Effect of cod liver oil on symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Characterization of Some Dermato-Cosmetic Preparations with Marine Lipids from Black Sea Wild Stingray

The traditional knowledge about the therapeutic and nutritional value of fish has been unanimously recognized among the population since ancient times. So, thanks to the therapeutic virtues of these marine animals, it was possible to develop therapies for certain pathologies as well as the use of bioactive compounds as adjunctive therapies incorporated into the treatment regimen of patients. In the present study, stingray liver oil from wild species collected from the Romanian coast of the Black Sea was isolated and analyzed. Fatty acid analysis was performed by gas chromatography. The analysis of the distribution of fatty acids in the composition of stingray liver oil indicates a ratio of 2.83 of omega 3 fatty acids to omega 6, a ratio of 1.33 of polyunsaturated fatty acids to monounsaturated fatty acids, an iodine index of 111.85, and a total percentage of 68.98% of unsaturated fatty acids. Stingray liver oil was used to evaluate the healing action after preparing a fatty ointment. According to the experimental data, a complete regeneration capacity of the wounds was noted in 12 days without visible signs. Four emulgels with stingray liver oil were formulated and analyzed from a rheological and structural point of view in order to select the optimal composition, after which the anti-inflammatory effect on inflammation caused in laboratory rats was studied and an anti-inflammatory effect was found significant (a maximum inhibitory effect of 66.47% on the edemas induced by the 10% kaolin suspension and 65.64% on the edemas induced by the 6% dextran solution).

An Overview of the NF-kB mechanism of pathophysiology in rheumatoid arthritis, investigation of the NF-kB ligand RANKL and related nutritional interventions

Nuclear Factor Kappa-Β (NF-kB) is recognized as one of the main inflammatory pathways in the Autoimmune Disease (AD) Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), which exhibits high levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, TNFa and IL-6 linked to bone erosion and disease progression. NF-kB is also the most studied pathophysiological mechanism in RA, however, over the last few decades, a more recently discovered Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-Β Ligand (RANKL), also linked to NF-kB activation and bone erosion, has been the topic of interest for research in the area of AD management. As the non-discriminative long term suppression of the NF-kB pathway by pharmacological agents in the management of RA has been linked with a number of side effects and with the discovery of the RANKL mechanism, which may present a more targeted approach to the management of the AD, there has been renewed interest in research on the potential impact of nutritional interventions influencing the NF-kB pathway, RANKL as well as RA disease outcomes. Existing research highlights the potential utility of nutrients such as Omega 3 and Vitamin D, which may lower NF-kB activation in RA. There is, however, a gap in the knowledge of the effects of nutritional interventions on pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to RA and a more robust systematic analysis of whether nutrients or specific vitamins can have an effect on the NF-kB and RANKL main drivers of pathology in RA. Findings from this study suggest the potential of Vitamin D supplementation in lowering the levels of RANKL and related markers/cytokines such as Th17 cell levels, OPG/RANKL ratio and CXCL10 pathway, which may present as a viable nutrition intervention for the management of RA. The methodology of this review involved a Systematic Search of the Literature with a Critical Appraisal of papers. It incorporated three tranche searches of 1. review, 2. animal/in vitro and 3. intervention peer reviewed research published in the last 10 years, resulting in a total of 119 papers. Results provide an overview of the NF-kB pathway, a detailed mechanistic examination of the Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-Β Ligand (RANKL) which is linked to bone erosion, and finally a review of nutritional interventions relating to this mechanism of pathophysiology. The accepted papers were critically appraised using SIGN50 for human studies and the ARRIVE guidelines for animal studies; the narrative was and the extracted information coded into key themes.

Food Yellow4 reprotoxicity in relation to localization of DMC1 and apoptosis in rat testes: Roles of royal jelly and cod liver oil

Food Yellow 4 (FY4) is a lemon-yellow-colored synthetic organic azo dye, which is used widely for imparting pleasant and attractive appearance to foods and cosmetics. The present study aimed at evaluating the possible mechanism underlying the FY4-induced reprotoxicity in rats, and the potential supportive role of royal jelly (RJ) or cod liver oil (CLO), which is a natural remedy with several pharmacological benefits, against induced toxicity. Forty-eight male rats were divided into different groups-the control group, the CLO group (0.4 mL/kg), the RJ group (300 mg/kg), the FY4 group (500 mg/kg b.w.), and the co-treated groups (FY4 + CLO or FY4 + RJ). Semen analysis, serum hormones, and enzyme activities were estimated. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using anti-PCNA, anti-Sox 9, anti-STRA8, anti-DMC1, and anti-ssDNA antibody. The FY4 group exhibited a significant decrease in sperm concentration and motility percentage (%) and a substantial reduction in the TES and LH levels. Testicular LDH, ACP, and SDH were observed to be inhibited. Furthermore, co-localization of DMC1 and ssDNA, which reflected apoptotic induction in the leptotene and zygotene spermatocytes, respectively, was observed to have markedly elevated in the FY4 treated rats, with fewer PCNA-positive and SOX9-positive cells and higher ssDNA-positive cells in the seminiferous epithelium in comparison to the control groups. Interestingly, co-treatment with CLO or RJ exhibited healthy sperms and restored their features, activated the enzyme production, and raised the levels of sexual hormones. In addition, both RJ and CLO restored the features of the testicular tissue as observed under a light microscope, and limited the apoptosis as observed through antibody staining. Collectively, the results of the present study revealed that the co-administration of RJ or CLO with FY4 improved the biochemical, hormonal, and structural aspects of the testicular tissue in rats. Therefore, CLO and RJ may be considered promising agents that would be able to improve the testicular structure and function in the FY4-exposed individuals.

Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis with Dietary Interventions

Self-help by means of dietary interventions can help in management of various disorders including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a debilitating autoimmune disease. Dietary interventions necessitate a widespread appeal for both patients as well as clinicians due to factors including affordability, accessibility, and presence of scientific evidences that demonstrate substantial benefits in reducing disease symptoms such as pain, joint stiffness, swelling, tenderness and associated disability with disease progression. However, there is still an uncertainty among the community about the therapeutic benefits of dietary manipulations for RA. In the present review, we provide an account of different diets and their possible molecular mechanism of actions inducing observed therapeutic benefits for remission and management of RA. We further indicate food that can be a potential aggravating factor for the disease or may help in symptomatic relief. We thereafter summarize and thereby discuss various diets and food which help in reducing levels of inflammatory cytokines in RA patients that may play an effective role in management of RA following proper patient awareness. We thus would like to promote diet management as a tool that can both supplement and complement present treatment strategies for a better patient health and recovery.

Cod liver oil. A natural Vitamin D for preserving health

Vitamin D deficiency is pandemic in industrialized countries due to life-style changes. Recent studies suggest that besides bone-metabolism, vitamin D plays a central role in basic cell function like multiplication, differentiation and metabolism. This may explain that low vitamin D levels represent a risk factor for several apparently different diseases such as infective, autoimmune, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, as well as diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer. Accumulating evidences suggest that an adequate intake of vitamin D may significantly decrease prevalence and clinical outcome of these diseases. Estimated reduction of the economic burden might reach about 10 percent through normalizing vitamin D levels for these diseases. However, high doses of vitamin D monotherapy needs precaution for potential adverse effects and it should be substituted with the recommended doses of vitamin D in combination with synergistic vitamin A and omega 3 fatty acids, such as cod liver oil. Orv. Hetil., 2011, 152, 323–330.

Characterization of cod liver oil by spectroscopic techniques. New approaches for the determination of compositional parameters, acyl groups, and cholesterol from 1h nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectral data

Six samples of cod liver oil were studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR). These techniques provide information simply and rapidly about the global features of the cod liver oil main components, showing their potential as routine techniques for evaluating certain parameters of the quality of the cod liver oil. FTIR spectroscopy provides information about the molar percentage of polyunsaturated acyl groups in the sample and also about the ratio between unsaturated and saturated structures. (1)H NMR provides information about the proportions or concentrations of certain acyl groups and also of some minor compounds such as cholesterol. Both techniques are simple and fast. New approaches are presented to evaluate the molar proportions or concentrations of some acyl groups such as the molar percentages of omega-3, docosahexaenoic, and eicosapentaenoic acyl groups; furthermore, some novel approaches for evaluating the molar percentages of unsaturated and saturated acyl groups are also given. Results obtained from both spectroscopic techniques are in total agreement.