This tab will answer the following nutritional question: How can nutrition contribute positively to my health?

One swallow does not make a summer. A famous Dutch saying that could not be any more obvious. Just because one single scientific study about a certain topic makes certain claims, it does not necessarily mean it is true. On the other hand, a review article (a collection of scientific studies on a certain topic) of randomized, placebo-controlled double blind clinical trials (RCTs) will answer the following question:
"Do taking dietary supplements make sense?" Yes for a positive conclusion and no for a negative conclusion.

One swallow does not make a summer. A famous Dutch saying that could not be any more obvious. Just because one single scientific study about a certain topic makes certain claims, it does not necessarily mean it is true. On the other hand, a review article (a collection of scientific studies on a certain topic) of cohort studies or case-control studies will answer the following question:
"Should I change my diet?".

Find scientific studies on vitamin A: type vitamin A in Search field.

Nutritional advice

Causal relationship between sugar-sweetened beverages consumption and higher BMI and body weight

Objectives:
Is there a causal relationship between sugar-sweetened beverages consumption and higher BMI and body weight in both children and adults?

Study design:
This review article included 85 studies with 48 in children (40 cohort studies with 91,713 participants and 8 RCTs with 2,783 participants) and 37 in adults (21 cohort studies with 448,661 participants and 16 RCTs with 1,343 participants).

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found among cohort studies, each serving/day increase in sugar-sweetened beverages intake was significantly associated with a 0.07 kg/m²[95% CI = 0.04 to 0.10 kg/m²] higher BMI in children and a 0.42 kg [95% CI = 0.26 to 0.58 kg] higher body weight in adults.

The investigators found RCTs in children indicated less BMI gain with sugar-sweetened beverages reduction interventions compared with control [MD = -0.21 kg/m², 95% CI = -0.40 to -0.01 kg/m²].

The investigators found RCTs in adults showed randomization to addition of sugar-sweetened beverages to the diet led to greater body weight gain [MD = 0.83 kg, 95% CI = 0.47 to 1.19 kg] and subtraction of sugar-sweetened beverages led to weight loss [MD = -0.49 kg, 95% CI = -0.66 to -0.32 kg] compared with the control groups.

The investigators found a positive linear dose-response association between sugar-sweetened beverages consumption and weight gain for all outcomes assessed.

The investigators concluded there is a causal relationship between sugar-sweetened beverages consumption and higher BMI and higher body weight in both children and adults.

Original title:
Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and weight gain in children and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials by Nguyen M, Jarvis SE, [...], Malik VS.

Link:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36789935/

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on sugar-sweetened beverages consumption and obesity/overweight right here.

Probiotic/synbiotic supplements improve glucose and lipid metabolism in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Objectives:
The effect of probiotic/synbiotic supplementation on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is controversial. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Do probiotic/synbiotic supplements improve glucose and lipid metabolism in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus?

Study design:
This review article included 11 RCTs with a total of 390 women with gestational diabetes mellitus in probiotics/synbiotics group and 389 women with gestational diabetes mellitus in placebo group.

The mean age of those participants ranged from 26.4 years to 33.5 years.
The duration of intervention ranged from 4 weeks to 8 weeks.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found compared with the placebo, probiotics/synbiotics supplements were associated with a statistically significant improvement in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) [MD = -2.33, 95% CI = -4.27 to -0.40, p = 0.02, I2 = 74%].

The investigators found compared with the placebo, probiotics/synbiotics supplements were associated with a statistically significant improvement in the homoeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) [MD = -0.40, 95% CI = -0.74 to -0.06, p = 0.02, I2 = 76%].

The investigators found compared with the placebo, probiotics/synbiotics supplements were associated with a statistically significant improvement in fasting serum insulin (FSI) [MD = -2.47, 95% CI = -3.82 to -1.12, p = 0.0003, I2 =73%].

The investigators found compared with the placebo, probiotics/synbiotics supplements were associated with a statistically significant improvement in total cholesterol (TC) [MD = -6.59, 95% CI = -12.23 to -0.95, p = 0.02].

The investigators found subgroup analysis revealed that the kind of supplement led to heterogeneity for FPG and FSI, while heterogeneity was not found for others.

The investigators concluded probiotic/synbiotic supplements improve glucose and lipid metabolism in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus. The use of specific probiotic supplementations containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum (>1 × 106 CFU/g) may be a promising prevention and therapeutic strategy for gestational diabetes mellitus, as they could directly act on the intestinal mucosal barrier and restore the gut flora balance. However, due to the heterogeneity among existing studies, further studies are warranted to address the limitations of existing evidence and better inform the management of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Original title:
The Effects of Probiotics/Synbiotics on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials by Mu J, Xian Guo X, […], Cao G.

Link:
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/6/1375

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on probiotic, diabetes mellitus and pregnancy right here.

Vitamin B6 supplements reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy

Objectives:
Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) are common symptoms in pregnancy. Although no definitive treatment option for NVP, pyridoxine (vitamin B6) supplementation has been used widely. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Does supplementation of pyridoxine alone as well as combined treatment of pyridoxine with an active ingredient as the intervention reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy?

Study design:
This review article included 8 RCTs.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found 8 studies showed beneficial effects with pyridoxine alone as the supplementation, while 6 others found that the supplementation of pyridoxine in combination with another active substance had favourable effects.

The investigators found supplementation of pyridoxine alone as well as combined treatment of pyridoxine with an active ingredient as the intervention significantly improved the symptoms of nausea according to Rhode's score [0.78, 95% CI= 0.26 to 1.31, p = 0.003, I2 = 57%, p = 0.10] and PUQE score [0.75, 95% CI = 0.28 to 1.22, p = 0.002, I2 = 0%, p = 0.51], respectively.

The investigators concluded supplementation of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) alone as well as combined treatment of pyridoxine with an active ingredient as the intervention reduces nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Original title:
The effects of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) supplementation in nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis by Jayawardena R, Majeed S, […], Ranaweera P.

Link:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36719452/

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on vitamin B6 and pregnancy right here.