Mg Of Vitamin B6 Research Articles

Clinical and Hematological Characteristics of Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Evaluation of the Therapeutic Response to Vitamin B12 Supplementation.

Background Vitamin B12 deficiency, or cobalamin deficiency, is common among populations with low consumption of animal-based products, mainly in India, due to religious and socioeconomic factors, which significantly increase the deficiency rate. The condition has been characterized by a wide range of clinical and hematological symptoms, mainly affecting the blood and nervous system. This study aims to assess the clinical and hematological characteristics of patients with vitamin B12 deficiency and assess the therapeutic response to supplementation with vitamin B12. Methodology This two-year, in-hospital study was conducted at K. J. Somaiya Medical College and Hospital. The study involved 180 patients aged between 18 and 70 years with hemoglobin below 13 g/dL for males, less than 12 g/dL for females, and serum vitamin B12 levels below 250 pg/mL. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, along with hematological parameters, including complete blood count, peripheral smear, reticulocyte count, and bone marrow examination, were collected. Each patient received six intramuscular injections per week of 1,000 µg of vitamin B12. The hematological parameters were measured at different follow-up intervals, and the therapeutic response was measured using the one-way analysis of variance. We employed Pearson's correlation coefficient to investigate the relationship between the severity of anemia and vitamin B12 level. Results The study showed a higher prevalence of male patients, accounting for 105 (58.3%) of the sample, with the majority of patients aged between 46 and 60 years, totaling 70 (38.9%). Common comorbidities included hypertension in 60 (33.3%) and diabetes in 45 (25%) patients. The most frequently reported symptom was fatigue, present in 120 (66.7%) patients, followed by neurological symptoms such as tingling and numbness in the extremities reported by 98 (54.4%) patients. Baseline hematological assessments indicated macrocytic anemia, with a mean hemoglobin level of 9.7 g/dL and an elevated mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of 104.7 fL. At the end of six weeks of vitamin B12 therapy, there were notable improvements, with hemoglobin levels rising to 12.6 g/dL, MCV decreasing to 91.3 fL, and reticulocyte count increasing to 2.1%. A strong positive correlation was observed between hemoglobin levels and serum vitamin B12 concentrations (r = 0.75, p < 0.001). Conclusions Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to clinical and hematological abnormalities, including macrocytic anemia and neurological symptoms. This study demonstrates that vitamin B12 supplementation effectively reverses these abnormalities, improving both hematological and neurological outcomes. Given the prevalence of deficiency, routine screening and supplementation are recommended, particularly for at-risk populations such as vegetarians and older adults. Further research is needed to assess the long-term effects of supplementation, particularly its potential role in reducing cardiovascular risk in individuals with vitamin B12 deficiency.

High-dose Vitamin-B6 reduces sensory over-responsivity.

Sensory reactivity differences are experienced by between 5% and 15% of the population, often taking the form of sensory over-responsivity (SOR), in which sensory stimuli are experienced as unusually intense and everyday function is affected. A potential mechanism underlying over-responsivity is an imbalance between neural excitation and inhibition in which inhibitory influences are relatively weakened. Therefore, interventions that boost neural inhibition or reduce neural excitation may reduce SOR; Vitamin-B6 is the coenzyme for the conversion of excitatory glutamate to inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and in animal models, it both increases the concentration of GABA and reduces glutamate. To discover whether taking a high dose of Vitamin-B6 reduces SOR and other aspects of sensory reactivity. We recruited 300 adults (249 females) from the general population who completed the Sensory Processing 3-Dimensions Scale (SP-3D) first at baseline, and again following randomisation to either 1 month's supplementation with 100 mg Vitamin-B6, or one of two control conditions (1000 µg Vitamin-B12 or placebo). To focus on individuals who experience SOR, we analysed the effects of supplementation only on individuals with high baseline SOR scores (above the 87th percentile). In individuals with SOR at baseline, Vitamin-B6 selectively reduced SOR compared to both placebo and Vitamin-B12. We also found that Vitamin-B6 selectively reduced postural disorder in individuals with high scores on this subscale at baseline, but there were no effects on the four remaining SP-3D subscales. Clinical trials and mechanistic studies should now be conducted in autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other groups with SOR.

Nutritional Composition of Marine Water Fishes of Bangladesh: A Review

Marine fishes have been recognized for high quality protein and essential fatty acids which play a vital role in human being for nutrition and disease prevention. This review focuses on the nutrient composition of marine fishes in Bangladesh. Nutrient composition data was collected through literature searching in databases and source, including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, World Fish, and Bangladesh-based database Banglajol. Published articles contained proximate composition, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids profiles of marine fishes. The highest energy, protein, fat and ash content in 100 g edible raw marine fish was 926 kJ, 50 g, 24.2 g, and 8.4 g, respectively. The maximum amount of minerals such as 8.6 mg iron, 29.3 mg zinc, 1900 mg calcium, 160 µg iodine, 120 µg selenium, 1000 mg phosphorus, 187.98 mg magnesium, 497.4 mg sodium, 764 mg potassium, 1.1 mg manganese, 300 mg sulphur and 0.5 mg copper found in 100 gram edible raw marine fishes. The highest quantity of vitamins was 288.7 µg vitamin A, 0.9 mg vitamin B6, 15 µg vitamin B12, 13 µg vitamin D, 2.4 mg vitamin E, 17 µg folate, 0.2 mg thiamine, 0.2 mg riboflavin and 19.3 mg niacin in 100 gram edible raw marine fishes. According to available data, marine fish are good sources of protein, vitamins, zinc, calcium, phosphorus and fatty acids. This illustrates the diversity in nutrient content of fish species which should guide policy and programs to improve food and nutrition security in Bangladesh.

Effect of roasted purple laver (nori) on vitamin B12 nutritional status of vegetarians: a dose-response trial

PurposeTo investigate the bioavailability of vitamin B12 from nori and to evaluate the required dosage for improving vitamin B12 nutritional status in vegetarians not using supplements.MethodsThe study design is an open-label, parallel, dose-response randomized controlled trial. Thirty vegetarians were assigned to control (no nori), low-dose (5 g nori, aiming to provide 2.4 µg vitamin B12 per day), or high-dose (8 g nori, aiming to provide 4 µg vitamin B12 per day) groups. The primary outcome was changes in vitamin B12 status as measured by serum vitamin B12, holotranscobalamin (holoTC), homocysteine (Hcy), and methylmalonic acid (MMA), and a combined score of these four markers (4cB12 score) during the four-week intervention. Dietary vitamin B12 intakes were assessed at baseline and end of the trial with a 17-item food frequency questionnaire designed for vitamin B12 assessment. General linear model was used to compare least square means of changes in each biomarker of vitamin B12 status, among the three groups, while adjusting for respective baseline biomarker.ResultsAfter adjusting for baseline status, nori consumption led to significant improvement in serum vitamin B12 (among-group P-value = 0.0029), holoTC (P = 0.0127), Hcy (P = 0.0225), and 4cB12 (P = 0.0094). Changes in MMA did not differ significantly across groups, but showed within-group pre-post improvement in the low-dose group (median [p25, p75] = -339 [-461, -198] nmol/L). Vitamin B12 status appeared to plateau at low dose (5 g of nori), which compared with control group, improved serum vitamin B12 (lease square mean [95% CI] = + 59 [25, 93] pmol/L, P = 0.0014); holoTC (+ 28.2 [10.1, 46.3] pmol/L, P = 0.0035); Hcy (-3.7 [-6.8, -0.6] µmol/L, p = 0.0226); and 4cB12 score (+ 0.67 [0.24, 1.09], p = 0.0036). High-dose resulted in similar improvements. There was no significant difference between low-dose and high-dose groups in all biomarkers of vitamin B12.ConclusionsConsuming 5 g of nori per day for 4 weeks significantly improved vitamin B12 status in vegetarians. A higher dose (8 g) may not confer additional benefits.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05614960. Date of registration: November 14th 2022.

Treatment of anaemia in pregnancy with oral iron, folic acid or iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation: A hospital-based open randomized study

: National iron plus initiative recommended that anaemic pregnant women should be treated with 200 mg of elemental iron and 1 mg folic acid. An increase in vitamin B12 deficiency has been reported in last two decades. An open randomised study was taken up in urban antenatal clinics to assess the impact of addition of vitamin B12 to the iron and folic acid supplementation.: Anaemic pregnant women willing to participate in the study were randomised into Group 1 (240 iron mg and 5 mg folic acid) or Group 2 (240 mg iron, 1.5 mg of folic acid and 15 µg vitamin B12); the impact of supplementation on Hb, ferritin, folic acid and vitamin B12 was assessed.: In both groups mean Hb improved by 1g/dL at 8 weeks and by 1.5g/dL by 38 weeks of pregnancy; at 38 weeks only 30% were anaemic. Mean ferritin and folic acid levels improved in both groups. There was a fall in the mean vitamin B12 levels in the group which received 5 mg of folic acid.: With assured supply and supportive supervision, the supplementation achieved substantial reduction in anaemia in both groups. Supplementation with folic acid 5 mg should not be done because it causes a fall in vitamin B12 levels. The reason why addition of vitamin B12 to iron folic acid supplementation did not result in improvement in mean Hb, or vitamin B12 levels has to be investigated.

Counteracting HPV Cervical and Anal Infection through Dietary Supplementation of EGCG, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 and Hyaluronic Acid: Clinical Case Reports.

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and the management of its persistence is still a great medical challenge. Recently, scientific evidence has supported the potential therapeutic effects of four combined natural molecules-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), folic acid, vitamin B12 and hyaluronic acid (HA)-in counteracting HPV DNA positivity and related cytological lesions. Methods: Each patient of these five clinical cases had persistent HPV positivity in the anogenital site and assumed a dietary supplement based on a combination of 200 mg of EGCG, 50 mg of HA, 1 mg of vitamin B12 and 400 mcg of folic acid (Pervistop®, Farmares s.r.l., Rome, Italy) at a dosage of 1 or 2 caps/day for 6 or 3 months, respectively, depending on clinical history. Results: After treatment, all the patients reported a negative HPV DNA test and improved cytological lesions, thus demonstrating the ability of these combined molecules to counteract both anal and cervical HPV infection and related manifestations. Conclusions: Overall, these data corroborate previous evidence about the effectiveness of such natural molecules in the management of HPV infection and its persistence. Naturally, further studies with a larger population and long-term follow-up will contribute to reinforce the positive effects of this dietary supplement in counteracting HPV infection.

One-carbon metabolite supplementation to nutrient-restricted beef heifers affects placental vascularity during early pregnancy.

We hypothesized that restricted maternal nutrition and supplementation of one-carbon metabolites (OCM; methionine, folate, choline, and vitamin B12) would affect placental vascular development during early pregnancy. A total of 43 cows were bred, and 32 heifers successfully became pregnant with female calves, leading to the formation of four treatment groups: CON-OCM (n = 8), CON + OCM (n = 7), RES-OCM (n = 9), and RES + OCM (n = 8). The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial, with main factors of dietary intake affecting average daily gain: control (CON; 0.6kg/d ADG) and restricted (RES; -0.23kg/d ADG); and OCM supplementation (+OCM) in which the heifers were supplemented with rumen-protected methionine (7.4g/d) and choline (44.4g/d) and received weekly injections of 320mg of folate and 20mg of vitamin B12, or received no supplementation (-OCM; corn carrier and saline injections). Heifers were individually fed and randomly assigned to treatment at breeding (day 0). Placentomes were collected on day 63 of gestation (0.225 of gestation). Fluorescent staining with CD31 and CD34 combined with image analysis was used to determine the vascularity of the placenta. Images were analyzed for capillary area density (CAD) and capillary number density (CND). Areas evaluated included fetal placental cotyledon(COT), maternal placental caruncle (CAR), whole placentome (CAR + COT), intercotyledonary fetal membranes (ICOT, or chorioallantois), intercaruncular endometrium (ICAR), and endometrial glands (EG). Data were analyzed with the GLM procedure of SAS, with heifer as the experimental unit and significance at P ≤ 0.05 and a tendency at P > 0.05 and P < 0.10. Though no gain × OCM interactions existed (P ≥ 0.10), OCM supplementation increased (P = 0.01) CAD of EG, whereas nutrient restriction tended (P < 0.10) to increase CAD of ICOT and CND of COT. Additionally, there was a gain × OCM interaction (P < 0.05) for CAD within the placentome and ICAR, such that RES reduced and supplementation of RES with OCM restored CAD. These results indicate that maternal rate of gain and OCM supplementation affected placental vascularization (capillary area and number density), which could affect placental function and thus the efficiency of nutrient transfer to the fetus during early gestation.

The Effect of Vitamin B12 Supplementation on Leukocyte Telomere Length in Mildly Stunted Nepalese Children: A Secondary Outcome of a Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundVitamin B12 is essential for deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and genome stability. A deficiency of vitamin B12 is associated with telomere shortening, genomic aging, and increased risk of chronic disease and mortality. ObjectivesThe study aims to determine the effect of vitamin B12 supplementation on leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in infants at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. MethodsThe study was a predefined secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial enrolling 600 Nepalese infants aged 6 –11 mo, who were supplemented with 2 μg (2–3 recommended daily allowances) vitamin B12 or placebo daily for 1 y. At the end of the study, LTL was measured in 497 participants. Mean LTL was compared between the treatment arms in the full sample and predefined subgroups based on markers of vitamin B12 status, hemoglobin, sex, and growth indices. ResultsLTL at end-study did not differ between the vitamin B12 and placebo arm with a standardized mean difference (95% confidence interval) of 0.04 (–0.14, 0.21). There was no effect of vitamin B12 on LTL in any of the subgroups. ConclusionsProviding daily vitamin B12 for 1 y during infancy in a population at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency does not affect LTL.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02272842.

Efficacy of vitamins B1 and B6 as an adjunctive therapy to lithium in bipolar-I disorder: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial

BackgroundThe use of adjunctive therapy for bipolar disorder is increasingly considered to increase the efficacy of standard treatments. In this randomized clinical trial, we evaluated the effect of vitamins B1 and B6 in separate treatment arms on mood symptoms, cognitive status, and sleep quality in hospitalized patients with bipolar disorder in manic episodes. MethodIn addition to receiving standard lithium treatment, participants (N = 66) were randomized to one of three conditions: 100 mg of vitamin B1, 40 mg of vitamin B6, or placebo. Outcomes were assessed one and 8 weeks of daily treatment, including the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale (PSQI), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). This study was performed between December 2020 and September 2021 based on the registration code number IRCT20200307046712N1. ResultsVitamin B6 had a significant effect (P value < 0.025 as significant) on mood improvement compared to placebo (F (1, 27.42) = 30.25, P < 0.001, r = 0.72), but vitamin B1 had no significant effect on mood improvement compared to Placebo (F (1/35.68) = 4.76, P = 0.036, r = 0.34). The contrasts between groups on PSQI showed a significant effect (P value < 0.025 as significant) of vitamin B6 over placebo for sleep status improvement (F (1/32.91) = 16.24, P < 0.001, r = 0.57) and also a significant effect of vitamin B1 over placebo (F (1/41.21) = 13.32, P < 0.001, r = 0.49). ConclusionsThe use of vitamin B6 as an adjunctive therapy to lithium can be associated with the improvement of mood symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder in the midst of a manic episode.

Vitamin B12 effectiveness in the management of hospitalized COVID-19 and its clinical outcomes and complications: A randomized clinical trial.

Since 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has spread and challenged the health care system for treatment which is mainly limited to supportive care. It is well-established that malnutrition impedes the immunity in human bodies, and makes it vulnerable to microorganisms. Vitamin B12 is one of the agents that has critical roles in body systems. Thus, the following clinical trial was conducted to assess its possible therapeutic value in COVID-19 patients. The present randomized clinical trial was carried out in Baharlou Hospital, and patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection within 24 h of admission were included. We used quadruple blocks randomization to divide patients into groups of case and control. The case group received 1000 mg of vitamin B12, daily for 7 day while the patients in control group were administered distilled water as placebo. The studied outcomes were duration of hospitalization, need for intensive care unit (ICU), mechanical ventilation, mortality rate and laboratory findings. The statistical analysis was done via SPSS version 22. After implementing inclusion and exclusion criteria, 34 participants were included in the study, 20 of which were male. Serum levels of creatinine, LDH (Lactate dehydrogenase), Ferritin, and CRP (C-reactive protein) had decreased in both groups. The improving changes of CRP, LDH, ferritin and creatinine was higher in case group. The increase of Alanine Transaminase and D-dimer was higher in control group. however there was no statistically significant difference. More patients were admitted to ICU in the control group but the difference was not statistically significant. Duration of hospitalization did not differ statistically between the groups. No in hospital mortality has been recorded. Our study suggests that vitamin B12 supplementation seem to have curative effect in COVID-19. Nutritious diet is necessary for proper functioning of the immune system. Since malnutrition is associated with poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients, and limited number of participants in this study, we suggest performing meta-analysis on similar studies to reach reliable result.

Quantification of the Relationship of Pyridoxine and Spirometry Measurements in the United States Population

BackgroundThere has been evidence to suggest associations between vitamins and lung function. ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the association between vitamin B6 and spirometry values. MethodsA cross-sectional study was done using National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2007–2012, which is a nationally representative, modern cohort. Spirometry, a clinical pulmonary function test, measured the amount and speed of air a person could exhale after taking the deepest possible breath after forceful expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). After determination of the relationship of the linearity of variables, univariable and multivariable models were fitted to investigate the effect of vitamin B6 on FEV1 and FVC. The National Center for Health Statistics Ethics Review Board granted permission for the study’s data collection and analysis. ResultsOf 19,160 individuals who had complete information on vitamin B6 intake, FEV1, and FVC, it was found each mg of vitamin B6 intake was associated with increase in 166.41 mL of FEV1 (95% CI: 156.71, 176.12; P < 0.01) and 221.6 mL of FVC (95% CI: 209.62, 233.57; P < 0.01). After controlling for potential confounders (age, race, sex, body mass index, education, and income), multiple linear regression found that each mg of vitamin B6 was associated with increase in 25.98 mL of FEV1 (95% CI: 19.15, 32.80, P < 0.01) and 38.97 mL of FVC (95% CI: 30.65, 47.30, P < 0.01). ConclusionIncreased vitamin B6 intake is associated with improvement in lung function. Further prospective studies are required to ascertain whether increased vitamin B6 can lead to increased long-term spirometry measurements and the specific therapeutic dose–response relationship.

Identification of vitamin B12 producing bacteria based on the presence of bluB/cobT2 homologues

ObjectivesThe objective of the study was to develop a strategy for the identification of new vitamin B12-producing species and to characterize their production capability using a fast and sensitive LC–MS/MS method developed in this study.ResultsSearching for homologues of the bluB/cobT2 fusion gene known to be responsible for the production of the active vitamin B12 form in P. freudenreichii was shown to be a successful strategy for the identification of new vitamin B12-producing strains. The analysis of the identified strains via LC–MS/MS showed the ability of Terrabacter sp. DSM102553, Yimella lutea DSM19828 and Calidifontibacter indicus DSM22967 to produce the active form of vitamin B12. Further analysis of vitamin B12 production capability of Terrabacter sp. DSM102553 in M9 minimal medium and peptone-based media revealed that the highest yield of 2.65 µg of vitamin B12 per g dry cell weight was obtained in M9 medium.ConclusionsThe proposed strategy enabled identification of Terrabacter sp. DSM102553, whose relatively high yields obtained in the minimal medium open new perspectives for the possible application of the strain for biotechnological vitamin B12 production.

Daily Folic Acid and/or Vitamin B12 Supplementation Between 6 and 30 Months of Age and Cardiometabolic Risk Markers After 6–7 Years: A Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundDeficiencies of vitamin B12 and folate are associated with elevated concentrations of metabolic markers related to CVDs. ObjectivesWe investigated the effect of supplementation of vitamin B12 with or without folic acid for 6 mo in early childhood on cardiometabolic risk markers after 6–7 y. MethodsThis is a follow-up study of a 2 × 2 factorial, double-blind, randomized controlled trial of vitamin B12 and/or folic acid supplementation in 6–30-mo-old children. The supplement contained 1.8 μg of vitamin B12, 150 μg of folic acid, or both, constituting >1 AI or recommended daily allowances for a period of 6 mo. Enrolled children were contacted again after 6 y (September 2016–November 2017), and plasma concentrations of tHcy, leptin, high molecular weight adiponectin, and total adiponectin were measured (N = 791). ResultsAt baseline, 32% of children had a deficiency of either vitamin B12 (<200 pmol/L) or folate (<7.5 nmol/L). Combined supplementation of vitamin B12 and folic acid resulted in 1.19 μmol/L (95% CI: 0.09; 2.30 μmol/L) lower tHcy concentration 6 y later compared to placebo. We also found that vitamin B12 supplementation was associated with a lower leptin–adiponectin ratio in subgroups based on their nutritional status. ConclusionsSupplementation with vitamin B12 and folic acid in early childhood was associated with a decrease in plasma tHcy concentrations after 6 y. The results of our study provide some evidence of persistent beneficial metabolic effects of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation in impoverished populations.The original trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00717730, and the follow-up study at www.ctri.nic.in as CTRI/2016/11/007494.

Interrelation among one-carbon metabolic (OCM) pathway-related indicators and its impact on the occurence of pregnancy-induced hypertension disease in pregnant women supplemented with folate and vitamin B12: Real-world data analysis.

A considerable number of pregnant women who were supplemented with folate and vitamin B12 were selected as major participants in studying the one-carbon metabolic (OCM) pathway. Our study aimed to explore the effects of OCM-related indicators on pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and preeclampsia (PE) in pregnant women with folate and vitamin B12 supplementation. A total of 1,178 pregnant women who took multivitamin tablets containing 800 μg folate and 4 μg vitamin B12 daily from 3 months before pregnancy to 3 months after pregnancy were enrolled in this study. These pregnant women were classified into three groups: the normotensive group (n = 1,006), the PIH group (n = 131), and the PE group (n = 41). The information on age, weight, body mass index (BMI), number of embryos, gravidity, parity, and OCM-related indicators (serum level of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12; MTHFR C677T genotype) was collected. The accuracy of the prediction model based on the screened independent risk factors (hyperhomocysteine, OR = 1.170, 95% CI = 1.061-1.291; high folate status, OR = 1.018, 95% CI = 0.999-1.038; and high BMI, OR = 1.216, 95% CI = 1.140-1.297) for PIH in subjects with MTHFR CC genotype (AUC = 0.802) was obviously higher than that in subjects with MTHFR CT, TT genotype (AUC = 0.684,0.685, respectively) by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The homocysteine level of the PIH group was significantly higher than that of the normotensive group only in subjects with the MTHFR CC genotype (p = 0.005). A negative correlation between homocysteine and folate appeared in subjects with MTHFR CT + TT genotype (p = 0.005). A model including multiple embryos, nulliparas, and lower folate could predict the process from PIH to PE (AUC = 0.781, p < 0.0001). The prediction model composed of homocysteine, folate, and BMI for PIH was suitable for subjects with MTHFR CC genotype in pregnant women with supplementation of folate and vitamin B12. Lower folate levels could be an independent risk factor in developing the process from PIH to PE.

The Role and Place of Antioxidants in the Treatment of Male Infertility Caused by Varicocele.

The inability to become pregnant for at least 1 year despite regular unprotected intercourse may indicate infertility of one or both partners. This problem affects approximately 10-20% of couples worldwide, regardless of race, with male infertility reported to account for 25-60% of cases. Among the most common pathological causes of male infertility is the presence of varicocele and chronic infections of the male reproductive system. This study was performed using data collected at the Genesis Infertility Treatment Clinic, Bydgoszcz, Poland, between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2017. A total of 163 men meeting the inclusion criteria were selected and divided into the idiopathic infertility group (78 men) and varicocele-related infertility group (85 men). All patients received treatment with a male fertility supplement containing a combination of 1725 mg of L-carnitine fumarate, 500 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine, 90 mg of vitamin C, 20 mg of coenzyme Q10, 10 mg of zinc, 200 µg of folic acid, 50 µg of selenium, and 1.5 µg of vitamin B12 (Proxeed® Plus, Sigma-Tau, Italy) twice a day for a period of 6 months from the time of the diagnosis of infertility. The treatment resulted in significant improvements in general semen parameters, particularly sperm count, sperm concentration, total motility, and progressive motility. This antioxidant therapy produced a particularly marked therapeutic benefit in patients with Grade III varicocele, with a greater improvement in progressive motility than in men with less severe or no varicocele. The use of the antioxidant preparation examined here seems reasonable in men with idiopathic infertility and as an adjuvant in those with varicocele-related infertility in whom surgical treatment has resulted in no improvement. Its use should be considered particularly in patients with Grade III varicocele who do not wish to undergo surgical treatment or in whom such a treatment is not possible for various reasons.

Optimization of the prevention of perinatal pathology in women with gestational endotheliopathy

Objectives: to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the Metida for the prevention of perinatal pathology in pregnant women with gestational endotheliopathy and with the risk of preeclampsia.Materials and methods. 68 pregnant women with verified gestational endotheliopathy and with risk of preeclampsia &gt; 1:150 participated in a prospective clinical comparative study. The patients were divided into subgroups: the first subgroup included 30 women who from 11–13 weeks of pregnancy received acetylsalicylic acid 100 mg/day and vitamin D 2000 IU/day; the II subgroup included 38 pregnant women who from 11–13 weeks of gestation received acetylsalicylic acid 100 mg/day, vitamin D 2000 IU/day and Metida (300 mg of elemental magnesium, 30 mg of vitamin B6). 28 practically healthy pregnant women of the control group received vitamin D 1000 IU/day. The clinical effectiveness of therapy was evaluated by comparing the number of cases of perinatal pathology; cases of intrauterine suffering of the fetus; the dynamics of indicators of laboratory-instrumental research methods (markers of the risk of perinatal pathology) and the pregnancy outcomes.Results. Metida as an additional preventive therapy made it possible to significantly reduce the number of cases of placental dysfunction (р = 0.01) and intrauterine suffering of the fetus (р = 0.02) compared to standard preventive therapy. There was also a 6-fold reduction in the incidence of preeclampsia and premature birth due to magnesium supplementation, compared to pregnant women who received only acetylsalicylic acid and vitamin D. There was a significant decrease in serum indicators of markers of endothelial dysfunction in women with gestational endotheliopathy as a result of taking magnesium: vascular endothelial growth factor (p &lt; 0.00001), endoglin (p &lt; 0.00001) compared to patients who did not receive magnesium, and there was also normalization of the of 25(OH)D level in blood serum compared to the control group (p = 0.33).Conclusions. Additional Mg supplementation during pregnancy may reduce the likelihood of perinatal pathology in high-risk patients and help normalize serum markers of endothelial dysfunction in women with high risk of preeclampsia.

Sense of self-efficacy and the content of energy and nutrients in the diet of elite Polish basketball players.

In research on the subject, the predictive importance of personal resources is indicated for diet quality. The aim of the study was quantitative assessment of diet depending on the level of generalised self- efficacy among elite Polish basketball players. Food diaries (2 training days and 1 no training day) of 48 basketball players were analysed. Further assessed were 144 food rations based on the Diet 6.0 program, and the results were compared to the current Polish nutritional standards. The Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) was also used. Statistical analyses were performed by estimating Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (p<0.05). The share of energy from proteins, fats and carbohydrates was 18.2%, 29.4% and 52.4%, respectively. Of the mineral salts, the average diet contained: 2,107.6 mg sodium, 2,918.3 mg potassium, 736.3 mg calcium, 1,372.2 mg phosphorus, 380.1 mg magnesium, and 11.6 mg iron. Of the vitamins, the average diet contained: 1,100.3 μg of vitamin A, 5.3 μg of vitamin D, vitamin E in the amount of 8.2 mg, 78.1 mg of vitamin C, 1.1 mg vitamin B1, 1.3 mg vitamin B2, 1.9 mg of vitamin B6, 271.7 μg of vitamin B9 and 4.7 μg of vitamin B12. It was also shown that as the sense of self-efficacy developed, the supply of energy, water, protein, digestible carbohydrates, energy from carbohydrates, sucrose and PUFAs also increased in the players' diets. At the same time, along with the increase in self-efficacy, the supply of: Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Cu and iodine as well as vitamins: A, E, B1, B3, B6 and C, also increased in the players' diets. Incomplete diet balance has been demonstrated, as well as significant relationships between the level of self-efficacy and the supply of certain nutrients in the diet of elite Polish basketball players. The obtained results indicate the legitimacy of diet monitoring and nutritional education as well as considering personality traits in activities promoting maintaining a proper diet among athletes.

DHA status influences effects of B-vitamin supplementation on cognitive ageing: a post-hoc analysis of the B-proof trial

PurposeTrials aiming to lower homocysteine by B-vitamin supplementation have reported mixed results on slowing cognitive decline. We investigated if efficacy of B-vitamin supplementation is affected by baseline plasma omega-3 fatty acid levels.MethodsThis post-hoc analysis of the B-proof trial included 191 adults aged 65 years or older with baseline plasma total homocysteine ≥ 12 μmol/L, randomly assigned to 400 µg folic acid and 500 µg vitamin B12 or placebo daily for 2 years. Global and domain-specific cognitive functioning were assessed at baseline and after 2 years. The effect of B-vitamin supplementation was analyzed according to tertiles of baseline plasma omega-3 fatty acids concentrations combined, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) individually using multiple linear regression analyses.ResultsThe mean ± SD age of the participants was 71.6 ± 5.9 years and median [IQR] Mini-Mental State Examination was 29 [28–30]. The treatment effect of B-vitamins on global cognition was larger in participants in the high compared to the middle DHA tertile (difference in z-score, mean ± SE 0.22 ± 0.10, p = 0.03). There was no significant interaction between B-vitamin supplementation and combined omega-3 fatty acid (p = 0.49) and EPA (p = 0.99) tertiles. Similarly, the efficacy of B-vitamin treatment on domain-specific cognitive functioning did not link to omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, or EPA plasma levels.ConclusionThis post-hoc analysis indicated that efficacy of B-vitamin supplementation in slowing cognitive decline relates to DHA status, with individuals with higher plasma DHA levels benefitting more from vitamin B12 and folic acid use. The results support earlier observations that positive effects of B-vitamins in cognitive ageing may be subgroup-specific.Trial registration: Registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00696514) on June 12, 2008.

Parenteral vs Oral Vitamin B12 in Children With Nutritional Macrocytic Anemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

There is limited literature in children on efficacy of different routes of vitamin B12 administration for vitamin B12 deficiency macrocytic-megaloblastic anemia. To compare parenteral with oral vitamin B12 therapy in children with macrocytic-megaloblastic anemia. Single-center, open-label randomized controlled trial. 80 children aged 2 month-18 year with clinical and laboratory features of nutritional macrocytic anemia. All children received an initial single parenteral dose of 1000 µg vitamin B12 followed by randomization to either parenteral or oral vitamin B12 for subsequent doses. Group A was given 1000 µg intramuscular (IM) vitamin B12 (3 doses on alternate days for those aged <10 year, five doses for age >10 year), followed by monthly 1000 µg IM for the subsequent two doses. Group B was given daily oral vitamin B12 1500 µg (500 µg in <2 years age) for three months. Folic acid and iron supple-mentation, and relevant dietary advice were given to both groups in a similar fashion. Improvement in serum vitamin B12 levels and total hemoglobin was compared three months post-treatment. The median(IQR) increase in serum vitamin B12 level was significantly higher in group A [600 (389,775) vs 399 (313, 606) pg/mL; P= 0.016]. The median (IQR) rise of hemoglobin was also more in group A [2.7 (0.4,4.6) vs 0.5 (-0.1,1.2) g/dL; P=0.001]. Increase in serum vitamin B12 levels and hemoglobin was better in children with nutritional macrocytic anemia receiving parenteral as compared to oral vitamin B12.

Daily supplementation of a multiple micronutrient powder improves folate but not thiamine, riboflavin, or vitamin B12 status among young Laotian children: a randomized controlled trial

PurposeTo assess the effects of intervention with a daily multiple micronutrient powder (MNP) on thiamine, riboflavin, folate, and B12 status among young Laotian children.MethodsChildren (n = 1704) aged 6–23 mo, participating in a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial were individually randomized to receive daily either MNP (containing 0.5 mg of thiamine, 0.5 mg riboflavin, 150 μg folic acid, and 0.9 μg vitamin B12 along with 11 other micronutrients) or placebo and followed for ~ 36 weeks. In a randomly selected sub-sample of 260 children, erythrocyte thiamine diphosphate (eThDP), plasma folate and B12 concentrations, and erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation coefficient (EGRac; riboflavin biomarker) were assessed at baseline and endline.ResultsThere was no treatment effect on endline eThDP concentrations (110.6 ± 8.9 nmol/L in MNP vs. 109.4 ± 8.9 nmol/L in placebo group; p = 0.924), EGRac (1.46 ± 0.3 vs. 1.49 ± 0.3; p = 0.184) and B12 concentrations (523.3 ± 24.6 pmol/L vs. 515.9 ± 24.8 pmol/L; p = 0.678). Likewise, the prevalence of thiamine, riboflavin, and B12 deficiencies did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, endline folate concentration was significantly higher in the MNP compared to the placebo group (28.2 ± 0.8 nmol/L vs 19.9 ± 0.8 nmol/L, respectively; p < 0.001), and correspondingly, the prevalence of folate deficiency was significantly lower in the MNP group (1.6% vs 17.4%; p = 0.015).ConclusionsCompared to a placebo, daily MNP for 9 months increased only folate but not thiamine, riboflavin, or B12 status in young Laotian children.Trial registrationThe trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02428647) on April 29 2015.