Oil Capsules Research Articles

Real-time breath analysis of exhaled compounds upon peppermint oil ingestion by secondary electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry: technical aspects

Breath analysis by secondary electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (SESI-HRMS) has potential for clinical diagnosis and drug monitoring. However, there is still a lack of benchmarking data that shows the capability of this technique and allows comparability with other breath analysis techniques. In this regard, the goal of this study was the identification of volatile compounds upon ingestion of a specific peppermint oil capsule to get benchmark data for real-time breath analysis with SESI-HRMS. This was done in the framework of a consortium set up by the International Association of Breath Research (IABR), aimed at comparing several analytical instruments for breath analysis.Breath temporal profiles of two subjects were analyzed with SESI-HRMS before and after ingestion of a peppermint oil capsule. The measurements were performed at two different locations using identical SESI-HRMS platforms to allow for comparability and benchmarking. Remarkably, along with the four major compounds (monoterpenes/cineole, menthone, menthofuran and menthol) reported by other members of the consortium, we detected 57 additional features significantly associated (ρ > 0.8) with the peppermint oil capsule, suggesting that this relatively simple intervention might trigger a more complex metabolic cascade than initially expected. This observation was made on both sites. Additional replicate experiments for one of the subjects suggested that a core of 35–40 unique molecules are consistently detected in exhaled breath upon ingestion of the capsule. In addition, we illustrate the analytical capabilities of real-time SESI-HRMS/MS to assist in the identification of unknown compounds. The results outlined herein showcase the performance of SESI-HRMS and enable comparison with other breath analysis techniques. Along with that, they strengthen the potential of this analytical technique for non-invasive drug monitoring and clinical diagnostic purposes.

Effect of Topical Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Seed Oil on Childhood Sleep Disorders: a Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial

Background and objectivesSleep disorders are among the most common complaints in childhood. Considering the pitfalls regarding safety and efficacy of conventional treatments for sleep disorders in children and based on the Persian medicine literature and results of recent animal and clinical investigations, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of topical lettuce seed oil in these patients.MethodsThe study was a double-blind randomized controlled trial in 3-6 years old children with sleep disorders. They were randomly assigned to receive either topical placebo oil and clonidine capsule or lettuce seed oil and placebo capsule for three weeks. Lettuce seed oil was prepared using cold press method. Persian version of “BEARS” pediatric sleep questionnaire was used before and after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 20) .ResultsAt the end of study, 67 patients out of 72 completed the study. Similar to control group, children in intervention group significantly improved regarding bedtime issues (p<0.001), excessive daytime sleepiness (p=0.003), night awakenings (p=0.008), and problems in regularity and duration of sleep (p<0.001); however, no significant change was observed regarding the snoring in both groups.ConclusionsTopical use of lettuce seed oil on forehead and temporal areas of children could be considered as a safe and effective treatment for sleep disorders. However, further studies with larger sample size, longer duration of follow-up, and with the use of objective outcome measures are warranted.

Preoperative evaluation of superficial cortical venous drainage

Objectives and methodology: The preoperative exact localization of superficial intracranial lesions and superficial cortical veins is often necessary for making craniotomy and evaluation of cortical veins. We developed a simple and cheap method for such localization using cod liver oil capsule during the preoperative MRI and MRV brain examination. With the help of MRV brain, 3DCEMRV and 2DTOF images were taken and superficial cortical veins studied in the marked area for comparison between both modalities of MRV and planning of surgery for avoiding venous injury.&#x0D; Results: Most of the cases were in the age group 16-60 years (91.6%). The most common clinical manifestation was headache (85.4%) and meningioma (60.4%) was found to be the most common pathology. Clear visualization (Grade 3) of the individual superficial cortical vein was observed in 48 cases (100%) in 3DCEMRV as compared to 2DTOF 22 cases (45.8%) P &lt;0.001S. Clear visualization (Grade3) of superior sagittal sinus was observed in 48 cases (100%) in 3DCEMRV as compared to 2DTOF 33 cases (68.6%) P &lt;0.001S. In post-operative CT Head, we found 4 (8.3%) cases were having venous infarction. 5 patients (10.4%) developed motor weakness postoperatively. In 3 cases, postoperative MRV were done and found no venous injury.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study showed that preoperative localization and evaluation of the tumoral area and cortical veins with the help of cod liver oil in MRI and MRV brain was very helpful in planning the surgery, making craniotomy and to avoid injury of the veins. This technique is easy to perform and the capsule is easily constructed and inexpensive. 3DCEMRV was found to be better modality than 2DTOF for delineation of veins. Final neurosurgical outcomes were better.

Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake Is Associated with Age but not Cognitive Performance in an Older Australian Sample.

Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3 PUFA) are essential nutrients and may be capable of delaying age-related cognitive decline. However, previous studies indicate that Australians are not meeting recommendations for LCn-3 PUFA intake. The current study therefore examined LCn-3 PUFA intake in an older Australia sample, as well as associations between LCn-3 PUFA intake and cognitive function. Cross-sectional data were collected from 90 adults aged 50 to 80 years. LCn-3 PUFA intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and red blood cell fatty acid profiles were used to calculate the Omega-3 Index (RBC n-3 index). Cognitive function was measured using Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III. Positive associations were observed between age and RBC n-3 index (b=0.06, 95% CI: 0.01 - 0.10, P=0.01), and age and LCn-3 PUFA intake from fish oil capsules (b=17.5, 95% CI: 2.4 - 32.5 mg/day, P=0.02). When adjusting for LCn-3 PUFA from fish oil capsules, the association between age and RBC n-3 index was no longer significant. No associations were observed between LCn-3 PUFA intake and cognitive function. LCn-3 PUFA and fish oil consumption increased with age in this sample of older Australians, particularly due to supplement intake. However, LCn-3 PUFA intake was not associated with cognitive function.

A prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the effects of an n-3 essential fatty acids supplement (Agepi® ω3) on clinical signs, and fatty acid concentrations in the erythrocyte membrane, hair shafts and skin surface of dogs with poor quality coats

Canine haircoat quality, the time course of incorporation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into the canine erythrocyte membrane, changes in total lipids content on hair shafts and of neutral lipids on the skin surface, were investigated after administrating an n-3 fatty acids supplement. Twenty-four dogs with poor haircoat received a placebo or n-3 oil capsules (110 mg EPA/68 mg DHA) daily for 90 days. Clinical assessments and tissue sampling were performed monthly from day (D)0 to D180. The clinical score in treated dogs was significantly reduced from D60, then attained a plateau and returned to baseline levels on D180. EPA and DHA contents in the erythrocyte membrane increased significantly from D30 and decreased rapidly after supplement withdrawal in treated dogs. Total lipids on the hair shaft increased progressively in the supplemented group. EPA/DHA supplements impact blood and hair fatty acids important for haircoat quality in dogs.

Docosahexaenoic Acid-Rich Fish Oil Supplementation Reduces Kinase Associated with Insulin Resistance in Overweight and Obese Midlife Adults.

Targeting kinases linked to insulin resistance (IR) and inflammation may help in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in its early stages. This study aimed to determine whether DHA-rich fish oil supplementation reduces glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3), which is linked to both IR and AD. Baseline and post-intervention plasma samples from 58 adults with abdominal obesity (Age: 51.7 ± 1.7 years, BMI: 31.9 ± 0.8 kg/m2) were analysed for outcome measures. Participants were allocated to 2 g DHA-rich fish oil capsules (860 mg DHA + 120 mg EPA) (n = 31) or placebo capsules (n = 27) per day for 12 weeks. Compared to placebo, DHA-rich fish oil significantly reduced GSK-3β by −2.3 ± 0.3 ng/mL. An inverse correlation (p < 0.05) was found between baseline insulin and IR and their changes following intervention only in participants with C-reactive protein levels higher than 2.4 mg/L. DHA-rich fish oil reduces GSK-3 and IR, suggesting a potential role of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn-3PUFA) in ameliorating AD risk.

Lipidomic Assessment of Triacylglycerol and Cholesterol Ester Species After n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Suppementation in Humans: Comparison of Response Phenotypes

Abstract Objectives Assess the differences in triacylglycerol (TAG) and cholesterol ester (CE) species in the plasma of individuals displaying heterogeneous lipid responses following long chain n-3 (LCn-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation. Methods We performed a targeted, mass spectrometry (MS), infusion-based lipidomic analysis on plasma samples obtained from a clinical study in which participants were supplemented with 3 g/day of LCn-3 in the form of fish oil capsules over a 6-week period. Triacylglycerol (TAG) species and cholesteryl esters (CE) were quantified for 130 participants pre- and post-supplementation. Results Based on the change of total TAG concentrations following supplementation, participants were segregated into three response phenotypes: (1) positive responders (R+; TAG decrease &amp;lt; 10%), (2) non-responders (NR; TAG changes +/− 10%), and (3) negative responders (R−; TAG increase &amp;gt; 10%) representing 87/130 (67%), 24/130 (18%), and 19/130 (15%) of the study samples, respectively. There were no phenotypic differences for age, sex, body-mass index, glycemia, or ApoB concentrations. Sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis separated the three phenotypes with component 1 attributed to changes in TAG 50–53: X with 0–3 desaturations with R + having reductions in these TAG. Separation along component 2 identified lower mass TAG 46–48: X with 1–3 desaturations likely containing 14:0. This latter effect impacted mostly NR and R- phenotypes. Analysis of individual TAG species per response phenotype revealed TAG species that did not align with the overall TAG response phenotype. Using the TAG response phenotype for grouping, we performed SPLDA analysis for CE responses. We observed that distinction of the TAG response phenotypes qualitatively applies to CE in which separation along component 1 (65% of variance) was due to differences in CE 18:0, 18:1, and 14:0. CE 20:5 was elevated equally (&amp;gt;300%) between all phenotypes indicating LCn-3 intake. However, CE 22:6 was elevated R− (86%) to a greater extent vs. Res+ (55%) and NR (49%) phenotypes. Conclusions Our data identify lipidomic signatures (TAG and CE) associated with LCn-3 response phenotypes in humans and provide insight into the variability of lipid metabolism in humans. Funding Sources USDA-NIFA, USDA-ARS and CIHR MOP-229,488.

MON-LB002 Compounded Testosterone Preparations Raise Testosterone Levels to Premenopausal Ranges in Postmenopausal Women With Hypo-Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)

IntroductionTestosterone (T) in women declines with age. T levels cannot differentiate women with or without HSDD. T therapy approximating upper physiologic premenopausal levels improves all domains of sexual desire, libido, and decreases sexual distress1,2. As of 2020, there are no FDA-approved T preparations for women. Male preparations of T are frequently used off-label to treat HSDD. No peer-reviewed data exists on T levels achieved with compounded testosterone preparations from a single reliable source. This study assesses efficacy of four compounded T preparations to raise T levels, using typically recommended doses. T was obtained from a single Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB)-certified pharmacy.MethodsTwenty-six matched baseline and post-treatment T levels were obtained as part of standard care for post-menopausal women (age 61±6 years) 3 months after being prescribed T for HSDD. T was obtained from the Women’s International Pharmacy. T doses were 0.5-2.0 mg/day, 6 days a week, using 4 methods of administration based on patient’s preferences: 1) cutaneous cream to skin (CS) behind the knees (n=12); 2) intravaginal suppositories (IVS) (n=5); 3) intravaginal oil-capsules (IVoil-C) (n=7); and 4) vulvar cream (VC) (n=2). Mean T dose was 1.5±0.6 mg/day. All patients gave consent for use of their T data, and were compliant with treatment for a week prior to testing. Measures of total T were performed by MS/LC, and of free T by equilibrium dialysis. Normal ranges for total T is 15-70 ng/dl and free T is 0.5-6.5 pg/ml. Paired T-tests comparisons between baseline and treatment values where done within each group where n was sufficient. (*p<0.05, **p<0.01).Results:Baseline and treatment total T (ng/dl) were 18.3±3.6 and 55.3±5.2** for CS, 19.8±4.3 and 56.6±15.9 for IVS (p=NS), 23.0±3.2 and 89.2±23* for IVoil-C, and 25.0±3.0 and 182±47 for VC. Baseline and treatment free T (pg/ml) were 1.18±0.26 and 4.16±0.6** for CS, 1.12±0.2 and 3.46±1.3 for IVS, 1.60±0.2 and 5.95±1.2* for IVoil-C, and 1.36±0.4 and 9.45±1.2 for VC. Testosterone administration by CS or IVoil-C significantly increased testosterone levels to the upper normal premenopausal range in women with HSDD.ConclusionTreatment of HSDD in postmenopausal women with compounded T via CS or IVoil-C, at doses of 0.5-2.0 mg, effectively raises T levels to upper premenopausal range. Vaginal oil capsules may be particularly useful in avoiding accidental hormone contact by other household members. A FDA-approved form of T replacement would be a welcome treatment for women with HSDD.1. Islam RM et al. Lancet Diabetes-Endocrinology (7):754-66, 2019.2. Davis SR. Climacteric, 22:5,429-434, 2019.

The Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on the Decline in Gross Efficiency During a 2000-m Cycling Time Trial

Gross efficiency (GE) declines during high-intensity exercise. Increasing extracellular buffer capacity might diminish the decline in GE and thereby improve performance. To examine if sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation diminishes the decline in GE during a 2000-m cycling time trial. Sixteen male cyclists and 16 female cyclists completed 4 testing sessions including a maximal incremental test, a familiarization trial, and two 2000-m GE tests. The 2000-m GE tests were performed after ingestion of either NaHCO3 supplements (0.3g/kg body mass) or placebo supplements (amylum solani, magnesium stearate, and sunflower oil capsules). The GE tests were conducted using a double-blind, randomized, crossover design. Power output, gas exchange, and time to complete the 2000-m time trials were recorded. Capillary blood samples were analyzed for blood bicarbonate, pH, and lactate concentration. Data were analyzed using magnitude-based inference. The decrement in GE found after the 2000-m time trial was possibly smaller in the male and female groups after NaHCO3 than with placebo ingestion, with the effect in both groups combined being unclear. The effect on performance was likely trivial for males (placebo 164.2 [5.0]s, NaHCO3 164.3 [5.0]s; Δ0.1; ±0.6%), unclear for females (placebo 178.6 [4.8]s, NaHCO3 178.0 [4.3]s; Δ-0.3; ±0.5%), and very likely trivial when effects were combined. Blood bicarbonate, pH, and lactate concentration were substantially elevated from rest to pretest after NaHCO3 ingestion. NaHCO3 supplementation results in an unclear effect on the decrease in GE during high-intensity exercise and in a very likely trivial effect on performance.

Study of a delayed-release system for hard and soft capsules coated with eudragit® s100 acrylic polymers

The objective of this study was to evaluate a pH-dependent system of ileocolonic release of active ingredients using the polymer Eudragit® S100. A spouted bed was used in the coating process of soft capsules containing palm oil and of hard capsules containing glutamine under standardised experimental conditions. The height and diameter of the palm oil and glutamine capsules were measured using a calliper. The following variables were analysed: Eudragit® S100 dispersion amount used in the capsule coating process, nozzle air pressure, nozzle air flow rate, spray rate and temperature of the spouted bed coating process. The Eudragit® S100 dispersion formulation, trademarked as Quickstart® by Evonik Industries, was used with modifications to prepare the enteric coating. The results showed that the adequate temperature for the spouted bed coating process was 50°C and that 0.2 mL of 6.5% Eudragit® S100 coating per cm2 capsule was resistant for 60 minutes at pH 6.8. The findings demonstrate the pharmaceutical application of Eudragit® S100 in the modification of the coating and the preparation of a delayed-release system of hard and soft capsules, thus enabling ileal release of active ingredients.

Profile of Triacylglycerols, Phenols, and Vitamin E of Manjari Medika Grape Seed Oil and Cake: Introducing a Novel Indian Variety

AbstractThe aim of the study is to investigate the biochemical composition of grapeseed oil and cake from an unexplored Indian grape‐juice cultivar, Manjari Medika (MM). The composition of oil and residual seed cake is evaluated using various chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. The findings demonstrate that the vitamin E content of MM‐seed oil (1.15–1.35 g kg−1) is distinctively higher than the Codex standard, suggesting its superior quality as an edible oil. The predominant triacylglycerols include trilinolein (LLL, 43%), dilinoleoyl‐stearylglycerol (LSL, 19%), and dilinoleoyl‐palmitoylglycerol (LLP, 11%), which are earlier recognized as natural antioxidants. The seed‐cake is rich in polyphenols including acylated anthocyanins (e.g., pelargonidin‐3‐O‐coumaroyl glucoside) and certain other flavonoids (e.g., catechin). The profile of phytonutrients in MM seed‐oil and cake is significantly superior to its seeded female parent and two other widely cultivated wine‐grape varieties. In brief, the studied by‐products of this new grape‐juice cultivar can be an important source of high‐value ingredients for use in food supplements, nutraceuticals, and functional foods.Practical applications: This study reports the phytochemical profile of the seed‐oil and seed cake derived from a newly developed grape variety, Manjari Medika. High contents of selective antioxidants: lipids, vitamin E, and phenols in the seed‐oil and cake with health benefits suggest their potential for use in nutraceutical and functional foods. These byproducts can be utilised as ingredients of functional foods and nutraceuticals (e.g., grape seed oil capsule) and also as raw materials in food supply chains (e.g., for production of grape cookies or cake). MM can also be utilized as a colorant in the food industry.

Impact of evening primrose oil consumption on psychological symptoms of postmenopausal women: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of evening primrose oil on women's psychological symptoms during menopause. A double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial carried out from September 2018 to February 2019 in Bandar Abbas, Iran. Eligible women randomly received either 1,000 mg of evening primrose oil capsules daily or matching placebo for 8 weeks. The Main outcome measures were psychological symptoms based on the psychological subscale of the Menopause Rating Scale. Independent samples t test was used for intergroup comparisons and paired samples t test for pre- and post-treatment comparisons. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The 8-week treatment was completed by 189 women. The mean baseline psychological score did not differ among the two groups. After intervention, the psychological score, however, differed significantly among groups (P < 0.01). To distinguish the effect of evening primrose oil, we compared the reduction in the psychological score in each group. Regarding mean differences of the psychological score in both groups, there was a prominent alleviation in the intervention group mean difference: -3.44 (95% confidence interval of difference: -4.01 to -1.20) (P < 0.01). In addition, only one patient reported gastric upset in the intervention group. This study could provide evidence regarding the potential benefits of evening primrose oil for the psychological symptoms of postmenopausal women. Longer trials are necessary to make more reliable decisions about the use of evening primrose oil and its safety in clinical practice.

Oral supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and inflammation markers in patients with chronic kidney disease in hemodialysis

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasingly common public health problem that increases the risk of death because of cardiovascular complications by 2-3 times compared with the general population. This research concerns a prospective, randomized, double-blind study in patients with CKD undergoing hemodialysis. The participants were assigned to 1 of 2 groups: the study group (group A; 46 patients) received 4 capsules (2.4 g) of omega-3 fatty acids daily during the 12-week intervention, while patients in the control group (group B; 47 patients) received 4 capsules of paraffin oil. The patients' general characteristics, nutritional indicators, renal disease markers and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)) were evaluated. No differences were found between the general characteristics of the patients (P < 0.05), and no differences were shown in the nutritional indicators and markers of kidney disease (P < 0.05). Patients in group A showed significant decreases in levels of C-reactive protein, IL-6, TNF-α, and the IL-10/IL-6 ratio after 12 weeks of supplementation (P < 0.05). Patients in group B did not show any significant changes in concentrations of inflammatory markers during the intervention (P < 0.05). In conclusion, oral supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids produces a significant decrease in the concentrations of inflammation markers in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. Novelty Oral supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids produced significant decreases in the concentrations of inflammation markers. This supplementation could be given to patients with uremic syndrome and coronary heart disease to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Substitution of ractopamine by safflower or coconut oil as an additive in finishing pig diets

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to explore the substitution of ractopamine by coconut or safflower oil in finishing pig diets. The study included 24 crossbred barrows weighing 78.00 ± 8.76 kg distributed in a randomized block design with four treatments and six replicates composed of: basal ration (BR), BR + 10 ppm ractopamine, BR + four 1 g capsules of safflower oil, and BR + four 1 g capsules of coconut oil. Performance evaluation showed that safflower oil, ractopamine, and coconut oil supplementation had a significant effect (P &lt; 0.05) on weight gain and feed conversion. Carcass-related variables were also affected by the treatments (P &lt; 0.05), with fat thickness 3 (FT3) reduced by the use of safflower oil, ractopamine, and coconut oil. Rib eye area was positively affected (P &lt; 0.05) by diet, with ractopamine, coconut oil, and safflower oil supplementation treatments showing higher values than control diet treatment. The diets also affected fatty acid profiles (P &lt; 0.05), with decreased myristic acid content in animals supplemented with ractopamine and safflower oil and increased deposition of palmitoleic and oleic acids in animals supplemented with coconut oil and safflower oil, respectively. Results suggested that both safflower oil and coconut oil can be used as substitutes for ractopamine.

Flaxseed oil supplementation on severity of depression and brain-derived neurotrophic factor: a randomized, double blind placebo controlled clinical trial

ABSTRACT Emerging clinical studies suggest that flaxseed oil may be an effective intervention for the management of depression. The current trial was conducted to assess the effect of flaxseed oil supplementation on the Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and the psychological status of women with depression. Subjects of 60 depressed women aged 18–45 were randomly divided into two groups. One group was asked to consume a 1000 mg flaxseed oil capsule, twice a day for 10 weeks, while the other consumed a placebo. Serum (BDNF), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) questionnaire, and anthropometric indices were measured before and after intervention. This study showed that serum BDNF concentration in the supplementation group increased significantly after 10-week intervention, compared with placebo (1.12 ± 0.6 pg/ml vs. 0.2 ± 0.56 pg/ml; p < .0001). Total BDI-II score was significantly lower after flaxseed oil supplementation, compared with placebo (−16.62 ± 7.03, −8.45 ± 7.8; p < .0001). The present study showed that flaxseed oil supplementation can confer a number of health benefits in depressed women, including increased serum BDNF concentrations, along with improvements in depression status.

Determination, through Derivatization and GC-MS Analysis, of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids in Fish Oil Capsules Sold in Salvador, Bahia

The essential w-3 and w-6 fatty acids have important physiological functions, such as prevention of cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis, and are commercially sold as fish oil capsules. In the present work, a method previously described in the literature, based on the derivatization of polyunsaturated fatty acids and their gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis in the form of methyl esters, was partially modified and optimized for determination of w-3 and w-6 fatty acids in fish oil capsules. In addition, the w-9 fatty acid oleic acid was also determined with the optimized method, despite the lack of information about its quantities in the acquired products. The method exhibited good linearity and precision, limits of detection and quantification in the ranges from 0.16 to 0.18 mg g-1 and 0.46 to 0.63 mg g-1, respectively, and recoveries above 76%. The method was applied to analyze ten brands of encapsulated fish oil marketed in Salvador, BA, Brazil. Amongst the results, it was shown that one brand had significantly high amounts of linoleic acid, which indicates a probable adulteration of the product.

Investigation the fatty acid profile of commercial black cumin seed oils and seed oil capsules: Application to real samples

Investigation the fatty acid profile of commercial black cumin seed oils and seed oil capsules: Application to real samples

Efficacy of soluble fibre, antispasmodic drugs, and gut–brain neuromodulators in irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Although novel therapies for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) continue to be developed, many doctors rely on more established, traditional therapies as first-line or second-line treatment options. These therapies include soluble fibre (eg, ispaghula husk), antispasmodic drugs, peppermint oil, and gut-brain neuromodulators (including tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or α-2-δ calcium channel subunit ligands). However, the relative efficacy of traditional treatments in patients with IBS is unclear because there have been few head-to-head randomised controlled trials (RCTs). We aimed to compare and rank the efficacy of traditional therapies in patients with IBS to help inform clinical decisions. For this systematic review and network meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Embase Classic, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to week 2 of August 2019; ClinicalTrials.gov for unpublished trials or supplementary data published up to Aug 18, 2019; and gastroenterology conference proceedings for study abstracts published between 2001 and Aug 18, 2019. We included RCTs that compared any of these treatments with each other (head-to-head trials) or with placebo, in which the efficacy of soluble fibre, antispasmodic drugs, peppermint oil, or gut-brain neuromodulators was assessed in adults (aged at least 18 years) with IBS of any subtype after 4-12 weeks of treatment. Only RCTs reporting a dichotomous assessment of overall response to therapy, in terms of either improvement in global IBS symptoms or improvement in abdominal pain, were included. The efficacy and safety of all treatments were reported as a pooled relative risk (RR) with 95% CIs to summarise the effect of each comparison tested, and treatments were ranked according to their P-score. Our search identified 5863 references, of which 81 were screened for eligibility. 51 RCTs with data from 4644 patients were eligible for inclusion in our analysis, but only 13 of these trials were at low risk of bias. Based on an endpoint of failure to achieve improvement in global IBS symptoms at 4-12 weeks, peppermint oil capsules were ranked first for efficacy (RR 0·63, 95% CI 0·48-0·83, P-score 0·84) and tricyclic antidepressants were ranked second (0·66, 0·53-0·83, P-score 0·77). For failure to achieve an improvement in global IBS symptoms at 4-12 weeks, there were no significant differences between active treatments after direct or indirect comparisons. For failure to achieve improvement in abdominal pain at 4-12 weeks, tricyclic antidepressants were ranked first for efficacy (0·53, 0·34-0·83, P-score 0·87); however, this result was based on data from only four RCTs involving 92 patients. For failure to achieve an improvement in abdominal pain, none of the active treatments showed superior efficacy upon indirect comparison. Tricyclic antidepressants were more likely than placebo to lead to adverse events (1·59, 1·26-2·06, P-score 0·16). In this network meta-analysis of RCTs of soluble fibre, antispasmodic drugs, peppermint oil, and gut-brain neuromodulators for IBS, few of which were judged as being at a low risk of bias, peppermint oil was ranked first for efficacy when global symptoms were used as the outcome measure, and tricyclic antidepressants were ranked first for efficacy when abdominal pain was used as the outcome measure. However, because of the lack of methodological rigour of some RCTs analysed in our study, there is likely to be considerable uncertainty around these findings. In addition, because treatment duration in most included trials was 4-12 weeks, the long-term relative efficacy of these treatments is unknown. None.

Efficacy and safety of lavender essential oil (Silexan) capsules among patients suffering from anxiety disorders: A network meta-analysis

A systematic review and network-meta analysis (NMA) were performed to estimate significance of the anxiolytic effect of lavender essential oil taken as silexan capsules versus other comparators (i.e., placebo/paroxetine/lorazepam). The outcome of interest was Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). Weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated to estimate the treatment effect at the confidence interval of 95%. League tables were generated using treatment effect, for all pairwise comparisons, where WMD < 0 favors the column-defining treatment. Five studies were identified with a total of 524 participants receiving treatment with silexan 80 mg and 121 participants taking silexan 160 mg. The NMA results indicated that consumption of silexan 160 mg resulted in higher decline of HAMA score [WMD −1.14 (−1.10, 3.39)] in comparison to silexan 80 mg, placebo [−2.20 (−4.64, 0.24)] and paroxetine [−1.24 (−5.34, 2.85)]. The effect of silexan 80 mg was observed to be same as that of paroxetine. Overall, silexan 160 mg was noticed to be a more efficient treatment giving significant decline in HAMA score across other comparators. However, no improvements in HAMA score was observed for the group receiving lorazepam 0.5 mg when compared to silexan 160 mg, silexan 80 mg, paroxetine 20 mg, and placebo.

First Use of Handheld Raman Spectroscopy to Analyze Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Intact Fish Oil Capsules.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are commercially important omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils. Here we demonstrate that a handheld Raman spectrometer can be used to quantitate these compounds in intact fish oil capsules, avoiding oxidizing risk. Partial least squares regression models were prepared by relating Raman spectral variance to EPA and DHA concentrations determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of fatty acid methyl esters in 15 commercial samples containing 145-473 mg g-1 EPA and 101-260 mg·g-1 DHA. Handheld Fourier transform (FT)-Raman models had root mean square errors of cross-validation of 38 mg g-1, 24 mg g-1, and 32 mg·g-1 for EPA, DHA, and EPA+DHA, respectively. Models generated from a benchtop FT-Raman spectrometer had corresponding errors of 32 mg·g-1, 22 mg·g-1, and 26 mg·g-1. By comparison, average standard deviations from triplicate GC-MS analyses were 11 mg·g-1 for EPA and 9 mg·g-1 for DHA.