Selenium (Se) supplementation may decrease the severity of ulcerative colitis (UC) through the activation of genes responsible for immune modulation. The present research was aimed to assess the effect of Se supplementation on the expression of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) in UC patients. In a double-blind randomized parallel clinical trial, 100 patients with mild-to-moderate active UC met inclusion criteria and divided into 2 groups of treatment (50 patients received selenomethionine [200 µg daily]) and placebo (50 patients received placebo [1 capsule daily]) for 10 weeks. The expression rates of SIRT1 and PGC-1α were examined in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) using the real-time polymerase chain reaction. There was no considerable difference in the mean of baseline demographic and clinical characteristics between groups. Also, there were no significant differences in total energy intake, macronutrients, and micronutrients between groups. The SIRT1 gene expression in the Se group was significantly increased compared to the placebo (p < 0.001). An increase in the expression of the PGC-1α gene in the Se group was not statistically significant. It seems that Se supplementation caused a significant decrease in the inflammatory response of the colon by a significant increase in the expression of the SIRT1 gene.
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Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic intestinal inflammation. Common clinical symptoms are weight loss, diarrhea, ulcers, and inflammation. Aloe vera (AV) has several medicinal properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory analgesic, and improvement of gastric and skin ulcers. This study aimed to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of AV gel on acetic acid-induced UC in rats. UC was induced in 48 rats by injection of 4% acetic acid into the rectum. Protective and treatment groups received treatments 7 days before and after the induction of colitis, respectively. The negative control group, the positive control group, and AV groups received distilled water, sulfasalazine, and 50 and 300 mg/kg of gel extract, respectively. Water and food intake and body weight changes were recorded. The extent of the mucosal ulcers, colon tissue thickening, and mucosal bleeding were scored by the Gerald classification system score (microscopy observations). Slides of tissues were prepared for pathologic assay using the modified Wallace method (macroscopic observations). The results of the macroscopic and microscopic examination showed protective and therapeutic effects of 50 mg/kg dose of AV on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats which reduces the inflammation, ulcers and tissue damage compared with negative control (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in the amount of water and food intake, body weight changes, and colon weight in protective and treatment groups. Based on the results, AV gel could be used to improve the symptoms of UC, as well as prevent people who are susceptible to the UC.
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