Mean Concentrations Of Vitamin Research Articles

Meta-analysis of the relevance between sperm parameters and serum vitamin D levels in infertile men

To systematically estimate the relevance between sperm parameters and serum vitamin D levels and the subsequent reproductive outcomes in men. PubMed, Web of Science and other databases were searched for studies that examined a possible correlation between serum vitamin D levels and sperm parameters and reproductive outcomes. The documents were screened according to the corresponding inclusion and exclusion criteria. Selection criteria included all published randomised and controlled trials and non-randomised studies that focus on vitamin D and the reproductive function of men The patients were classified into observation/intervention and control groups, the intervention group was given vitamin D supplementation and the control group was not. The meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 16.0 software. A meta-analysis of 11 clinical studies that enrolled a total of 1356 patients, revealed that the clinical pregnancy rate in the observation group was no statistically different in the control group. A meta-analysis of 8 studies demonstrated that there was no statistically difference in sperm concentration between the experimental group and the control group. A meta-analysis of 8 studies found that sperm progressive motility in the experimental group was greater than that in the control group by using a random-effects model. The mean concentration of vitamin D was significantly lower in the control group. Appropriate vitamin D supplement intervention in infertile men improves sperm progressive motility. Interpretation of these results should be done with caution due to the significant heterogeneity of the included studies. Furthermore, Well-conducted prospective cohort studies are needed to better explain the relationship between vitamin D and sperm parameters in infertile men.

Vitamin D Deficiency as a Predictor of a High Prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease in Pancreas Transplant Candidates With Type 1 Diabetes.

IntroductionPancreas transplantation is a high-risk procedure in terms of cardiovascular complications. Therefore, identification of all cardiovascular risk factors is crucial to prevent cardiovascular complications after pancreas transplantation. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) appears to be a potential risk factor for coronary artery disease.ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of VDD in pancreas transplant candidates, and further to examine the relationship between vitamin D and the prevalence of coronary artery disease and lipid profile parameters.Materials and MethodsThis is a prospective cross-sectional study. We enrolled consecutive patients with type 1 diabetes eligible for simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation or pancreas transplant alone. The laboratory tests included HbA1c, lipid profile, creatinine, and total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). The diagnosis of coronary artery disease was based on coronary angiography.ResultsThe study population included 48 patients. VDD was revealed in 48% of patients and coronary artery disease in 35% of patients. The mean concentration of vitamin D in the entire cohort was 21.3 ± 9.48 ng/ml. The median value of 25(OH)D in patients with coronary artery disease was significantly lower than in patients without coronary artery disease (18.5 (11.6–21.5) vs. 24.8 (18.4–31.8) ng/ml, p = 0.018). There was a significant relationship between VDD and coronary artery disease (OR = 4.36; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22–15.64, p = 0.034). A patient’s odds of having coronary artery disease while having a sufficient level of vitamin D was 4.36 times lower than if the patient had VDD. There was a significant relationship between VDD and hypertension (OR = 5.91; 95% CI: 1.12–31.20, p = 0.039) and hemodialysis (OR = 4.25; 95% CI: 1.25–14.5, p = 0.023). There was no significant correlation between 25(OH)D and lipid profile.ConclusionsVDD is highly prevalent in pancreas transplant candidates with type 1 diabetes. There is a significant relationship between VDD and increased prevalence of coronary disease. The lack of any significant association between serum vitamin D and lipid profile suggests that the relationship between vitamin D and coronary artery disease results from other causes.

Pulsed electric field of goat milk: Impact on Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and vitamin constituents

AbstractThere is a dire need to produce shelf‐stable and safe goat milk with minimal effects on its nutritive quality. In this study, raw goat milk was processed with a continuous pulsed electric field (PEF) system, at various electric field strength (EFS: 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 kV/cm) and processing time (5, 7, 10, and 13 μs). The maximum log reduction of Escherichia coli was 3.87 log CFU/ml, achieved at 40 kV/cm for 13 μs. Weibull and Peleg models were better fitted to the inactivation kinetics of E.coli ATCC 8739 as a function of processing time and EFS, respectively. The mean concentration of vitamin A (as β‐carotene) and B‐group vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin) were nonsignificantly (p > .05) decreased compared to the unprocessed sample. Since the inactivation level did not reach the minimum log reduction recommended by USFDA, PEF is recommended as a complementary method to mild thermal pasteurization.Practical ApplicationsPEF processing has gained recognition in food processing through halting an adverse issue of thermal processing. Although PEF is drifting toward industrial practice, it is essential to verify the efficiency of PEF in a complex matrix like goat milk to assure PEF can be utilized for industrial use. The results of this study show that the PEF can be recommended as a complementary method to mild thermal pasteurization as a hurdle processing technique to ensure the safety and nutritive qualities of goat milk at the industry level.

Assessment of Anthropometric Indices and Micronutrient Status of Children under Five in Orphanages of Kaduna Metropolis

Children who are orphaned are faced with an increasing risk of malnutrition, which is attributed from poor feeding practices, inadequate food supply, utilization coupled with limited access to treatment facilities. In this study, the Anthropometric indices and Micronutrient status of children under five in orphanages of Kaduna metropolis, was assessed. Some standard methods were used for the sampling, anthropometric measurements and micronutrient analysis. Results revealed that the demographic characteristics of the orphan children were mostly aged between 13 to 24 months (37.93%) with the female (52.87%) and the male (47.13%). Anthropometric measurements of the children in the orphanages revealed mean z scores for Weight for Height (WHZ/Acute Malnutrition) as -1.74±1.84, -2.59±1.65 for Weight for Age (WAZ/Underweight) and -2.32±2.23 for Height for Age (HAZ/Stunting). Prevalence of Severe Acute Malnutrition among the orphans was (36%), Severe Underweight (36.1%) and severely stunted (44.8%). Micronutrient status of the under five orphan children indicate mean concentrations of Vitamin A (26.88ug/l ± 66.54), Iron (21.78ug/l ± 12.85) and Zinc (62.65 ± 29.25 ug/dl). The orphans’ micronutrient status and anthropometric indices showed significant association between the Iron and Vitamin A concentrations, WHZ and WAZ (r = 0.681) and between WAZ and HAZ (r = 0.467). The outcome of this research will contribute to improving the nutritional status and address micronutrient deficiencies among orphans in orphanages of Kaduna Metropolis.

Does Vitamin D Level Cause Recurrent Miscarriages. A Cross Sectional Study on Pregnant Women in Isfahan Iran

Introduction: Recurrent miscarriage is one of the most common problems during pregnancy and one of these factors that has been recently studied by researchers is vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women. Therefore, this study was performed to compare vitamin D levels in women with recurrent miscarriage and women with normal pregnancies.Methods: The present study is a descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study conducted in 2020 on 120 pregnant women referred to infertility centers in Isfahan in two groups of women with at least one successful pregnancy and women with recurrent miscarriage. Vitamin D blood levels of women were extracted from the information in their file. Data were analyzedusing SPSS software.Results: The mean concentration of vitamin D in the case group was 19.92±5.07 and in the control group was 23.33±4.20 showing a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P <0.05). Mean vitamin D was also significantly different between the two groups in terms of the number of previous children, number of pregnancies, abortion, and stillbirth (P <0.05).Conclusion: Serum vitamin D levels in women with recurrent miscarriage are lower than women with normal pregnancies. Therefore, low levels of vitamin D in the blood can be one of the causes of recurrent miscarriage in pregnant women.

Nitric oxide fumigation alleviates chilling injury and regulates fruit quality in sweet orange stored at different cold temperatures

The cold storage of sweet oranges below 7 °C causes chilling injury and adversely affects fruit quality. Midknight Valencia and Lane Late sweet oranges were fumigated for 2 hours with different concentrations (5, 10 or 20 µL L-1) of nitric oxide (NO) and stored at (4 or 7 °C) to investigate the effect on chilling injury incidence (CI) and fruit quality after 90 days storage followed by 10 days simulated shelf conditions. Untreated fruit served as a control. The experimental design completely randomised with two factors including NO fumigation treatments and storage temperatures. All NO fumigation treatments (5, 10 or 20 µL L-1) significantly reduced the CI irrespective of storage temperature as compared to the control in both the cultivars. Fruit were fumigated with different concentration of NO gas in a sealed container for 2 h and then kept at 4°C and 7°C. Fruit quality variables such as fruit firmness, SSC (%), TA (%), SSC/TA, sugars, vitamin C and total antioxidants were determined. All the NO treatments significantly reduced per cent weight loss as compared to control in Lane Late. Mean weight losses were higher (8.3 % and 5.5 %) when fruit were stored at 7 °C as compared to those stored at 4 °C (4.8 % and 3.5 %) in Midknight Valencia and Lane Late respectively. All the NO fumigation treatments significantly reduced the mean concentrations of glucose, fructose, sucrose and total sugars in the juice of Midknight Valencia only. All NO fumigation treatments significantly reduced mean concentration vitamin C in the fruit juice of Lane Late as compared to the control. Meanwhile, in Midknight Valencia, NO (10 or 20 µL L-1) fumigated fruit showed a significant reduction in the mean concentration of vitamin C as compared to NO (5 µL L-1) fumigation and control. The juice of Midknight Valencia had higher mean total antioxidants when fumigated with NO (5 µL L-1) as compared to the control, but not in Lane Late. In conclusion, all the NO fumigation (10 µL L-1) treatment was most effective in reducing CIin both cultivars irrespective of the cold storage temperature. NO fumigation treatments did not affect SCC/TA ratio but reduced all the individual and total sugars as well as vitamin C in the fruit stored for 90 days followed by 10 days simulated shelf conditions.

Vitamin D Status in Pediatric Patients with Newly Diagnosed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in University Hospital of Split

Objective – Vitamin D mediates and enhances the immune system through a vitamin D nuclear receptor present in almost all types of immune cells. It has antiangiogenic, proapoptotic and antiproliferative effects. We investigated the vitamin D status of pediatric patients with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Patients and Methods – Newly diagnosed patients aged 0-18 years with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, hospitalized between September 1st, 2013 and June 30th, 2017 on the Hematology and Oncology Ward, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Split were included in this study. Serum vitamin D levels were measured upon admission to the hospital. Vitamin D >75 nmol/L was considered sufficient, vitamin D between 50 and 75 nmol/L was considered insufficient, while vitamin D <50 nmol/L was considered as a deficiency. Results – Twenty patients were included in the study. Only two patients had a sufficient level of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 14 and insufficiency in 4 patients. The mean concentration of vitamin D in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in this study was 42.6±21.2 nmol/L. Conclusion – The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency in pediatric patients with a malignant disease is very high. Therefore adequate replacement therapy should be started as soon as possible to avoid a further decrease in vitamin D levels, as this may have an impact on the outcome in these patients.

Is the ovarian reserve influenced by vitamin D deficiency and the dress code in an infertile Iranian population?

BackgroundIn the recent years, vitamin D has become a topical subject and a focus of research not only in reproductive medicine but across many medical disciplines. In reproductive medicine, studies have identified an association between vitamin D status in women and ovarian reserve. In humans, exposure of the skin to sunlight is the main important source of vitamin D. A dress code of wearing concealing clothing is a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency. The objective of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the correlation between vitamin D deficiency and ovarian reserve in a population of infertile women in Iran. As part of the basic fertility assessment of study participants, blood tests were taken to measure vitamin D concentration and transvaginal ultrasound scans were performed on day 2–5 of the cycle to determine antral follicle count (AFC). All study participants were assessed by a reproductive medicine specialist and consultant dermatologist to classify their skin types according to the Fitzpatrick classification. In addition, the dress code of each study participant was recorded noting the percentage of exposed skin not covered by concealing clothing.Results189 infertility patients were included in this study. The mean concentration of vitamin D in this study population was 15.46 ng/ml, indicating severe vitamin D deficiency. A statistically significant negative correlation between age and vitamin D (p = 0.008) and age and AFC (p = 0.001) was identified. This study revealed a highly significant correlation between vitamin D concentrations and AFC (p < 0.001).ConclusionsA concealing dress code is an independent risk factor for vitamin D deficiency due to a lack of skin exposure to sunlight. Our study suggests that the so caused severe vitamin D deficiency may play a crucial role in reduced ovarian reserve in the herein described group of an infertile female Iranian population.

Comparison of Serum Levels of Vitamin D in Patients With and Without Acute Coronary Syndrome

Introduction: Coronary artery disease is one of the most common causes of mortality around the world. The association between vitamin D deficiency and the incidence of diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, has been demonstrated previously. There have been studies concerning the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular diseases, which have shown different results. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the association between serum levels of vitamin D and acute coronary syndrome. Methods: In this case-control study, serum levels of vitamin D were compared between 50 patients with acute coronary syndrome and 50 individuals without this syndrome. A checklist, including demographic data of patients, comorbidities, vitamin D levels, lipid profiles, Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and echocardiography results, was completed during hospitalization. Results: Mean age in the case and control group was 63.26 ± 10.76 and 61.22 ± 10.71 years, respectively. The prevalence of diabetes and high blood pressure in the case group was 32% and 54% versus 10% and 8% in the control group, respectively. Overall, 70% and 18% of subjects were smokers in the control and case groups, respectively. Mean concentration of vitamin D in serum was 20.63 ± 13.90 ng/mL, which was significantly lower than the control group with a mean concentration of 29.54 ± 16.8 ng/mL (P-Value = 0.002). Finally, it was shown that for every one unit increase in vitamin D levels, the risk of acute coronary syndrome was reduced by 7% (P-Value = 0.005). Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the serum levels of vitamin D were significantly lower in patients with acute coronary syndrome compared to those without this disease.

VITAMIN C CONCENTRATION IN ACACIA AND ZIZIPHUS HONEY SAMPLES FROM DIFFERENT ALTITUDES IN ASIR REGION AT THE SOUTH WESTERN PART OF SAUDI ARABIA

Ponte Academic JournalJan 2018, Volume 74, Issue 1 VITAMIN C CONCENTRATION IN ACACIA AND ZIZIPHUS HONEY SAMPLES FROM DIFFERENT ALTITUDES IN ASIR REGION AT THE SOUTH WESTERN PART OF SAUDI ARABIAAuthor(s): Mohammed Elimam Ahamed Mohammed ,Amal Ahmed Ali AlMusa, Eid Ibrahim BrimaJ. Ponte - Jan 2018 - Volume 74 - Issue 1 doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2018.1.31 Abstract:The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of altitude and floral origin on the concentration of vitamin C in honey samples from Asir region at the south western part of Saudi Arabia. Ten samples of Acacia tortilis honey (Smar) and Ten samples of ziziphus spina christi (Sidr) honey were collected from three different altitudes. Standard methods were followed to measure the pH, moisture, conductivity and vitamin C concentration. Pollen analysis was done to confirm the floral origin of the honey samples. The honey samples were original since the pH, moisture and conductivity were within the ranges of the CODEX, gulf countries or USA national honey board standards. The pollen analysis showed that the honey samples contained pollens from the Acacia and the ziziphus plants. The range and the mean of vitamin C concentration in the Acacia honey samples were (181.4- 352.2 mg/ 100g) and 233.38 respectively. The results of the Ziziphus honey samples showed the range of 88- 362.8 mg/ 100g and the mean of 239.56 mg/ 100g. When the means of vitamin C in the different altitudes were compared, it was clear that the altitude caused an insignificant increase in the mean concentration of vitamin C of the Acacia and Ziziphus honey samples (p- value= 0.069 and p- value= 0.101 respectively ). The Acacia and Ziziphus honey from high altitude areas in Asir region are characterized by high concentration of vitamin C compared to most of the previously registered concentrations from different regions in the world. Download full text:Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution Username Password

Renal Clearance of Mineral Metabolism Biomarkers.

CKD leads to disturbances in multiple interrelated hormones that regulate bone and mineral metabolism. The renal handling of mineral metabolism hormones in humans is incompletely understood. We determined the single-pass renal clearance of parathyroid hormone, fibroblast growth factor 23, vitamin D metabolites, and phosphate from paired blood samples collected from the abdominal aorta and renal vein in 17 participants undergoing simultaneous right and left heart catheterization and estimated associations of eGFR with the renal elimination of metabolites. The mean age ±SD of the study population was 71.4±10.0 years and 11 participants (65%) were male. We found a relatively large mean±SD single-pass renal extraction of parathyroid hormone (44.2%±10.3%) that exceeded the extraction of creatinine (22.1%±7.9%). The proportionate renal extraction of parathyroid hormone correlated with eGFR. The renal extraction of fibroblast growth factor 23 was, on average, lower than that of parathyroid hormone with greater variability across individuals (17.1%±19.5%). There were no differences in the mean concentrations of vitamin D metabolites across the renal vein and artery. In summary, we demonstrate substantial single-pass renal extraction of parathyroid hormone at a rate that exceeds glomerular filtration. Impaired renal clearance of parathyroid hormone may contribute to secondary hyperparathyroidism in CKD.

Vitamin C in Fruits: Does Organic Make a Difference?

Vitamin C is an important compound that allows many organisms to function and live. However, there is controversy over whether organic fruits have more vitamin C than their non-organic counterparts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether organic fruits have more ascorbic acid than their non-organic counterparts. This analysis tested five fruits: oranges, lemons, grapefruit, strawberries, and kiwis. Using the oxidation-reduction reaction method, iodine titration was performed for each variety of organic and non- organic fruit, and the amount of ascorbic acid was calculated. The mean concentration of vitamin C in the organic variety was compared to the concentration in the non-organic variety for each fruit using a Student’s t-test. The data showed that ascorbic acid content varies widely among these five fruits. For oranges, organic varieties had more vitamin C than their conventional counterparts (p = 0.042). However, in the grapefruit, the organic and non-organic fruits had no significant difference in vitamin C levels (p = 0.63). For kiwis, lemons, and strawberries, the organic fruits had significantly less ascorbic acid than the non-organic ones (p = 0.021; p = 0.0034; p = 0.046, respectively). The results demonstrate that the organic status of a fruit does not guarantee that it has more vitamin C than its non-organic counterparts.

Can levels of antioxidants in synovial fluid predict the severity of primary knee osteoarthritis: a preliminary study

BackgroundLittle is known about differences in amounts of antioxidants or oxidative stress at different stages of knee osteoarthritis. This study investigated the relationship between concentrations of antioxidants, iron and lipid peroxidation in synovial fluid and levels of severity of primary knee osteoarthritis.Materials and methodsFrom 2011 to 2013, 23 patients (mean age, 66.7 ± 7.6 years) with primary knee osteoarthritis were recruited. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on pre-treatment knee society scores (KSS): n = 9, severe KSS ≤46; and n = 14, mild-moderate KSS >46. Synovial fluid was analyzed to determine levels of antioxidants, iron concentrations and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARs]). Baseline data, including Kellgren- Lawrence radiographic grade, were collected for all patients.ResultsMean KSS was 49.1 ± 10.8. Total mean concentrations of antioxidants were 2.29 ± 1.71 ng/mL vitamin E and 0.47 ± 0.51 nmol/mL glutathione (GSH). Total mean levels of TBARs and iron were 1.20 ± 0.37 nmol/mL and 2.13 ± 0.82 μg/mL, respectively. The mean concentration of vitamin E was inversely related to severity of knee osteoarthritis (mild-moderate > severe, p = 0.006). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of GSH (p = 0.90), TBARs (p = 0.84) or iron levels (p = 0.27). There was a significant positive correlation between KSS and vitamin E concentration (r = 0.43, p = 0.04). No significant correlations were shown between KSS and GSH (r = -0.01, p = 0.97), TBARs (r = -0.06, p = 0.81) or iron level (r = 0.28, p = 0.20).ConclusionUsing synovial fluid profiles, vitamin E concentration is an essential prognostic factor in primary knee osteoarthritis and may act as a basis for treatment directions. The concentration of vitamin E decreased as the clinical severity of primary knee osteoarthritis increased.

Vitamin D deficiency is related to worse emotional state

Abstract The aim was to evaluate vitamin D levels in young healthy Lithuanian males in winter and to find possible associations of vitamin D concentration to body composition, cognitive functioning, emotional state. Subjects and Methods A total of 130 healthy males (age range, 18–26 years) were divided into the subgroups according to vitamin D concentration. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were employed in the assessment of emotional state. Cognitive functioning was assessed by the Trail Making Test and the Digit Symbol Test of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Results The mean concentration of vitamin D for the entire sample was 13.0±5.3 ng/ml. Only 2 persons (1.6%) had the recommended vitamin D level. Nearly half (45.4%) of study participants had vitamin D deficiency. Lower concentrations were associated with a significantly higher score on the POMS confusion-bewilderment scale. A tendency toward a lower mean depression-dejection score in the participants with a sufficient vitamin D level was observed. Vitamin D concentration correlated positively with body mass index (BMI) and inversely with the confusion-bewilderment score. In conclusion almost half of the young healthy males participating in the study were detected to have vitamin D deficiency in winter. Low vitamin D concentrations are associated with a worse emotional state.

Influence of the Lactating Women Diet on the Concentration of the Lipophilic Vitamins in Human Milk

The aim of the study was to assess the intake of vitamins A and E by Polish breast feeding mothers and the correlation between the intake of these vitamins and their concentration in the maternal milk. Dietary intake was assessed by triple 24 h diet recall questionnaire. Milk samples were collected and the content of vitamin A and E was determined. The mean intake of vitamin E (7.7±3.4 mg/day) covered 54.7% of the recommended value. The mean vitamin A content in daily food rations (DFR) -1012±735 µg- allowed to cover 63.2% of the requirement. The mean concentration of vitamin A in milk was 57.07±29.3 µg/100 mL. There was a correlation of the content of vitamin A in milk and the intake of this vitamin (r = 0.371) and the intake of essential fatty acids (r = 0.455) also. The mean concentration of the vitamin E in the milk (413.1±194.4 mg/100 mL), statistically significant correlated with its intake in DFR (r = 0.483). DFR of breast- feeding mothers, were characterized by insufficient supply of vitamins A and E. The dietary intake of these vitamins correlated with their concentration in maternal milk.

Antioxidant status of Nigerian children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria

We evaluated the antioxidant status of 148 Nigerian children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The mean malarial parasitaemia was 4701.05 ± 2160.53/µL. The mean antioxidant concentrations of the infected children were determined for vitamin A (12.16 ± 1 - 16 µg/dL), vitamin C (0.43 ± 0.03 mg/dL), 5 carotenes (40.96 ± 5.38 µg/dL), and vitamin E (0.45 ± 0.03 mg/dL). The control subjects had higher mean concentrations of vitamin A (72.12 ± 3.12 µg/dL), and of the 5 carotenes (132.63 ± 22.45 µg/dL), and these differences were statistically significant (X2 = 42.86, P > 0.05 and X2 = 50.64, P > 0.05, respectively). The mean concentrations of vitamin C (1.22 ± 0.31 mg/dL) and vitamin E (1.03 ± 0.48 mg/dL) in the control children were not statistically significant when compared with their infected children (X2 = 0.34, P 6 years (1176.58 ± 956/µL). The children between 1 - 5 years old had lower concentrations of vitamin A (8.89 ± 3.74 µg/dL) and vitamin C (0.28 ± 0.21 µg/dL), while the concentration of the 5 carotenes (44.54 µg/dL) and of vitamin E (0.50 ± 0.16 µg/dL) was higher in these children. In conclusion, the depressed levels of plasma antioxidants in the P. falciparum-infected children suggested lowered immunity of the children, which may contribute to the morbidity and mortality of malaria in our locality. Key words: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, antioxidants, children, Plasmodium falciparum, Nigeria

Seasonal variations in the chemical composition of camel milk in Jordan

The principal chemical components of milk from the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) were monitored in Jordan over one year. The analyses included total solids, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals and organic acids. Large seasonal variations in total solids and fat were apparent, with maxima in mid-winter of 139 and 39.0 g/l, respectively, and minima in August of 102 and 25.0 g/l. These differences may be sufficient to alter the sensory properties of the milk, and the fat: casein ratio may need standardisation for cheesemaking. The mean values of trace elements like zinc (5.8 mg/l), iron (4.4 mg/l) and manganese (0.05 mg/l) in Jordanian camel milk could provide valuable additions to the diet of urban populations, as could the mean concentration of vitamin C (33 mg/l). The levels of organic acids were generally higher than in bovine milk and, as with all the constituents of the milk, there were discernible patterns linking concentration and season of the year.

Effect of exclusive enteral nutritional treatment on plasma antioxidant concentrations in childhood Crohn's disease

Oxidative stress and depletion of antioxidants may play a role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of exclusive enteral nutrition, which is increasingly being used as primary therapy for CD, on plasma antioxidant concentrations in children with active CD. In a double-blind randomised controlled trial, 15 children with active CD (mean age, 11.3 years, range 6.8-15.7) attending a paediatric gastroenterology referral centre, were assigned to receive either a standard polymeric diet (Group S, n=8) or a glutamine-enriched polymeric diet (Group G, n=7) as primary therapy for active CD. Plasma concentrations of selenium, urates, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, glutathione, and also malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks of exclusive enteral nutritional treatment. Mean (95% CI) selenium concentration of the cohort increased significantly from 0.82 micromol/l (0.72, 0.91) to 1.14 micromol/l (0.98, 1.3), P<0.001. There were, however, significant reductions in mean concentrations of vitamin C {11.8 mg/l (7.7, 15.8) to 6.5 mg/l (4.5, 8.7), P=0.01} and vitamin E {11.3 mg/l (10.3, 12.4) to 9.4 mg/l (8.7, 10.1), P=0.03}. The concentrations of vitamin A, urates, glutathione and MDA did not change significantly over the study period. Glutamine supplementation did not have any significant effect on plasma antioxidant concentrations. Significant changes in circulating antioxidant concentrations occurred in children with active CD receiving exclusive enteral nutritional treatment. Glutamine supplementation was not beneficial in improving plasma antioxidant status.

Comorbidity in severe developmental language disorders: Neuropediatric and psychological considerations

To determine the concentration of vitamin K including K1 (phylloquinone) and K2 (menaquinone-n; MK-n) in the maternal milk of Japanese women. We collected human milk samples from more than 4000 mothers living throughout Japan from December 1998 to September 1999, and analysed the contents of vitamin K1 and K2 in 834 of the samples. We defined as group A the 555 samples among them that met the following conditions: breast milk of mothers who were under 40 y old, not in the habit of smoking and/or using vitamin supplements, and whose babies showed no symptoms of atopy and whose birthweights were 2.5 kg or more. Vitamins extracted from the enzymatic hydrolysates of the human milk were purified with a Sep-Pak Plus silica cartridge, and then measured by a method based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with coulometric reduction and fluorometric detection. The mean concentration of vitamin K (K1 + K2) of mothers of group A and all groups were 0.434 +/- 0.293 and 0.517 +/- 1.521 microg/100 ml (average +/- SD), respectively, and menaquinones containing 4, 6 and 7 isoprenoid residues could be detected in the milk samples. Vitamins K1 and MK-4 were found to be predominant in the milk samples, and the concentration of MK-4 in colostrum was higher than that of MK-4 in mature milk. We also found that the MK-7 concentration in the milk of mothers living in eastern Japan was higher than that of mothers living in western Japan. The different features of vitamin K1 and MK-7 concentrations in the milk of Japanese women may be due to differences in dietary foods.

Serum Antioxidant Concentrations Among U.S. Adults with Self‐Reported Asthma

Antioxidants may protect the lungs of people with asthma against oxidative stress. Among participants aged ≥ 20 years from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988–1994), we examined serum antioxidant concentrations of 771 persons with current asthma, 352 persons with former asthma, and 15,418 persons without asthma. After adjustment for age, participants with current asthma had similar mean concentrations of vitamin A, retinyl esters, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin E/cholesterol ratio, vitamin E/triglyceride ratio, α‐carotene, β‐carotene, β‐cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, lycopene, and selenium as participants without asthma. We repeated these analyses among participants who did not use vitamin or mineral supplements. After age adjustment, participants with current asthma had lower vitamin C and β‐cryptoxanthin concentrations and a lower mean vitamin E/triglyceride ratio than participants without asthma. In multiple linear regression models that included age, sex, race or ethnicity, education, smoking status, nonhigh‐density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, body mass index, physical activity, and alcohol use, asthma status was not significantly associated with any of the antioxidant concentrations. However, lower vitamin C concentrations were observed among people with current or former asthma than among people who never had asthma (p = 0.014). In the United States, people with asthma do not have manifest antioxidant deficiencies.