Green tea extract for mild-to-moderate diabetic peripheral neuropathy A randomized controlled trial

Promising Roles of Phytocompounds and Nutrients in Interventions to Mitigate Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

OBJECTIVES

Provide an overview of scientific reports and literature related to the role(s) of phytocompounds and nutrients in neuroprotection. Discuss how these properties may inform nutrition- and dietary interventions to mitigate chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), for which there are no effective treatments.

METHODS

A literature search (2010-2023) was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar where search terms-diet, nutrition, neuroprotection, neurodegenerative diseases, and social determinants of health-were used to narrow articles. From this search, manuscripts were reviewed to provide an overview of the neuroprotective properties of various phytocompounds and nutrients and their observed effects in neurodegenerative conditions and CIPN. Social determinant of health factors (SDOH) related to economic stability and access to nutritious foods were also reviewed as potential barriers to dietary interventions.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight publications were included in this literature review. Phytocompounds found in green tea (EGCG), turmeric (curcumin), cruciferous vegetables (sulforaphane), as well as certain vitamins, are promising, targeted interventions to mitigate CIPN. SDOH factors such as economic instability and limited access to nutritious foods may act as barriers to dietary interventions and limit their generalizability.

CONCLUSION

Dietary interventions focused on the use of phytocompounds and vitamins with known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, hold promise and may provide patients with natural, non-pharmacological therapeutics for the management and/or prevention of CIPN. However, rigorous clinical trial research is needed to explore these effects in humans.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Nurses support cancer survivors at the point-of-care, particularly during and after neurotoxic chemotherapy treatments. If future research supports dietary interventions to mitigate CIPN, nurses will ultimately be positioned to help translate this knowledge into clinical practice through educating patients on how to infuse nutrient-rich foods into their diets. Further, nurses will need to be conscious of SDOH factors that may impede access to these foods.

Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Related Signaling Pathways in Neuroprotection

Oxidative stress, characterized by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disturbed redox homeostasis, is one of the key mechanisms underlying synaptic loss and neuronal death in various neurodegenerative diseases [...].

Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Neuropathic pain is a disabling condition caused by various diseases and can profoundly impact the quality of life. Unfortunately, current treatments often do not produce complete amelioration and can be associated with potential side effects. Recently, herbal drugs have garnered more attention as an alternative or a complementary treatment. In this article, we summarized the results of randomized clinical trials to evaluate the effects of various phytomedicines on neuropathic pain. In addition, we discussed their main bioactive components and potential mechanisms of action to provide a better view of the application of herbal drugs for treating neuropathic pain.

Correlation between health literacy and health‐related quality of life in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: The mediating role of self‐management

AIM

The aims of the study were to analyse the current situation of health literacy (HL), self-management and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), to explore the correlation between the three and to verify the mediating role of self-management in HL and HRQOL.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

The convenience sampling method was used to select 401 DPN patients attending the First Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University in Liaoning Province, China, from December 2020 to December 2021 as the study population. The research instrument included socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire, Health Literacy Management Scale (HeLMS), Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) and Short-Form 12-item Health Survey (SF-12). SPSS 25.0 was applied to the data for descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and stratified multiple regression analysis. Mediating effects were tested using SPSS PROCESS macro 4.0 software.

RESULTS

HL and self-management of DPN patients correlated positively with HRQOL. The mediation role of self-management was significant in the relationship between HL and physical and mental HRQOL (physical component summary: β = 0.26, P < 0.01; mental component summary: β = 0.18, P < 0.01), with mediating effects accounting for 35.62% and 34.62% of the total effect.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a positive correlation between HL, self-management and HRQOL in patients with DPN. Self-management plays a partially mediating role in the relationship between HL and HRQOL in DPN patients. It means that HRQOL in this population can be improved by increasing HL and thus self-management in DPN patients.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

None.

Effects of green tea polyphenol extract and epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate on diabetes mellitus and diabetic complications: Recent advances

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major non-communicable diseases accounting for millions of death annually and increasing economic burden. Hyperglycemic condition in diabetes creates oxidative stress that plays a pivotal role in developing diabetes complications affecting multiple organs such as the heart, liver, kidney, retina, and brain. Green tea from the plant Camellia sinensis is a common beverage popular in many countries for its health benefits. Green tea extract (GTE) is rich in many biologically active compounds, e.g., epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), which acts as a potent antioxidant. Recently, several lines of evidence have shown the promising results of GTE and EGCG for diabetes management. Here, we have critically reviewed the effects of GTE and EGCC on diabetes in animal models and clinical studies. The concerns and challenges regarding the clinical use of GTE and EGCG against diabetes are also briefly discussed. Numerous beneficial effects of green tea and its catechins, particularly EGCG, make this natural product an attractive pharmacological agent that can be further developed to treat diabetes and its complications.

Increased thalamo-cortical functional connectivity in patients with diabetic painful neuropathy: A resting-state functional MRI study

Functional changes in the brain of patients with painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) have remained largely elusive. The aim of the present study was to explore changes in thalamo-cortical functional connectivity (FC) of patients with PDN using resting-state functional MRI. A total of 20 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with non-painful diabetic neuropathy (Group NDN), 19 patients with T2DM with PDN (Group-PDN) and 13 age-, sex- and education-matched healthy controls were recruited. The differences in thalamo-cortical FC among the three groups were compared. Patients in Group PDN had increased FC in the left thalamus, the right angular gyrus and the occipital gyrus as compared to those in Group NDN. Furthermore, patients in Group PDN had increased FC in the right thalamus and angular gyrus as compared to those in Group NDN. In conclusion, the present results suggested that the thalamo-cortical FC is increased in patients with T2DM and PDN. Furthermore, the increased FC in the thalamic-parietal-occipital connectivity may be a central pathophysiological mechanism for PDN. The study was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on 3 October 2018 (identifier no. NCT03700502).