human
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: OBJECTIVE To evaluate the potential body weight-lowering effects of dietary supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid ( EPA ) and α-lipoic acid separately or combined in healthy overweight/obese women following a hypocaloric diet . METHODS This is a short-term double-blind placebo-controlled study with parallel design that lasted 10 weeks . Of the r and omized participants , 97 women received the allocated treatment  [ Control , EPA ( 1.3 g/d ) , α-lipoic acid ( 0.3 g/d ) , and EPA+α-lipoic acid ( 1.3 g/d+0.3 g/d ) ] , and 77 volunteers completed the study . All groups followed an energy-restricted diet of 30 % less than total energy expenditure . Body weight , anthropometric measurements , body composition , resting energy expenditure , blood pressure , serum glucose , and insulin and lipid profile , as well as leptin and ghrelin levels , were assessed at baseline and after nutritional intervention . RESULTS Body weight loss was significantly higher ( P<0.05 ) in those groups supplemented with α-lipoic acid . EPA supplementation significantly attenuated ( P<0.001 ) the decrease in leptin levels that occurs during weight loss . Body weight loss improved lipid and glucose metabolism parameters but without significant differences between groups . CONCLUSIONS The intervention suggests that α-lipoic acid supplementation alone or in combination with EPA may help to promote body weight loss in healthy overweight/obese women following energy-restricted diets AIM To determine an influence of alpha-lipoic acid to reduction of body weight and regulation of total cholesterol concentration , triglycerides and glucose serum levels in obese patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 . METHODS A prospect i ve study includes two groups of obese patients with diabetes mellitus and signs of peripheral polyneuropathia : examined group ( 30 patients ; 15 females and 15 males ) , and control group ( 30 patients ; 12 females and 18 males ) . All were treated with metformin ( 850 - 1700 mg/day ) . Examined patients were additionally treated with alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg/day during 20 weeks . Body mass index and concentrations of total cholesterol , triglycerides and glucose in serum were compared before and after the treatment . RESULTS The group treated with 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid lost significantly more weight , and had lower triglyceride level than the control group . There were no significant differences in total cholesterol and glucose serum levels between the groups . CONCLUSION Alpha-lipoic acid of 600 mg/day treatment have influenced weight and triglycerides loss in obese patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 . It should be considered as an important additive therapy in obese patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 Weight gain and other metabolic disturbances have now become discouraging , major side effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs ( AAPDs ) . The novel strategies required to counteract these serious consequences , however , should avoid modulating the activities of the neurotransmitter receptors involved because those receptors are the therapeutic targets of AAPDs . Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase is an enzyme that plays a pivotal role in energy homeostasis . We hypothesized that & agr;-lipoic acid ( ALA ) , which is known to modulate adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activity in the hypothalamus and peripheral tissues , would ameliorate AAPD-induced  weight gain . We describe the case series of a 12-week ALA trial in schizophrenia patients treated with AAPDs . Two of 7 enrolled subjects were dropped from the study because of noncompliance and dem and for new medication to treat depressive symptoms , respectively . The mean ( SD ) weight loss was 3.16 ( 3.20 ) kg ( P = 0.043 , last observation carried forward ; median , 3.03 kg ; range , 0 - 8.85 kg ) . On average , body mass index showed a significant reduction ( P = 0.028 ) over the 12 weeks . During the same period , a statistically significant reduction was also observed in total cholesterol levels ( P = 0.042 ) , and there was a weak trend toward the reduction in insulin resistance ( homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance ) ( P = 0.080 ) . Three subjects reported increased energy subjectively . The total scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale did not vary significantly during the study . These preliminary data suggest the possibility that ALA can ameliorate the adverse metabolic effects induced by AAPDs . To confirm the benefits of ALA , more extended study is warranted The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of α-lipoic acid on body weight and lipid profiles in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high fat diet ( HFD ) .  After 4 weeks of feeding , rats on the HFD were divided into three groups by r and omized block design ; the first group received the high-fat-diet ( n = 10 ) , and the second group received the HFD administered with 0.25 % α-lipoic acid ( 0.25LA ) , and the third group received the high-fat diet with 0.5 % α-lipoic acid ( 0.5LA ) . The high fat diet with α-lipoic acid supplemented groups had significantly inhibited body weight gain , compared to that in the HFD group ( P < 0.05 ) . Organ weights of rats were also significantly reduced in liver , kidney , spleen , and visible fat tissues in rats supplemented with α-lipoic acid ( P < 0.05 ) . Significant differences in plasma lipid profiles , such as total lipids , total cholesterol , triglycerides , low-density lipoprotein , and high-density lipoprotein , were observed between the HFD and 0.5LA groups . The atherogenic index and the plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio improved significantly with α-lipoic acid supplementation in a dose-dependent manner ( P < 0.05 ) . Total hepatic cholesterol and total lipid concentration decreased significantly in high fat fed rats supplemented with α-lipoic acid in a dose-dependent manner ( P < 0.05 ) , whereas liver triglyceride content was not affected . In conclusion , α-lipoic acid supplementation had a positive effect on weight gain and plasma and liver lipid profiles in rats PURPOSE alpha-lipoic acid is an essential cofactor for mitochondrial respiratory enzymes that improves mitochondrial function . We previously reported that alpha-lipoic acid markedly reduced body weight gain in rodents . The purpose of this study was to determine whether alpha-lipoic acid reduces body weight in obese human subjects . METHODS in this r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled , 20-week trial , 360 obese individuals ( body mass index [ BMI ] ≥ 30 kg/m(2 ) or BMI 27 - 30 kg/m(2 ) plus hypertension , diabetes mellitus , or hypercholesterolemia ) were r and omized  to alpha-lipoic acid 1200 or 1800 mg/d or placebo . The primary end point was body weight change from baseline to end point . RESULTS the 1800 mg alpha-lipoic acid group lost significantly more weight than the placebo group ( 2.1 % ; 95 % confidence interval , 1.4 - 2.8 ; P<.05 ) . Urticaria and itching sensation were the most common adverse events in the alpha-lipoic acid groups , but these were generally mild and transient . CONCLUSION alpha-lipoic acid 1800 mg/d led to a modest weight loss in obese subjects . Alpha-lipoic acid may be considered as adjunctive therapy for obesity To evaluate the protective effects of α-lipoic acid on the kidneys of Goto-Kakisaki ( GK ) diabetic rats , ten GK diabetic rats were r and omly divided into a diabetic control group and a lipoic acid-treated diabetic group with α-lipoic acid 35 mg·Kg−1 intraperitoneal injections . Four healthy Wistar rats served as normal controls . Malonaldehyde ( MDA ) , ascorbic acid ( vitamin C ) , vitamin E , glutathione ( GSH ) and superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) levels in renal homogenate , and urine protein excretion were measured . The expression of mRNA for NF-κB , NADPH oxidase subunits p22phox and p47phox in renal tissue was examined by realtime PCR . Pathological changes in renal tissue were evaluated by light and electron microscopy . There were significant increases in urine protein excretion , MDA levels and the expression of mRNA of NF-κB , p22phox and p47phox , and significant decreases in GSH , SOD , vitamin C and vitamin E levels in the diabetic control group compared with the normal control group . Pathological changes of renal tissue were more progressive in the diabetic control group than in the normal control group . All the parameters above were improved in the α-lipoic acid-treated diabetic group . Oxidative stress is increased in the kidney of type 2 diabetic GK rats . It is associated with the progression of diabetic nephropathy . α-lipoic acid can protect renal function in diabetic rats via its antioxidant activity OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) treatment on endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilatation , assessed by forearm blood flow ( FBF ) , in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 30 subjects with type 2 diabetes were included in this r and omized , controlled , double-blinded , parallel group study . FBF responses to intra-arterial acetylcholine ( ACh ) and glycerol trinitrate ( GTN ) were measured before and after 21 days of intravenous treatment with 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid or placebo . RESULTS FBF responses were comparable at baseline . After treatment , FBF reactivity to ACh and GTN was unchanged in subjects receiving placebo . By contrast , ALA treatment increased endothelium-dependent vasodilatation to ACh ( P < 0.05 ) but not to GTN compared with baseline . CONCLUSIONS Intravenous ALA treatment improves endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in patients with type 2 diabetes , in the absence of effects on forearm vasomotor function . If this salutary action translates into vascular risk reduction remains to be established Background : Quercetin , which is considered as a health-promoting antioxidant , belongs to the broad flavonoids group . Numerous experimental studies have proved that quercetin and vitamin C provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties . The aim of this study is to assess the effects of both quercetin and vitamin C on lipid profile and muscle damage in human subjects . Methods : A r and omized , placebo-controlled , double-blind clinical trial was carried out on 60 males for eight weeks . The subjects were r and omly assigned to one of the four groups : 1 ) quercetin + vitamin C ( 500 mg/day quercetin + 200 mg/day vitamin C ) 2 ) quercetin ( 500 mg/day quercetin + 200 mg/day placebo ) 3 ) vitamin C ( 500 mg/day vitamin C + 200 mg/day placebo ) and 4 ) placebo ( 500 mg/day placebo + 200 mg/day placebo ) . Blood sample s , body weight and percent of body fat were measured before and after intervention . In addition , dietary intake was estimated using 24-h recall . Results : No significant changes occurred in high-density lipoprotein levels between groups and in the four groups before and after supplementation . Low density lipoprotein values decreased significantly ( P = 0.048 ) in the “ Quercetin + Vit C ” group but decrease was not considerable in other groups before and after intervention and among groups . Fat-soluble vitamins ' intake was significantly high among 4 groups . Conclusions : Quercetin and vitamin C supplementation may not be beneficial in lipid profile improvement , although it may reduce induce muscle damage and body fat percent Most systematic review s rely substantially on the assessment of the method ological quality of the individual trials . The aim of this study was to obtain consensus among experts about a set of generic core items for quality assessment of r and omized clinical trials ( RCTs ) . The invited participants were experts in the field of quality assessment of RCTs . The initial item pool contained all items from existing criteria lists . Subsequently , we reduced the number of items by using the Delphi consensus technique . Each Delphi round comprised a question naire , an analysis , and a feedback report . The feedback report included staff team decisions made on the basis of the analysis and their justification . A total of 33 international experts agreed to participate , of whom 21 completed all question naires . The initial item pool of 206 items was reduced to 9 items in three Delphi rounds . The final criteria list ( the Delphi list ) was satisfactory to all participants . It is a starting point on the way to a minimum reference st and ard for RCTs on many different research topics 
    Output:
    
agent
The overall  effect of ALA on serum triglyceride did not reveal any significant change , but in subgroup analysis based on health status ( diabetic vs. non‐diabetic ) , ALA decreased serum triglyceride levels in both diabetic and non‐diabetic groups compared with controls .
This meta‐ analysis revealed that ALA might favorably affect lipid profile especially LDL and TC .
***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: OBJECTIVE To evaluate the potential body weight-lowering effects of dietary supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid ( EPA ) and α-lipoic acid separately or combined in healthy overweight/obese women following a hypocaloric diet . METHODS This is a short-term double-blind placebo-controlled study with parallel design that lasted 10 weeks . Of the r and omized participants , 97 women received the allocated treatment  [ Control , EPA ( 1.3 g/d ) , α-lipoic acid ( 0.3 g/d ) , and EPA+α-lipoic acid ( 1.3 g/d+0.3 g/d ) ] , and 77 volunteers completed the study . All groups followed an energy-restricted diet of 30 % less than total energy expenditure . Body weight , anthropometric measurements , body composition , resting energy expenditure , blood pressure , serum glucose , and insulin and lipid profile , as well as leptin and ghrelin levels , were assessed at baseline and after nutritional intervention . RESULTS Body weight loss was significantly higher ( P<0.05 ) in those groups supplemented with α-lipoic acid . EPA supplementation significantly attenuated ( P<0.001 ) the decrease in leptin levels that occurs during weight loss . Body weight loss improved lipid and glucose metabolism parameters but without significant differences between groups . CONCLUSIONS The intervention suggests that α-lipoic acid supplementation alone or in combination with EPA may help to promote body weight loss in healthy overweight/obese women following energy-restricted diets AIM To determine an influence of alpha-lipoic acid to reduction of body weight and regulation of total cholesterol concentration , triglycerides and glucose serum levels in obese patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 . METHODS A prospect i ve study includes two groups of obese patients with diabetes mellitus and signs of peripheral polyneuropathia : examined group ( 30 patients ; 15 females and 15 males ) , and control group ( 30 patients ; 12 females and 18 males ) . All were treated with metformin ( 850 - 1700 mg/day ) . Examined patients were additionally treated with alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg/day during 20 weeks . Body mass index and concentrations of total cholesterol , triglycerides and glucose in serum were compared before and after the treatment . RESULTS The group treated with 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid lost significantly more weight , and had lower triglyceride level than the control group . There were no significant differences in total cholesterol and glucose serum levels between the groups . CONCLUSION Alpha-lipoic acid of 600 mg/day treatment have influenced weight and triglycerides loss in obese patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 . It should be considered as an important additive therapy in obese patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 Weight gain and other metabolic disturbances have now become discouraging , major side effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs ( AAPDs ) . The novel strategies required to counteract these serious consequences , however , should avoid modulating the activities of the neurotransmitter receptors involved because those receptors are the therapeutic targets of AAPDs . Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase is an enzyme that plays a pivotal role in energy homeostasis . We hypothesized that & agr;-lipoic acid ( ALA ) , which is known to modulate adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activity in the hypothalamus and peripheral tissues , would ameliorate AAPD-induced  weight gain . We describe the case series of a 12-week ALA trial in schizophrenia patients treated with AAPDs . Two of 7 enrolled subjects were dropped from the study because of noncompliance and dem and for new medication to treat depressive symptoms , respectively . The mean ( SD ) weight loss was 3.16 ( 3.20 ) kg ( P = 0.043 , last observation carried forward ; median , 3.03 kg ; range , 0 - 8.85 kg ) . On average , body mass index showed a significant reduction ( P = 0.028 ) over the 12 weeks . During the same period , a statistically significant reduction was also observed in total cholesterol levels ( P = 0.042 ) , and there was a weak trend toward the reduction in insulin resistance ( homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance ) ( P = 0.080 ) . Three subjects reported increased energy subjectively . The total scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale did not vary significantly during the study . These preliminary data suggest the possibility that ALA can ameliorate the adverse metabolic effects induced by AAPDs . To confirm the benefits of ALA , more extended study is warranted The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of α-lipoic acid on body weight and lipid profiles in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high fat diet ( HFD ) .  After 4 weeks of feeding , rats on the HFD were divided into three groups by r and omized block design ; the first group received the high-fat-diet ( n = 10 ) , and the second group received the HFD administered with 0.25 % α-lipoic acid ( 0.25LA ) , and the third group received the high-fat diet with 0.5 % α-lipoic acid ( 0.5LA ) . The high fat diet with α-lipoic acid supplemented groups had significantly inhibited body weight gain , compared to that in the HFD group ( P < 0.05 ) . Organ weights of rats were also significantly reduced in liver , kidney , spleen , and visible fat tissues in rats supplemented with α-lipoic acid ( P < 0.05 ) . Significant differences in plasma lipid profiles , such as total lipids , total cholesterol , triglycerides , low-density lipoprotein , and high-density lipoprotein , were observed between the HFD and 0.5LA groups . The atherogenic index and the plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio improved significantly with α-lipoic acid supplementation in a dose-dependent manner ( P < 0.05 ) . Total hepatic cholesterol and total lipid concentration decreased significantly in high fat fed rats supplemented with α-lipoic acid in a dose-dependent manner ( P < 0.05 ) , whereas liver triglyceride content was not affected . In conclusion , α-lipoic acid supplementation had a positive effect on weight gain and plasma and liver lipid profiles in rats PURPOSE alpha-lipoic acid is an essential cofactor for mitochondrial respiratory enzymes that improves mitochondrial function . We previously reported that alpha-lipoic acid markedly reduced body weight gain in rodents . The purpose of this study was to determine whether alpha-lipoic acid reduces body weight in obese human subjects . METHODS in this r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled , 20-week trial , 360 obese individuals ( body mass index [ BMI ] ≥ 30 kg/m(2 ) or BMI 27 - 30 kg/m(2 ) plus hypertension , diabetes mellitus , or hypercholesterolemia ) were r and omized  to alpha-lipoic acid 1200 or 1800 mg/d or placebo . The primary end point was body weight change from baseline to end point . RESULTS the 1800 mg alpha-lipoic acid group lost significantly more weight than the placebo group ( 2.1 % ; 95 % confidence interval , 1.4 - 2.8 ; P<.05 ) . Urticaria and itching sensation were the most common adverse events in the alpha-lipoic acid groups , but these were generally mild and transient . CONCLUSION alpha-lipoic acid 1800 mg/d led to a modest weight loss in obese subjects . Alpha-lipoic acid may be considered as adjunctive therapy for obesity To evaluate the protective effects of α-lipoic acid on the kidneys of Goto-Kakisaki ( GK ) diabetic rats , ten GK diabetic rats were r and omly divided into a diabetic control group and a lipoic acid-treated diabetic group with α-lipoic acid 35 mg·Kg−1 intraperitoneal injections . Four healthy Wistar rats served as normal controls . Malonaldehyde ( MDA ) , ascorbic acid ( vitamin C ) , vitamin E , glutathione ( GSH ) and superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) levels in renal homogenate , and urine protein excretion were measured . The expression of mRNA for NF-κB , NADPH oxidase subunits p22phox and p47phox in renal tissue was examined by realtime PCR . Pathological changes in renal tissue were evaluated by light and electron microscopy . There were significant increases in urine protein excretion , MDA levels and the expression of mRNA of NF-κB , p22phox and p47phox , and significant decreases in GSH , SOD , vitamin C and vitamin E levels in the diabetic control group compared with the normal control group . Pathological changes of renal tissue were more progressive in the diabetic control group than in the normal control group . All the parameters above were improved in the α-lipoic acid-treated diabetic group . Oxidative stress is increased in the kidney of type 2 diabetic GK rats . It is associated with the progression of diabetic nephropathy . α-lipoic acid can protect renal function in diabetic rats via its antioxidant activity OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alpha-lipoic acid ( ALA ) treatment on endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilatation , assessed by forearm blood flow ( FBF ) , in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 30 subjects with type 2 diabetes were included in this r and omized , controlled , double-blinded , parallel group study . FBF responses to intra-arterial acetylcholine ( ACh ) and glycerol trinitrate ( GTN ) were measured before and after 21 days of intravenous treatment with 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid or placebo . RESULTS FBF responses were comparable at baseline . After treatment , FBF reactivity to ACh and GTN was unchanged in subjects receiving placebo . By contrast , ALA treatment increased endothelium-dependent vasodilatation to ACh ( P < 0.05 ) but not to GTN compared with baseline . CONCLUSIONS Intravenous ALA treatment improves endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in patients with type 2 diabetes , in the absence of effects on forearm vasomotor function . If this salutary action translates into vascular risk reduction remains to be established Background : Quercetin , which is considered as a health-promoting antioxidant , belongs to the broad flavonoids group . Numerous experimental studies have proved that quercetin and vitamin C provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties . The aim of this study is to assess the effects of both quercetin and vitamin C on lipid profile and muscle damage in human subjects . Methods : A r and omized , placebo-controlled , double-blind clinical trial was carried out on 60 males for eight weeks . The subjects were r and omly assigned to one of the four groups : 1 ) quercetin + vitamin C ( 500 mg/day quercetin + 200 mg/day vitamin C ) 2 ) quercetin ( 500 mg/day quercetin + 200 mg/day placebo ) 3 ) vitamin C ( 500 mg/day vitamin C + 200 mg/day placebo ) and 4 ) placebo ( 500 mg/day placebo + 200 mg/day placebo ) . Blood sample s , body weight and percent of body fat were measured before and after intervention . In addition , dietary intake was estimated using 24-h recall . Results : No significant changes occurred in high-density lipoprotein levels between groups and in the four groups before and after supplementation . Low density lipoprotein values decreased significantly ( P = 0.048 ) in the “ Quercetin + Vit C ” group but decrease was not considerable in other groups before and after intervention and among groups . Fat-soluble vitamins ' intake was significantly high among 4 groups . Conclusions : Quercetin and vitamin C supplementation may not be beneficial in lipid profile improvement , although it may reduce induce muscle damage and body fat percent Most systematic review s rely substantially on the assessment of the method ological quality of the individual trials . The aim of this study was to obtain consensus among experts about a set of generic core items for quality assessment of r and omized clinical trials ( RCTs ) . The invited participants were experts in the field of quality assessment of RCTs . The initial item pool contained all items from existing criteria lists . Subsequently , we reduced the number of items by using the Delphi consensus technique . Each Delphi round comprised a question naire , an analysis , and a feedback report . The feedback report included staff team decisions made on the basis of the analysis and their justification . A total of 33 international experts agreed to participate , of whom 21 completed all question naires . The initial item pool of 206 items was reduced to 9 items in three Delphi rounds . The final criteria list ( the Delphi list ) was satisfactory to all participants . It is a starting point on the way to a minimum reference st and ard for RCTs on many different research topics 
    Output:
    