title: Vitamin A supplementation reduces the Th17-Treg - Related cytokines in obese and non-obese women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of vitamin A supplementation on serum Th17 (IL-6, IL-17, IFNγ) and Treg (TGF-β, IL-10) related cytokines in obese and non-obese women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized double blind placebo controlled design, 56 obese women were randomly assigned to receive either an oral dose of 25,000 IU retinyl palmitate or placebo per day for 4 months. Twenty eight ages matched non-obese women were also received vitamin A. At the study entry, anthropometric variables were measured and serum Th17 and Treg related cytokine profile were determined at baseline and 4 months after intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly higher baseline concentrations of IL-6 were observed in obese compared with non-obese women (P < 0.05). However, the initial concentrations of other cytokines were not significantly different between groups. The mean concentrations of IL-17 and TGF-β were significantly decreased after vitamin A supplementation in non-obese and obese women respectively. Positive relationships between IL-17 and IL-10 (r = 0.42, P < 0.001), TGF-β and IL-17 (r = 0.35, P < 0.001) and between IL-10 and IFN-γ (r = 0.41, P = 0.002) in total participants were also observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study showed for the first time that vitamin A supplementation reduces serum concentrations of IL-17 and TGF-β in reproductive age women. Further studies are needed to explore the possible underlying mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdieh Abbasalizad
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Farhangi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Saboor-Yaraghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyyed Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Keshavarz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma