The use of macronutrient and micronutrient foods is associated with the duration of sleep. This study aimed to determine the effect of zinc supplements on the sleep quality of older adults. The current parallel randomized clinical trial study was performed using a convenience sampling method. One hundred and fifty older adults who met the inclusion criteria were assigned to intervention and control group. The participants in the intervention group received a daily dose of 30 mg zinc supplementation pill for 70 days and the control group did not receive any supplement. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Serum zinc level in both groups was measured through the auto-analysis method. The questionnaire was completed and the serum level of zinc was measured twice, before the intervention and 70 days after the intervention. Both groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic variables, sleep quality, and serum zinc level before the intervention. Of all, 73.3% of older adults in the intervention group and 74.7% of older adults in the control group had poor sleep quality. Sleep quality in the intervention group, as compared with the control group, significantly improved after the intervention. Furthermore, serum zinc levels in older adults in the intervention group, as compared with the control group, significantly increased after the intervention. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to utilize zinc supplementation as a new therapeutic approach for improving sleep quality in older adults.

Salicylic acid is a phytochemical with beneficial effects on human well-being. Salicylic acid is a phenolic compound and is present in various plants where it has a vital role in protection against pathogenic agents. Natural sources include fruits, vegetables and spices. The most famous and defined effect of salicylic acid is prostaglandin synthesis inhibition. Salicylic acid has antiinflammatory effects through suppression of transcription of genes for cyclooxygenase. Most of the pharmacological properties of salicylic acid can be contributed to the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Also, it was discovered that salicylic acid has other in vivo cyclooxygenase-independent pathways. Since salicylic acid does not inhibit cyclooxygenase considerably, the anti-inflammatory effect is not a consequence of direct inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity. Because of its fundamental role, it was suggested that inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B by salicylic acid is one of the key anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action for salicylates. One of the most studied properties of salicylic acid is its antioxidative activity. Salicylic acid is a confirmed inhibitor of oxidative stress. Salicylic acid is capable of binding iron. This fact is significant for antioxidative effect of salicylic acid because iron has an important function in the course of lipid peroxidation.

Depression is a mood disorder that prevents the patients from performing everyday activities, due to the constant presence of negative feelings. Depression is a worldwide medical disorder which is highly prevalent and has therefore become a huge financial burden for the health system. Biological, psychological, and social factors are most commonly described in the pathophysiology of depressive disorders, although the mechanisms behind depression are still not fully understood. Neuroplasticity is the ability of the nervous system to reorganize its structure and function in response to different stimuli. The aim of this paper was to summarize the available literature on neuroplasticity and its role in the pathophysiology and treatment of depressive disorders. Depression is often accompanied by chronic illnesses and is more prevalent in women than men. The most commonly used treatment options for depressive disorders are antidepressants, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychosocial therapy. Neuroplasticity has led to the development of a new clinical discipline called neurorehabilitation, and recent studies have shown a possible link between neuroplasticity and depression. It has been observed that different mechanisms behind neuroplasticity affect the structure of the limbic and paralimbic structures, especially the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. Limbic and paralimbic structures also undergo structural changes in depressed patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy and medications, which could lead to a better understanding of depressive disorders and how they should be treated.