This 2020 systematic review, conducted by the USDA’s Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review (NESR) team, evaluated 19 studies (1 RCT and 18 prospective cohort studies) to assess the relationship between various beverage consumptions during pregnancy and birth weight outcomes standardized for gestational age and sex. The review found insufficient and inconsistent
This 2011 systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of isolated aerobic exercise programs in overweight and obese populations. Analyzing 14 randomized controlled trials encompassing 1,847 participants, the study found that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise over 6 to 12 months led to modest reductions in weight (approximately 1.6–1.7 kg) and waist
This 2011 systematic review by Poddar et al. critically evaluates the scientific evidence surrounding various over-the-counter nutraceutical agents marketed for weight loss. The authors highlight the global obesity epidemic and the appeal of herbal “weight loss pills” as seemingly effortless solutions. The review underscores the paucity of rigorous clinical trials
This 2016 systematic review analyzed studies on weight regain after sleeve gastrectomy (SG). It found that definitions of weight regain varied across studies, leading to inconsistent reporting. Reported rates of weight regain ranged from 5.7% at 2 years to 75.6% at 6 years post-surgery. Proposed causes included initial sleeve size,
This 2020 systematic review assessed the effects of prolonged L-carnitine (LC) supplementation on metabolism and related modifications. Analyzing 11 studies involving healthy human subjects who received oral LC (1–4 g/day) for 12–24 weeks, the review found that LC combined with carbohydrates effectively increased skeletal muscle carnitine content. In centenarians, supplementation
This 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of combining oral vitamin C (ascorbic acid) with iron supplementation in treating anemia. Analyzing nine studies (seven included in meta-analysis) encompassing 905 participants with laboratory-confirmed anemia, the study compared outcomes between groups receiving iron plus vitamin C versus iron alone. The
This 2019 systematic review assessed the efficacy and safety of vitamin C supplementation in cancer treatment. Nineteen trials were included, with only four employing randomization. The studies varied widely in design, patient populations, and intervention protocols. Overall, the evidence did not demonstrate a clinically significant benefit of vitamin C on
This 2020 mixed-methods systematic review assessed the efficacy and safety of various health supplements in managing allergic rhinitis. Analyzing 48 randomized controlled trials and 10 observational studies, the review found promising evidence for single supplements such as apple polyphenols, tomato extract, spirulina, chlorophyll c2, honey, conjugated linoleic acid, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM),
This 2017 review explores the association between vitamin D and allergic rhinitis (AR). It discusses vitamin D’s role in immune regulation, including modulation of T-helper cell responses and cytokine production. The review highlights that while some studies suggest an inverse relationship between serum vitamin D levels and AR risk, findings
This 2005 systematic review by Tsai and Wadden assessed the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of major commercial and organized self-help weight loss programs in the U.S. The review included studies on programs such as Weight Watchers, Health Management Resources (HMR), Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), OPTIFAST, and eDiets.com. Findings indicated that
