In the News: Antioxidants Improve Short-Term Mortality Risk in Sepsis Patients

Findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that the administration of antioxidants was associated with improved short-term survival among men and women with sepsis, a complication of infection that results in body-wide inflammation.*

A total of 60 studies were analyzed, which included 130,986 sepsis patients. There were 35 randomized controlled trials and 25 non-randomized controlled studies.

An analysis of all studies that examined in-hospital mortality and 28-day mortality found a 19% reduction among patients who received antioxidant therapy in comparison with the odds of in-hospital mortality of those receiving standard care.

When separate therapies were analyzed, vitamin B1 and vitamin C were associated with respective 36% and 34% lower odds of in-hospital mortality compared to the odds of mortality in those receiving standard care.

When separate therapies were analyzed, vitamin C treatment was associated with 34% lower odds of in-hospital mortality and 57% reduction in 28-day mortality compared to the odds of mortality in those receiving standard care.

Editor’s Note: An analysis of only the randomized controlled trials found that the odds of short-term mortality were 43% lower among the vitamin C group compared to the odds of mortality in the group receiving standard care.

* Heliyon. 2024 Apr 4;10(8):e29156.

Melatonin and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Adults who used the sleep hormone melatonin had a significantly lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and had less disease progression according to a retrospective study.*

Researchers analyzed information from the health records of 121,523 men and women aged 50 or older who had at least one record of receiving an eye examination or being screened for eye disorders that did not reveal wet AMD beginning in November 2008 to November 2023. Individuals who reported melatonin use on four or more occasions at least three months apart were categorized as melatonin users.

Among subjects who did not initially have AMD, those who used melatonin had a 58% lower risk of developing the disease through 2023 compared to the risk of those who did not use melatonin. For people who had dry AMD, the risk of progressing to wet AMD was 56% less among melatonin users compared to the risk of nonusers.

Editor’s Note: When people aged 60 and older were examined, melatonin use was associated with a 64% lower risk of developing AMD and a 62% lower risk of progression from dry to wet AMD.

* JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024 Jun 6.

Lower Odds of Stroke with Higher Vitamin B6 Intake

A study including 24,214 men and women found lower odds of stroke among those who consumed higher amounts of vitamin B6.*

Researchers analyzed data collected between 2005–2018 from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). It included 921 people who had been diagnosed with stroke and 23,293 with no stroke history. Vitamin B6 intake was determined from responses to two dietary recall interviews.

People whose vitamin B6 intake was among the top 25% of the study’s subjects had 52% lower odds of stroke in comparison with individuals whose intake was among the lowest 25%. The authors observed that B vitamins lower levels of the amino acid homocysteine. Higher levels of homocysteine are associated with an increased risk of stroke.

Editor’s Note: Vitamin B6 also helps support a healthy inflammatory response by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

* Heliyon. 2024 May 11;10(10):e31125.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid Shows Benefits for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

A retrospective study revealed improvements in insulin sensitivity and liver enzymes among overweight or obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who received alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) daily for 12 weeks.*

PCOS is a condition caused by elevated levels of hormones known as androgens. The condition is characterized by ovarian cysts, weight gain, difficulty becoming pregnant and other signs. Women with PCOS may have elevated levels of insulin and/or a family history of diabetes.

The study included 32 women with PCOS who received 400 mg daily of ALA. Routine examinations and blood tests for hormones, insulin, glucose tolerance, liver enzymes and other factors were conducted at the beginning and end of the study.

At the end of the treatment period, participants had significant improvement in insulin sensitivity and reduced levels of the liver enzymes ALT and AST without changes in reproductive hormones. After three months plasma insulin levels decreased together with an index (HOMA) of insulin resistance.

Editor’s Note: The authors noted that the combination of high insulin levels and elevated ALT and AST has been considered a trigger for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which occurs at a higher rate among women with PCOS than in those who do not have the condition.

* Gynecol Endocrinol. 2024 Dec;40(1): 2341701.