history, and current treatment were recorded along with basal blood tests, bone, and lipid metabolism biomarkers. RA disease activity and insulin resistance were evaluated through standard scores. Quantitative assessment of the bone (bone mineral density—BMD) was performed by dual-energy-X ray absorption (DXA), whereas bone quality was quantified with the trabecular bone score (TBS). Results: No statistically significant differences concerning both BMD and TBS were detected between the MetS+ and MetS− RA patients. However, the MetS+ RA patients exhibited significantly higher disease activity and lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations (respectively, p = 0.04 and p = 0.01). In all RA patients, a significant negative correlation emerged between the BMD of the femoral trochanter with plasmatic triglycerides (TG) concentrations (r = −0.38, p = 0.01), whereas the lumbar BMD was positively correlated with the abdominal waist (AW) and fasting glucose (FG) concentrations. On the other hand, the TBS was negatively correlated with insulin concentrations, FG, and RA disease activity (respectively, r = −0.45, p = 0.01, r = −0.40, p = 0.03, r = −0.37, p = 0.04), the last one was further negatively correlated with 25-OHD serum concentrations (r = −0.6, p = 0.0006) and insulin-resistance (r = 0.3, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Bone quantity (BMD) and quality (TBS) do not seem significantly changed among MetS+ and MetS− RA patients; however, among MetS+ patients, both significantly higher disease activity and lower vitamin D serum concentrations were observed. In addition, the significant negative correlations between the alterations of metabolic parameters limited to the TBS in all RA patients might suggest that qualitative bone microarchitecture impairments (TBS) might manifest despite unchanged BMD values.     

Day-to-Day Variation in Food Intake and Energy Expenditure in Healthy Women: The Dietitian II Study

Because day-to-day food intake varies, we tested the hypothesis that ad libitum food intake and energy expenditure show corrective responses over periods of 1 to 10 days in healthy young women. Food intake and accelerometry measurements were collected daily for 17 days in 15 young women. Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) using doubly labeled water was also measured. The daily deviations in macronutrient and energy intake and energy expenditure from the average values were compared with the deviations observed over succeeding intervals to estimate the corrective responses. The intraindividual coefficients of variation for energy intake averaged ±25%, ranging from 16% to 34%. TDEE had a coefficient of variation of 8.3%, and accelerometry had a coefficient of variation of 8.4% (range=4.6% to 16.4%). Energy expenditure by accelerometry (2,087±191 kcal/day) was not significantly different from TDEE (2,128±177 kcal/day), but reported daily energy intake was 20.4% lower (1,693±276 kcal/day). There were significant corrective responses in energy from fat and total energy intake. This occurred from Days 3 to 6, with a peak at Day 5 that disappeared when data were randomized within each subject. Human beings show corrective responses to deviations from average energy and macronutrient intakes with a lag time of 3 to 6 days, but not 1 to 2 days. These corrective responses are likely to play a role in bringing about weight stability.     

Association between Malnutrition and Quality of Life in Elderly Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive articular disease. In addition to damaging the joints, it may cause multiple organ complications, and considerably impair the patient’s functioning. Elderly patients with RA report pain, fatigue, mood disorders, sleep disorders and insomnia, accompanied by weakness, poor appetite, and weight loss. All these factors combined have an adverse effect on the patient’s perceived quality of life (QoL). Due to the chronic nature of RA and the high risk of malnutrition in this patient group, the present study investigated QoL, activities of daily living, and frailty syndrome severity in relation to MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment) questionnaire scores among elderly RA patients. The study included 98 patients (aged over 60) diagnosed with RA per the ARA (American Rheumatism Association) criteria. The following standardized instruments were used: WHOQoL-BREF for QoL, the Edmonton Frail Scale for frailty syndrome severity, MNA for nutritional status assessment, and MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) to assess any cognitive impairment. Medical data were obtained from hospital records. Patients with a different nutritional status differed significantly in terms of limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Higher levels of malnutrition were associated with greater limitations in activity. An adverse impact of lower body weight on cognitive function was also observed (dementia was identified in 33.33% of malnourished patients vs. 1.79% in patients with a normal body weight). Likewise, frailty was more common in malnourished patients (mild frailty syndrome in 33.3%, moderate in 16.67%, and severe in 16.67%). Malnourished patients had significantly lower QoL scores in all WHOQoL-BREF questionnaire domains than those with a normal body weight, and multiple-factor analysis for the impact of selected variables on QoL in each domain demonstrated that frailty was a significant independent determinant of poorer QoL in all domains: perceived quality of life (β = −0.069), perceived health (β = −0.172), physical domain (β = −0.425), psychological domain (β = −0.432), social domain (β = −0.415), environmental domain (β = −0.317). Malnutrition was a significant independent determinant of QoL in the “perceived health” domain (β = −0.08). In addition, regression analysis demonstrated the positive impact of male sex on QoL scores in the psychological (β = 1.414) and environmental domains (β = 1.123). Malnourished patients have a lower QoL than those with a normal body weight. Malnutrition adversely affects daily functioning, cognitive function, and the severity of frailty syndrome. Frailty syndrome is a significant independent determinant of poorer QoL in all WHOQoL BREF domains.     

Twelve Weeks of Endurance Exercise Training does not Affect Iron Status Measures in Women

Objective This study examined the effects of 12 weeks of endurance exercise training on iron status measures in previously inactive women and compared the effects of weight-bearing endurance exercise training and non-weight-bearing endurance exercise on iron status measures.Design Randomized, experimental study.Subjects Thirty-one healthy, inactive women (aged 23 to 43 years) with apparently normal iron stores (serum ferritin concentration ≥20 μg/L) were recruited from the local area by newspaper advertisements and campus mailings. Twenty-one subjects completed the study (mean±standard deviation for age=32±5 years, for body mass index=23.1±4.9, and for maximum oxygen consumption [Vo₂max]=33.8±6.3 mL/kg per minute).Intervention Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups: an inactive control group, a walking/running group, or a cycling group. Subjects in the two exercise groups trained three to four times per week at 80% Vo₂max for 12 weeks. Exercise training sessions were monitored and energy expenditure increased from 150 kcal per session (week 1) to 375 kcal per session (weeks 9 to 12). Subjects in the inactive control group were instructed to maintain their normal activity patterns for the duration of the study. All subjects were instructed to maintain their normal dietary habits.Main outcome measures Serum ferritin concentration, serum iron concentration, percentage saturation of transferrin, total iron-binding capacity, serum haptoglobin concentration, and other selected hematologic variables were measured at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12.Statistical analyses Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine group × time interactions in changes in iron status measures. Statistical significance was reached at P<.05.Results Analysis of variance indicated that serum ferritin concentration did not change significantly (P=.59) during the 12 weeks in the walking/running group (mean±standard deviation from 41.28±14.22 to 27.41±9.74 μg/L) or the cycling group (from 65.81±37.62 to 41.06±26.38 μg/L) compared with the control group (from 47.55±15.87 to 31.56±10.57 μg/L). Values for serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, percentage saturation of transferrin, and haptoglobin also did not change significantly (P>.30) in the walking/running or cycling groups compared with the control group.Applications/conclusions Results of this study suggest that participation in 12 weeks of moderate-intensity endurance exercise training (walking/running or cycling) is not associated with negative effects on selected measures of iron status in healthy, previously untrained women with normal iron stores (serum ferritin ≥20 μg/L). J Am Diet Assoc. 1997;97:1116–1121.     

Family Work Demands,Employment Demands and Depressive Symptoms in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis

The effects of psychological demands, work autonomy and social support on psychological well-being are evaluated in a sample of employed women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Two hundred sixty-seven employed women with a diagnosis of RA were recruited from a national random sample of private rheumatology practices. Women were interviewed by telephone and data were obtained on demographic variables, health status, demands in paid and family work, autonomy in paid and family work, social support and depressive symptoms. Women reported relatively high levels of psychological demands in both paid and family work, with time constraints being the most frequent problem Women also had relatively high levels of autonomy in family work. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that family demands appeared to be more important than paid work demands in psychological well-being. High autonomy in family work seemed to mediate the effects of family demands. Having higher social support reduced the effects of work demands on depressive symptoms in employed women with RA.     

Diets and Hormonal Levels in Postmenopausal Women With or Without Breast Cancer

The role of diet in breast cancer (BC) risk is unclear. Fiber could reduce BC risk, through the enterohepatic circulation of estrogens. We examined the relationship between diet and sex hormones in postmenopausal women with or without BC. Thirty-one postmenopausal women (10 Goldin, B R, Adlercreutz, H, Gorbach, S L, Woods, M NDwyer, J T. 1986. The relationship between estrogen levels and diets of Caucasian American and Oriental immigrant women. Am J Clin Nutr, 44: 945–953. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] omnivores, 11 vegetarians, and 10 BC omnivores) were recruited. Dietary records (5 days) and hormone levels (3 days) were evaluated on 4 occasions over 1 yr. Vegetarians showed a lower fat/fiber ratio, a higher intake of total and cereal fiber (g/d)/body weight (kg), a significantly lower level of plasma estrone-sulfate, estradiol, free-estradiol, free-testosterone, and ring D oxygenated estrogens, and a significantly higher level of sex-hormone-binding-globulin than BC subjects. Fiber was consumed in slightly larger amounts by omnivores than by BC subjects. Omnivores had significantly lower plasma testosterone and estrone-sulfate but higher sex-hormone-binding-globulin than BC subjects. No difference was found for the urinary 16-oxygenated estrogens. However, the 2-MeO-E1/2-OH-E1 ratio was significantly lower in omnivores than in BC group. This ratio is positively associated with the fat/fiber ratio. In conclusion, testosterone may contribute to causing alterations in the levels of catechol estrogens and 16-oxygenated estrogens. The fat/fiber ratio appears to be useful in evaluating dietary effects on estrogen metabolism.     

Genetic Variants Influencing Joint Damage in Mexican Americans and European Americans With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is heritable, but knowledge on specific genetic determinants of joint damage in RA is limited. We have used the Immunochip array to examine whether genetic variants influence variation in joint damage in a cohort of Mexican Americans (MA) and European Americans (EA) with RA. We studied 720 MA and 424 EA patients with RA. Joint damage was quantified using a radiograph of both hands and wrists, scored using Sharp's technique. We conducted association analyses with the transformed Sharp score and the Immunochip single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data using PLINK. In MAs, 15 SNPs from chromosomes 1, 5, 9, 17 and 22 associated with joint damage yielded strong p‐values (p < 1 × 10^?4). The strongest association with joint damage was observed with rs7216796, an intronic SNP located in the MAP3K14 gene, on chromosome 17 (β ± SE = ?0.25 ± 0.05, p = 6.23 × 10^?6). In EAs, 28 SNPs from chromosomes 1, 4, 6, 9, and 21 showed associations with joint damage (p‐value < 1 × 10^?4). The best association was observed on chromosome 9 with rs59902911 (β ± SE = 0.86 ± 0.17, p = 1.01 × 10^?6), a synonymous SNP within the CARD9 gene. We also observed suggestive evidence for some loci influencing joint damage in MAs and EAs. We identified two novel independent loci (MAP3K14 and CARD9) strongly associated with joint damage in MAs and EAs and a few shared loci showing suggestive evidence for association.     

Variation in Postpartum Use of Most and Moderately Effective Contraceptive Methods Among Louisiana Women

Maternal and Child Health Journal - Women experiencing unintended and short-interval pregnancies are at increased risk for adverse outcomes. Nationally, researchers report disparities in...     

Weight Status of Mexican Immigrant Women: A Comparison With Women in Mexico and With US-Born Mexican American Women

Objectives. We assessed the association between birthplace, residence, or years in the United States and actual weight (body mass index), perceived weight accuracy, or provider screens for overweight or obesity among Mexican immigrant women.Methods. We used linked data from Health and Nutrition Examination Survey waves 2001–2006 and 2006 National Mexican Health and Nutrition Survey to compare 513 immigrants with 9527 women in Mexico and 342 US-born Mexican American women.Results. Immigrants were more likely than women in Mexico to be obese and to perceive themselves as overweight or obese after adjustment for confounders. Recent immigrants had similar weight-related outcomes as women in Mexico. Immigrants were less likely to be obese than were US-born Mexican Americans. Within the overweight or obese population, reported provider screens were higher among immigrants than among women in Mexico, but lower than among US-born Mexican Americans. US residency of at least 5 years but less than 20 years and reporting insufficient provider screens elevated obesity risk.Conclusions. Mexican-origin women in the United States and Mexico are at risk for overweight and obesity. We found no evidence of a “healthy immigrant” effect.Two out of 5 adult Mexican American women are obese,1 placing them at increased risk for obesity-related health conditions and higher health care expenditures.2–6 Mexican immigrants, who are foreign-born and constitute about one third of all Mexican Americans, are generally considered healthier and less obese than are US-born women of Mexican origin.7–12 This so-called protective advantage in immigrants may no longer hold true, at least with respect to overweight or obesity, if one considers the current weight status of women living in Mexico. According to our recent binational population-based study, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among women aged 20 to 59 years was approximately 70% in Mexico, which was the same as the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mexican Americans13; cross-national similarities in overweight and obesity persisted when we controlled for age, parity, and education. These sociodemographic covariates have also been shown to influence women’s predisposition to migrate.14,15In addition, we found that among women categorized as overweight or obese, women in Mexico were less likely to recognize themselves as such accurately and were less likely to have been told by a health care provider that they were overweight or obese. Whether overweight and obese Mexican immigrant women in the United States are more likely to perceive their weight accurately and to receive provider screens for overweight and obesity than are overweight and obese women in Mexico is not known. These comparisons have policy relevance because accuracy in weight perceptions and provider screening and advice are associated with an increased pursuit of weight control.16,17Evidence shows that the health advantage of immigrants diminishes with time in the United States and is not sustained in the next generation because of acculturation, a process of incorporating mainstream societal norms, values, and lifestyles.8–12 However, the association between acculturation and body size shows inconsistent findings. Although body size has been shown in some studies to increase as immigrants adapt to the US sociocultural environment,8,10–12 others have shown an inverse association between acculturation and obesity among Mexican Americans.18–20 In recent studies, more years spent living in the United States21,22 and age at immigration as a child or an adult,21 both proxies for acculturation, were not associated with an increased body mass index (BMI; defined as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) or waist circumference among women migrants. Evidence on the relationship between acculturation and perceived body weight and provider screens is sparse. These outcomes might vary according to place of birth or residence and duration of US residence. Understanding these issues can help to identify which Mexican-origin populations stand a high risk of excess weight or poor weight control and facilitate the development of targeted interventions.We extended our binational study on weight-related outcomes and disaggregated the Mexican American population into Mexico-born (immigrants) and US-born women of Mexican origin to address the following 2 research questions. First, are there disparities in actual and perceived weight between immigrant women and women in Mexico, and between immigrant and US-born Mexican American women? Second, among the overweight and obese, are there differences between immigrants and the 2 reference groups in their accuracy of weight perceptions and whether they had been screened by a health provider? To examine the first aim, whether immigrant women have a protective advantage in weight-related outcomes, we compared outcomes of immigrants—both overall and recent arrivals living in the United States less than 5 years—with those of women in Mexico. For the second aim, to examine the association between weight-related outcomes and acculturation, we compared Mexican immigrants with US-born Mexican American women and further examined the effects of time spent in the United States by immigrant women.     

Effects of Iron Intake on Iron Stores in Elderly Men and Women: Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Results

Objective: For middle aged and elderly subjects there is a concern that increased iron intake, especially heme iron associated with consumption of red meat, leads to increased iron stores resulting in disturbed glucose homeostasis and risk for cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of heme, non-heme and iron supplementation on iron stores in healthy elderly men and women.

Method: We conducted a 10 year longitudinal study (48 men and 77 women) and a one year cross-sectional study (165 men and 226 women) in healthy elderly men and women enrolled in the New Mexico Aging Process Study. Iron stores were estimated by serum ferritin concentrations and iron intake was determined by three-day food records in the longitudinal study and by a food frequency questionnaire in the cross-sectional study.

Results: We found no association between heme iron intake and iron stores in either the longitudinal or cross sectional study. In the cross-sectional study we found in women, but not in men, that age and supplemental iron intake were significantly and positively associated with increased iron stores.

Conclusion: Iron stores in elderly men are thought to reach steady state levels where iron absorption is adjusted to a level just sufficient to cover basal iron losses. In elderly women, we speculate that not enough time has elapsed for postmenopausal women to reach steady state levels of iron stores resulting in increases in iron absorption with age. Another factor is that use of hormone replacement therapy could further delay some women in reaching steady state iron levels due to continued menstrual blood losses.     

Anthropometric Measures and Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in the French E3N Cohort Study

We aimed to assess the relationships between anthropometric measures and risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The E3N cohort included 98,995 women (aged 40–65 years at the recruitment) who completed mailed questionnaires on reproductive factors, lifestyle, and health-related information, including anthropometric measures, every 2–3 years. Cox proportional hazards regression models with age as the time scale and adjusted on known RA risk factors were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals for the risk of incident RA in the overall population (n = 78,452) and after stratification on smoking exposure. Incident RA diagnosis was validated in 698 women. Abdominal obesity (waist circumference >88 cm) was associated with RA (HR = 1.2 (1.0–1.5)), independent of BMI; whereas obesity, defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m², was marginally associated with RA (HR = 1.26 (0.9–1.5), ptrend = 0.0559). Taking lean body shape (BS) as reference, medium BS at puberty (HR = 1.3 (1.0–1.7)) and medium-large BS at perimenopausal period (HR = 1.5 (1.1–1.9)) were associated with the risk of RA among never-smoker women, independent of BMI. Regarding BS trajectory, taking constantly lean BS as reference, constantly large BS from puberty to perimenopause was associated with RA among non-smokers (HR = 2.10 (1.2–3.6)), independent of BMI.     

Evaluation of Nutritional Status and Methods to Identify Nutritional Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) experience several nutritional challenges and are prone to develop malnutrition. This observational study aimed to perform a comprehensive nutritional assessment of outpatients diagnosed with RA and SpA, as well as to evaluate methods to identify nutritional risk. Nutritional status was investigated by anthropometric measures, body composition (DXA, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), and handgrip strength (HGS). Nutritional risk was classified by Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002) and malnutrition was defined by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria and fat-free mass index (FFMI; kg/m², <16.7 (M), <14.6 (F)). Out of 71 included patients, 46 (66%) were abdominally obese, 28 (39%) were obese in terms of body mass index (BMI), and 33 (52%) were obese in terms of the fat mass index (FMI; kg/m², ≥8.3 (M), ≥11.8 (F)). Malnutrition was identified according to FFMI in 12 (19%) patients, according to GLIM criteria in 5 (8%) patients, and on the basis of BMI (<18.5 kg/m²) in 1 (1%) patient. None were identified by NRS2002 to be at nutritional risk. Our study revealed high prevalence of abdominal obesity and low FFMI. Waist circumference was a good indicator of FMI. BMI, NRS2002, and HGS did not capture patients with malnutrition identified by DXA.     

Associations between Dietary Iron and Zinc Intakes,and between Biochemical Iron and Zinc Status in Women

Iron and zinc are found in similar foods and absorption of both may be affected by food compounds, thus biochemical iron and zinc status may be related. This cross-sectional study aimed to: (1) describe dietary intakes and biochemical status of iron and zinc; (2) investigate associations between dietary iron and zinc intakes; and (3) investigate associations between biochemical iron and zinc status in a sample of premenopausal women aged 18–50 years who were recruited in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. Usual dietary intakes were assessed using a 154-item food frequency questionnaire (n = 379). Iron status was assessed using serum ferritin and hemoglobin, zinc status using serum zinc (standardized to 08:00 collection), and presence of infection/inflammation using C-reactive protein (n = 326). Associations were explored using multiple regression and logistic regression. Mean (SD) iron and zinc intakes were 10.5 (3.5) mg/day and 9.3 (3.8) mg/day, respectively. Median (interquartile range) serum ferritin was 22 (12–38) μg/L and mean serum zinc concentrations (SD) were 12.6 (1.7) μmol/L in fasting samples and 11.8 (2.0) μmol/L in nonfasting samples. For each 1 mg/day increase in dietary iron intake, zinc intake increased by 0.4 mg/day. Each 1 μmol/L increase in serum zinc corresponded to a 6% increase in serum ferritin, however women with low serum zinc concentration (AM fasting < 10.7 μmol/L; AM nonfasting < 10.1 μmol/L) were not at increased risk of depleted iron stores (serum ferritin <15 μg/L; p = 0.340). Positive associations were observed between dietary iron and zinc intakes, and between iron and zinc status, however interpreting serum ferritin concentrations was not a useful proxy for estimating the likelihood of low serum zinc concentrations and women with depleted iron stores were not at increased risk of impaired zinc status in this cohort.     

Coffee Intake is Associated With Lower Levels of Oxidative DNA Damage and Decreasing Body Iron Storage in Healthy Women

Habitual coffee drinking has been linked to a lower risk for some forms of cancer, but the mechanism remains elusive. Coffee may decrease oxidative DNA damage, an important pathway to carcinogenesis. We examined the association between coffee consumption and urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentrations, a biomarker of systemic oxidative DNA damage and repair, in 507 healthy subjects (298 men and 209 women aged 21–67 yr) while adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, body mass index, job type, and fasting blood glucose in multivariable regression models. The association with green tea consumption was also assessed. Urinary 8-OHdG concentrations tended to decrease with coffee consumption in women (trend P = 0.046), with women drinking 2–3 cups of coffee per day showing the lowest mean of urinary 8-OHdG concentrations. This association was largely attenuated after further adjustment for serum ferritin concentrations, a marker of body iron storage (trend P = 0.96). Green tea consumption was not associated with urinary 8-OHdG concentrations. Coffee drinking may be associated with decreased systemic oxidative DNA damage through decreasing body iron storage in women.     

Effects of Vitamin K on Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 and Rheumatoid Factor in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trial

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by an increase in some autoantibodies and proteolytic enzymes, leading to joint destruction. Although recent investigations have considered vitamin K as an anti-inflammatory nutrient with an important role in bone metabolism, there is currently limited information on its efficacy in RA. We aimed to examine the effects of vitamin K₁ (phylloquinone) on the biomarker of joint destruction and autoantibody in patients with RA.

Materials and Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial in which 64 women with RA who fulfilled the eligibility criteria were randomly allocated to an intervention or a control group. Vitamin K₁ or placebo was administered to the participants for 8 weeks. Baseline characteristics and anthropometric measures were obtained. Clinical status using disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS-28), serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and rheumatoid factor (RF) were assessed before and after the intervention.

Results: The serum level of MMP-3 compared with the baseline values did not change significantly in the groups. However, the serum concentration of RF decreased significantly in the vitamin K₁ group (p = 0.041). Intergroup comparison showed no significant change in RF serum level after adjusting for relevant confounders (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Vitamin K₁ supplementation at 10 mg/day for 8 weeks did not alter joint destruction and immune status in the patients with RA compared with the controls.     

Health-Related Quality of Life Among Pregnant Women With and Without Depression in Hubei, China

The role of prenatal depression on physical and mental health among women in mainland China has not been previously investigated. The aim of this research was to (a) calculate the prevalence of depression during pregnancy, (b) explore the relationship between depression sample characteristics and quality of life and (c) identify predictors of physical and mental health among pregnant women. This study was designed as a cross-sectional and exploratory survey. A total of 454 pregnant women participated in the study between December 2009 and June 2010 in central China. The data was collected using the Medical Outcomes Study short form 36 v2 and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Participants were recruited at outpatient departments of obstetrics and gynecology. Findings show that almost 40% of pregnant women experience prenatal depression. Depression was significantly associated with physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Depression, increased age, higher gestational age, being employed and married were significant predictors of lower physical HRQoL. Depression, lower BMI and having an unintended pregnancy were significant predictors of lower mental HRQoL. Prenatal depression is very common in women from mainland China. Depressed women suffer from impaired physical and mental health; prenatal depression has a negative impact on women's HRQoL. We recommend that antenatal services integrate screening for depression into routine antenatal care.