The Effects of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe) on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prominent etiological factor for liver cirrhosis worldwide. It is frequently associated with obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who have NAFLD. In a two-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, seventy-six patients diagnosed with both T2DM and NAFLD were randomly assigned to receive either ginger powder capsules (1000 mg, twice daily) or placebo capsules (administered in the same manner) for a period of three months. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure readings, biochemical profiles, and imaging parameters were assessed before and after the intervention. Safety measures were also evaluated. In both the ginger and placebo groups, there was a significant reduction in mean body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences, as well as liver transaminase levels. Moreover, significant improvements in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were observed in the ginger group (p = 0.02 and < 0.0001, respectively). Within the ginger group, there was a decrease in serum insulin levels and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p = 0.002 and 0.004, respectively). Furthermore, the ginger group exhibited an improvement in serum HDL-cholesterol level (p = 0.01). However, there were no significant changes in the assessed inflammatory markers or the indices obtained from fibroscan imaging, including steatosis percent and controlled attenuation parameter. This study demonstrates that ginger supplementation can significantly improve mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures. However, it does not have a significant impact on inflammatory markers or fibroscan imaging indices. Nonetheless, the three-month use of ginger improves serum insulin level, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and HDL-cholesterol level compared to baseline values. Further investigations with longer durations and larger sample sizes are recommended.

Granulocyte colony stimulating factor adjuvant role on the immunological response to hepatitis B vaccine in patients with cirrhosis: a double blind randomized placebo controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Patients with liver cirrhosis have usually poor antibody response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the effect of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on increasing antibody titers, after HBV vaccination, in patients with liver cirrhosis waiting for transplantation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 56 patients with cirrhosis, 28 patients were allocated to receive double dose HBV vaccine (40 μgr) plus G-CSF and 28 patients were allocated to receive double dose HBV vaccine (40 μgr) plus placebo. Injections were performed on weeks 0, 4 and 8 and the blood samples were obtained one month after each vaccination session.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between anti-HBV antibody titers in patients receiving double dose HBV vaccination plus G-CSF and patients receiving double dose HBV vaccination plus placebo, after first, second or third vaccination rounds (P > 0.05). Although the adjuvant G-CSF injection did not cause significant increased antibody titers in our patients compared to the placebo group, the increase in antibody titers following vaccination, happened faster in this group, compared to the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed that G-CSF is not superior to placebo in production of protective antibody titers after HBV vaccination but could result in a more rapid antibody response, compared to the placebo.

Seroprevalence study of hepatitis A virus in Fars province, southern Iran

BACKGROUND

There are several studies on seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in adults in the Middle East.

OBJECTIVES

To determine seroprevalence of HAV among adult population in Fars province, southern Iran.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, we checked anti-HAV antibody (IgG) in subjects refereed to our health care centers to perform laboratory tests before getting married between March 2008 and March 2009. Age-specific seroprevalence was also determined. Some risk factors like level of education, type of residence, job, numbers of family members, and access to treated water were also evaluated in these participants.

RESULTS

From 1050 subjects studied, 927 (88.2%) had ant-HAV antibody; 123 (11.8%) were antibody negative. Among subjects aged < 20 years, the anti-HAV seroprevalence was the lowest (79.3%) followed by subjects aged 20-30 years (91.3%) and those > 30 years (99%) (p = 0.01). 85.1% of studied individuals in urban areas had anti-HAV IgG while 95.9% of subjects in rural regions were anti-HAV positive (p = 0.001). The seroprevalence of HAV antibody was significantly associated with number of family members (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

HAV is highly prevalent in our region especially in rural areas. It is better to vaccinate the children for HAV by the time they receive HBV vaccine or when they are five years.