Background: Considering the high prevalence of diabetes and developing cardiovascular diseases via dyslipidemia and inflammation in type 2 diabetic patients, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Oligofructose-enriched inulin on serum lipid concentrations and inflammation in type2 diabetic patients.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 52 patients with type 2 diabetes were assigned to one of two groups. Experimental group (n=27) received 10g/d oligofructose-enriched inulin and control group (n=25) received 10 g/d maltodextrin for 8 weeks. Dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements, hs-CRP and serum lipids concentrations were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (verision11.5). Paired, independent t-test and ANCOVA were used to compare comparison of quantitative variables.

Results: At the end of study, we observed significant decrease in total cholesterol (28.00 mg/dL, 14.10%), LDL-c (22.00 mg/dL, 21.7%), TC/HDL-c ratio (-0.73, 20.7%) and LDL-c/HDL-c ratio (-0.55, 27.5%) in oligofructose-enriched inulin compared with the maltodextrin group (p<0.05). Changes in concentrations of triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein were not significant in oligofructose-enriched inulin compared to maltodextrin group.

Conclusion: Oligofructose-enriched inulin supplementation with improving in inflammtion and lipid profile help in management of type 2 diabetes and its complications.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease. Hypertension could occur as a result of chronic inflammation in RA patients. Some evidence demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects of alpha-lipoic acid in inflammatory diseases. However, a limited number of studies have evaluated the effects of alpha-lipoic acid in rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on blood pressure and some inflammatory factors.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial in which 70 female patients aged 20–50 years were randomized to two groups to receive either alpha-lipoic acid (1200 mg/day) or placebo. The intervention duration was 8 weeks. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured before and after the supplementation period. Also, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS13 software.

Results: 65 RA patients completed the trial. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure in alpha-lipoic acid group was significantly decreased in comparison with placebo group (p<0.05). But, CRP and IL-6 serum levels did not indicate any significant within- and between group changes.

Conclusion: In the present study, alpha-lipoic acid supplementation resulted in significant blood pressure reduction in rheumatoid arthritis participants.