RECENT RESEARCH decrease in sleep onset latency ( P = 0.001 ), depression levels ( P = 0.025 ), hot flashes ( P < 0.001 ), postmenopausal symptoms ( P < 0.001 ) and , in polysomnography data , increased sleep efficiency ( P = 0.002 ) compared to baseline .
Conclusion : Although no significant differences were observed between groups , our data presented a tendency of improvement in WASO . Moreover , AG participants had enhanced overall sleep pattern , quality and sleep efficiency . Weekly follow-up and sleep hygiene instructions were essential for both groups to show improvement in almost all outcomes .
Herbal medicine
Nagawa CS , Palakshappa JA , Sadasivan RS , Houston TK .
Herbal or Dietary Supplement Use and Hypertensive Medications : Does the Combination Relate to Medication Adherence and Blood Pressure Control ? The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine , 27 , No . 2 , 2021 . https :// doi . org / 10.1089 / acm . 2020.0254
Introduction : Medication nonadherence contributes to poor blood pressure control and increases cardiovascular disease risk in patients with hypertension . Identifying modifiable risk factors for low or nonadherence to antihypertensive medication is needed . Studies that have examined the relationship between herbal or dietary supplement ( HDS ) use and antihypertensive medication nonadherence provide inconsistent findings . Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to examine the association between HDS use , current use of prescribed antihypertensive medication , and blood pressure status .
Methods : The study sample included hypertensive adults ( n = 5,478 ) who have been told by a health professional to take prescribed medication for their health condition . Respondents were classified as either HDS users or HDS nonusers . Depending on the kind of supplement used , HDS users were further divided into three mutually exclusive groups : hypertension HDS users , nonhypertension HDS users , and those who used both kinds of supplements . Supplements groupings were based on reports in the literature . Blood pressure status definition was based on Eighth Joint National Committee ( JNC 8 ) recommendations . Adjusted odds ratios ( aORs ) and 95 % confidence intervals ( 95 % CIs ) were obtained from logistic models .
Results : Overall HDS use prevalence was 62 %. Current medication use did not significantly differ between patients reporting no HDS use and those reporting HDS use ( aOR : 1.45 ; 95 % CI : 0.78 – 2.69 ). No observable differences were found in current medication use between patients reporting no HDS use and those taking nonhypertension HDS or both kinds of supplements . Use of hypertension HDS was associated with improved blood pressure ( aOR : 1.90 ; 95 % CI : 1.07 – 3.36 ) compared with no HDS use .
Conclusion : In a nationally representative U . S . sample , HDS use did not compromise current use of prescribed medication and was associated with improved blood pressure control . More research is needed to better understand why HDS use is associated with better blood pressure control .
Hariri M , Ghasemi A , Baradaran HR , Mollanoroozy E , Gholami A .
Beneficial effect of soy isoflavones and soy isoflavones plus soy protein on serum concentration of C-reactive protein among postmenopausal women : An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials . Complementary Therapies in Medicine , 59 , 102715 , 2021 .
Background : Scientists suggest that soy isoflavones or the combination of soy isoflavones and soy protein may have beneficial effects on inflammation . Thus , the present study aims at conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials ( RCTs ) in which the effect of soy isoflavones and the combination of soy isoflavones and soy protein on serum concentration of C-reactive protein ( CRP ) among postmenopausal women is assessed .
Methods and materials : A literature searching was done to identify a breadth of related references in PubMed , Scopus , ISI Web of Science , Cochrane Library , and Clinicaltrials . gov up to December 2020 . The mean change from baseline in the CRP concentrations and its standard deviation ( SD ) for both intervention and comparison groups were used to calculate the effect size . The summary of the overall effects and heterogeneity was estimated by using the DerSimonian and Laird random effects model . The protocol was registered in PROSPERO ( No . CRD42020166053 ).
Results : This study considered 23 articles for systematic review and 19 articles for meta-analysis . The overall effect presented a non-significant effect of soy isoflavones on serum CRP concentrations ( WMD = 0.08 mg / L , 95 % CI : -0.08 , 0.24 ; p = 0.302 ) and the overall effect of the combination of soy isoflavones and soy protein indicated non-significant effect in serum levels of CRP ( WMD = -0.02 mg / L 95 % CI : -0.12 , 0.08 ; p = 0.715 ).
Conclusion : Published RCTs did not provide strong evidence regarding beneficial effect of soy isoflavones or the combination of soy isoflavones and soy protein on serum CRP concentration among postmenopausal women .
Wieland , L . S ., Piechotta , V ., Feinberg , T . et al . E
lderberry for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illnesses : a systematic review . BMC Complement Med Ther 21 , 112 , 2021 . https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s12906-021-03283-5
Background : Elderberry has traditionally been used to prevent and treat respiratory problems . During the COVID-19 pandemic , there has been interest in elderberry supplements to treat or prevent illness , but also concern that elderberry might overstimulate the immune system and increase the risk of ‘ cytokine storm ’. We aimed to determine benefits and harms of elderberry for
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