Significant Difference In Vitamin Research Articles

Are children with cystic fibrosis who are treated with a proton-pump inhibitor at risk for vitamin B(12) deficiency?

In a recent study, the authors demonstrated the beneficial effect of proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) on fat malabsorption and bone mineral content in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Prolonged use of PPI could result in vitamin B(12) deficiency as a consequence of impaired release of vitamin B(12) from food in a nonacid environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vitamin B 12 status of CF patients either treated with a PPI or not by measuring vitamin B(12) and homocysteine blood levels, the latter being a sensitive indicator of vitamin B(12) deficiency. The study population consisted of 20 CF patients, 11 patients treated with a PPI for at least 2 years and 9 patients not treated with a PPI, and 10 healthy, age-matched control participants. Homocysteine blood levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and vitamin B(12) levels were measured by a competitive protein-binding assay. Vitamin B(12) levels were significantly higher in both CF groups compared with the control participants (PPI+, P = 0.02; PPI-, P = 0.009). There was no significant difference in vitamin B(12) levels between both CF groups. Homocysteine levels were normal and similar in all groups. Cystic fibrosis patients treated with a PPI for at least 2 years show no signs of vitamin B(12) deficiency.

The response of the dietary anti-oxidants vitamin E and vitamin C to oxidative stress in pre-eclampsia

Summary The relationship of oxidants and anti-oxidants in preeclampsia with reference to the dietary anti-oxidants vitamin C and vitamin E was investigated. Three groups of patients were studied in the third trimester of pregnancy: normotensives (n = 32), mild pre-eclamptics (n = 15) and severe pre-eclamptics (n = 31) with a group of healthy non-pregnant women (n = 18) serving as a control. Total anti-oxidant concentration, the concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin E, superoxide dismutase, uric acid and the concentration of total oxidant activity, as reflected by lipid peroxides, were measured in plasma or red blood cells. Total anti-oxidants and vitamin C concentrations were significantly lower in pre-eclamptic patients than in pregnant controls (P < 0.05), with the concentrations in the pregnant controls being significantly lower than in the non-pregnant controls (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in vitamin E concentration for all four groups. Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly lower in the normal pregnancy group. Lipid peroxides were significantly increased in the three pregnant groups (P < 0.05) with no differences noted between these groups. The relationship of oxidants to anti-oxidants in pregnancy and pre-eclampsia is dependent on many factors but balance appears to be upset in pre-eclampsia. The reduction in anti-oxidant concentrations in pre-eclampsia suggests either a primary deficit or consumption of the anti-oxidants measured. Of the dietary anti-oxidants studied, vitamin C was most affected in pre-eclampsia.

Differences among Spanish and Latin-American banana cultivars: morphological, chemical and sensory characteristics

Physical (weight, size, shape, texture and colour), physicochemical (pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, moisture content, total solids), chemical (soluble sugars, vitamin C, starch, pectic substances, volatile compounds) and biochemical (polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activities, soluble proteins) characteristics and sensory attributes (appearance, flavour, odour, colour, firmness, acceptability) of banana ( Musa cavendishii L.) fruits were studied in order to assess possible differences between nutritional properties and consumer acceptability of the local (Canarian) cultivars Enana and Gran Enana and the Latin-American (Colombian) Enana cultivar. Significant differences ( P ≤ 0·05) were found between size and length of fruit, and between other objective measurements (lightness, yellowness, acidity, moisture content, starch, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities, soluble sugars—sucrose, fructose, glucose). Also there were significant differences in vitamin C and protein content which established the higher nutritional value of the Spanish banana cultivars. The main compositional differences between the banana cultivars in terms of flavour were quantified. Purge and trap (head-space) analysis of the Spanish Enana cultivar showed it was the richest in the characteristic banana volatile aroma compounds. Sensory descriptive analysis discriminated between banana cultivars in terms of flesh colour and flesh sweetness; although panellists liked all cultivars, they preferred the Spanish Enana fruits (overall acceptability test).

The effects of hormone replacement therapy on plasma vitamin E levels in post-menopausal women

Objective: To measure vitamin E levels in post-menopausal women before and after HRT, compared with levels in premenopausal women. Design: Post-menopausal women ( n = 21) had plasma vitamin E levels measured before treatment and after 6 and 12 months treatment with HRT (2 mg 17-β-oestradiol and 1 mg norethisterone acetate). The pre-menopausal group ( n = 20) had plasma vitamin E levels measured at day 15–18 of the menstrual cycle. Results: There was no significant difference in vitamin E levels between the pre-menopausal group and the post-menopausal group. Plasma vitamin E levels were not significantly altered by 12 months HRT. Conclusion: Post-menopausal women did not have altered levels of vitamin E compared with pre-menopausal women. Similarly HRT has no effect on plasma vitamin E levels. We conclude therefore that HRT does not reduce vitamin E levels in a similar manner to oral contraceptives and consequently post-menopausal women are unlikely to need a vitamin E supplement.

Bone mass and metabolism in women aged 45-55.

Changes in calcium homeostasis and bone mass around the climacteric are poorly understood. We examined relations between endocrine factors and indices of bone mass and metabolism in healthy women approaching the menopause. Cross-section study. Sixty-eight spontaneously menstruating women aged 45-55. Bone density measured at lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and distal non-dominant forearm using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. We recorded menstrual history, physical activity and dietary calcium, and measured serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, vitamin D, fT3, T4, TSH, PTH, FSH and oestradiol (E2), and urinary pyridinoline (PYD) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) excretion. Using serum FSH level as a marker of ovarian function, 63 subjects could be classified into one of three groups: group A (serum FSH < 10 U/l, n = 29), group B (10-35 U/l, n = 27) and group C (> 35 U/l, n = 7). Bone density fell with declining ovarian function at the LS, FN and forearm trabecular (but not cortical) sites. Serum PTH was lower in group A vs B (mean (SD) 2.68 (0.97) vs 3.52 (1.17) pmol/l, P < 0.05), but similar to group C (2.90 (1.09) pmol/l, P = NS). Serum phosphate was elevated in group C compared to groups A and B (1.17 (0.15) vs 1.04 (0.11) and 1.05 (0.13) mmol/l, P < 0.05), and urinary PYD (61.1 (8.0) vs 50.4 (11.6) and 43.9 (8.1) mumol/mol creatinine) and DPD (15.9 (3.9) vs 12.0 (3.6) and 11.4 (3.6) mumol/mol creatinine) excretion were also increased. There were no significant differences in vitamin D metabolites or osteocalcin. Multivariate analysis suggested serum osteocalcin was positively related to physical activity and serum 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol levels. Serum free T3 was positively correlated with urinary DPD excretion, and inversely related to serum PTH. In all subjects, serum PTH was related to body weight (r = 0.38, P = 0.002). Declining ovarian function before menopause is accompanied by reductions in bone mass and altered calcium metabolism. Free T3 may regulate bone resorption and indirectly modulate PTH release.

Levels of vitamin K, immunoreactive prothrombin, des‐γ‐carboxy prothrombin and γ‐glutamyl carboxylase activity in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue

To clarify the mechanism of production of des-gamma-carboxy (abnormal) prothrombin (DCP) by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we measured the levels of vitamin K, DCP, immunoreactive prothrombin and the activity of gamma-glutamyl carboxylase in liver tissues from HCC patients and in the medium of cultured human hepatoma cells. There was no significant difference in vitamin K (K1, MK-4) contents between HCC and non-HCC cirrhotic liver tissues. The activity of gamma-glutamyl carboxylase per unit amount of endogenous microsomal prothrombin precursor was decreased in HCC tissue compared with non-HCC liver tissue (positive plasma DCP: 335 +/- 72 vs 372 +/- 67, negative plasma DCP: 370 +/- 84 vs 393 +/- 56 nmol/min per mg prothrombin precursor, P > 0.05), although the total incorporation of 14COOH into microsomal precursor protein was higher in the former. By contrast, levels of DCP and immunoreactive prothrombin in HCC tissue were greater (P < 0.05) than those in non-HCC cirrhotic liver tissue. Furthermore, production of large amounts of immunoreactive prothrombin was observed in human hepatoma cells huH-1 and huH-2, which produced large amounts of DCP. These results suggest that there was excessive synthesis of prothrombin precursors by human HCC tissue and hepatoma cell lines huH-1 and huH-2. Thus, excessive synthesis of prothrombin precursors seems to be the main mechanism of DCP production by HCC.

Determination of vitamin B6, available lysine and .epsilon.-pyridoxyllysine in a new instant baby food product

The objectives were to determine if there are signifiant differences in the vitamin B 6 available lysine, and pyridoxyllysine content of similar jar and instant baby foods and if significant differences in vitamin B 6 and available lysine content of baby foods are due to product formulation or processing year.

Vitamin A gastrointestinal absorption in persons with Down's syndrome

The total daily vitamin A intake, physical signs associated with vitamin A deficiency, and the response to a vitamin A challenge were studied in 33 patients with Down's syndrome and in 14 intellectually normal persons (comparison group). The evaluation of detailed dietary histories revealed that the study subjects' mean daily vitamin A intake was similar to the recommended daily allowance for adults and that there was no significant difference of the mean daily vitamin A intake between study and comparison groups (5029 IU and 5706 IU, respectively). Subjects with Down's syndrome had more symptoms usually seen in patients with hypovitaminosis A than the persons in the comparison group. The baseline serum vitamin A levels in the Down's syndrome and comparison groups were within the normal range (106.0 micrograms/dl and 136.5 micrograms/dl, respectively). The vitamin A absorption curve of persons with Down's syndrome paralleled that of normal individuals and no significant difference of vitamin A levels between study and comparison groups was observed except for the 6-h values. Also, the absorption differential (delta = 3-h value + 6-h value/2-O-h value) did not show a significant difference between the two groups. Thus, these investigations do not support previous reports of significantly decreased vitamin A absorption in individuals with Down's syndrome.

Vitamin D metabolites in spasmophilia

The comparison of 20 untreated spasmophilic patients (2 men, 18 women) with 25 healthy subjects revealed no significant differences in vitamin D metabolite plasma levels or in other laboratory indexes of calcium metabolism except for ionized and cytosolic free calcium levels which were lower in the former group ( P < 0.01; P < 0.001). After 3 months treatment with calcitonin and 25-hydroxyvitamin D there was a clear improvement in patient symptoms, no significant modification of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D levels and significant increases in 25-hydroxyvitamin D, cytosolic free calcium and urinary calcium ( P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). We conclude that high plasma levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D play an important role in restoring normal cytosolic free calcium levels and reducing clinical manifestations in spasmophilia. spasmophilia / vitamin D / 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Levels of vitamin a and cellular retinol binding protein in human hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent normal tissue

The levels of vitamin A (retinol) and vitamin E were measured in the blood, in tissues of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and in adjacent liver parenchyma. The median values of vitamin A were 11.5 micrograms/g (ranging 0-82.5 micrograms/g) in HCC and 52.1 micrograms/g (ranging 0.4-895.2 micrograms/g) in normal liver tissues; the difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). By contrast, there was no significant difference in vitamin E levels between the two tissues. Although the levels of vitamin A were significantly lower in HCC in 10 patients, no significant difference was noted in the cellular retinol binding protein levels in the normal and malignant tissues. These results suggest that the decreased levels of vitamin A in HCC are not due to altered cellular retinol binding protein levels in tumors and the different vitamin A blood supply system. We conclude that either the decreased uptake of vitamin A, but not vitamin E, by HCC cells or the lack of vitamin A-storing cells in tumors might be responsible for the low levels of vitamin A in HCC.

Zinc-Vitamin A Interaction in Pregnant and Fetal Rats: Supplemental Vitamin A Does Not Prevent Zinc-Deficiency-Induced Teratogenesis

The influence of a higher-than-normal intake of vitamin A on the detrimental effects of zinc deficiency on vitamin A metabolism was investigated in pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats. At mating, rats were fed diets containing 100 (control), 4.5, or 0.5 µg/g zinc combined with 4 (control) or 8 µg retinyl acetate/g. Low intake of zinc, but not of vitamin A, caused food intake, total body weight change, fetal weight and placental weight to be low. Incidence of teratogenic effects was more pronounced in low zinc groups than in controls. Concentrations of vitamin A in maternal plasma and liver were affected by the amount of zinc in the diet. Dietary vitamin A, however, did not affect either of these parameters. Maternal plasma zinc concentration was affected only by low dietary zinc, whereas plasma copper and iron were unaffected by the dietary treatments. Maternal liver iron was higher in zinc-deficient rats than in controls; however, maternal liver zinc and copper concentrations were not altered by dietary treatments. No significant differences in vitamin A concentration of fetal liver, fetal plasma, or placenta were seen among the groups. Fetuses from zinc-deficient dams had significantly lower levels of liver vitamin A and liver zinc than did controls. Fetal liver iron was higher in zinc-deficient fetuses than in controls, whereas fetal liver copper was not affected by dietary treatment. These data suggest that supplemental dietary vitamin A does not ameliorate the effect of zinc deficiency on vitamin A metabolism during pregnancy.

Effect of Four Drying Methods on the Quality of Intermediate Moisture Lowbush Blueberries

ABSTRACTLowbush blueberries have been processed by freeze dry, forced air, vacuum oven, and micro‐convection methods to a moisture content of 16‐25%. The drying effect on the product quality was evaluated. There were no significant differences in vitamin A and niacin retention except freeze dried berries had higher vitamin C retention. No significant differences occurred in retention of mineral content except higher sodium and lower magnesium were found in the micro‐convection and freeze dry methods, respectively. Freeze dried and vacuum dried blueberries had higher soluble solids retention and were darker and redder than forced air or micro‐convection dried berries. Freeze dried berries were found to have highest rehydration ratio and lowest bulk density.

SUPPLEMENTAL VALUE OF ASCORBIC ACID DURING LATE GESTATION ON PIGLET SURVIVAL AND EARLY GROWTH

Twenty-six pregnant sows were included in four different dietary treatments as follows: (1) Control group with no vitamin C supplementation; (2) vitamin-C-supplemented group receiving 1 g/day ascorbic acid provided in a gelatin capsule; or (3) vitamin-C-supplemented group receiving 1 g/day ascorbic acid in a powder form spread on the top of the pelleted meal; (4) as (3) but receiving 10 g/day ascorbic acid. Vitamin-C-supplemented sows in treatments 2 and 4 showed a significant (P &lt; 0.05) increase in blood plasma vitamin C prefarrowing. Pregnant sows receiving 10 g/day vitamin C supplement showed a significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher concentration of this vitamin in the urine than either control or sows receiving 1 g/day vitamin C supplementation. Sows in treatment 4 showed a significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) vitamin C content in colostrum than control animals. During lactation, no significant difference in vitamin C content in milk was observed between control and animals receiving 10 g/day vitamin C supplement. The vitamin C content in the plasma of the piglets at birth indicated that supplementing vitamin C to the mothers, significantly (P &lt; 0.05) increased the concentration of this vitamin in the newborn piglet compared to control animals. However, the piglet survival and growth up to weaning at 3 wk of age was not significantly affected by dietary vitamin C supplementation of the mothers' diet. Key words: Ascorbic acid, gestation, piglet survival, Vitamin C

Differences in Vitamin A Content of Enteral Feeding Solutions Following Exposure to a Polyvinyl Chloride Enteral Feeding System

This research was conducted to determine if there were significant differences in the vitamin A content of two enteral feeding solutions following timed exposure to a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) enteral tube feeding system. This study took place in the laboratory setting with procedures designed to simulate clinical conditions with respect to rate of flow and time of exposure. Feeding solutions (Ensure Osmolite and Vivonex High Nitrogen) were sampled, placed in PVC feeding system pouches (Vivonex Delivery System, Norwich-Eaton Pharmaceuticals, Norwich, NY) and permitted to drip from the pouches at a constant rate. Solution remaining in the pouches was sampled at intervals for a period of six hours, and all samples were analyzed for Vitamin A content using spectrophotometric methods. Statistical analysis of the data indicated no significant difference in Vitamin A content of either feeding solution following six hours of exposure to a PVC enteral tube feeding system.

Comparison in Inducing Effect on Vitamin E Deficiency Symptoms in Chicks between Dilauryl Succinate and Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Dilauryl succinate (DLS) and unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) were compared for the effects of inducing vitamin E deficiency symptoms in chicks. Experimental diets containing DLS, UFA and DLS + UFA, respectively, were given to 1-day-old chicks for 28 days. The diet containing DLS but not UFA showed far less increase in peroxide value than those containing UFA or DLS + UFA when left in a battery brooder of 30 degrees. Vitamin E deficiency symptoms in chicks given DLS + UFA were more severe than those in chicks fed either DLS or UFA. No significant difference in vitamin E deficiency symptoms except incidence of encephalomalacia was observed between the chicks given DLS and UFA. Extracting UFA from the diet containing DLS + UFA resulted in the reduction of vitamin E deficiency induction to the same degree as the diet containing DLS. Synthetic antioxidants were effective in alleviating the vitamin E deficiency symptoms in the chicks fed UFA and DLS + UFA, while only slightly effective in those given DLS. It was found that the effects of DLS and UFA can be separated and combined technically and it was suggested that they have different mechanism in inducing vitamin E deficiency.

Characterization of endogenous folate and incorporation of labelled folates into the brain of the South African fruit bat

Folate in the brain of the South African fruit bat consists of 10-formyltetrahydropteroylglutamic acid and the tri-, tetra- and penta- forms of 5-methyltetrahydropteroylglutamic acid. Following parenteral injection, only 5-[ 3H]-methyltetrahydropteroylglutamic acid was taken up by the brain, but none of a dose of 14C-labelled tetrahydropteroylglutamic acid was detectable. Only trace amounts of the 5-methyltetrahydropteroylglutamic acid were converted into the formyl compounds and a small amount of methyltetrahydropteroyltriglutamic acid appeared after 96 h. There was no significant difference in vitamin B-12-deficient animals.

Vitamin A, pregnancy, and oral contraceptives.

It has been shown that women receiving oral contraceptives have increased levels of serum vitamin A. High vitamin A levels may constitute a teratogenic hazard and it has been suggested that women who conceive soon after discontinuing oral contraceptive therapy may be especially at risk to this hazard.We have confirmed a significant increase in vitamin A levels in women taking oral contraceptives. During early pregnancy there is no significant difference in vitamin A levels between women who have recently been taking oral contraceptives and those who have not. We have been unable to show that either taking oral contraceptives shortly before pregnancy or a high vitamin A level during the first trimester of pregnancy, comparable to that of a woman taking oral contraceptives, has any detrimental effect on the outcome of pregnancy. It seems unlikely that women who conceive soon after discontinuing oral contraception run any teratogenic risk from increased vitamin A levels.

The biological activities of vitamin A acetate and vitamin A palmitate: experiments with chickens.

In the first experiment, 250 unsexed day-old chickens were given for 7 days a diet low in vitamin A based on white maize and soya bean meal. Then 100 chickens were given a single dose of 11, 960 IU retinyl acetate or 11, 510 IU retinyl palmitate and 50 were not dosed. After 68 h lots of 10 pooled livers were analysed for vitamin A. The birds given acetate had more vitamin A in the liver and a higher proportion of the dose stored than the palmitate groups, but the differences were not significant. In experiment 2 the sexes were equally divided within groups and the birds were similarly dosed. After 72 h liver vitamin A was significantly higher in groups given the acetate. In experiment 3 male and female chickens were separated and groups of each were given either the acetate or the palmitate ester. Vitamin A was measured in the liver after 3 days and after 4, 6, 7 and 8 weeks. It was significantly more in acetate-treated groups at 3 days and at 4 weeks. Compared with males, females had significantly greater vitamin A stores at 6, 7 and 8 weeks in groups given acetate and at 7 weeks in groups given palmitate. The next experiment was similar, but the basal diet contained 7-5 IU retinyl acetate in dry stabilised form and measurements were continued to 9 and 11 weeks. There was no significant difference in vitamin A stores between sexes or esters, or between dosed and non-dosed groups. Stores of vitamin A rose rapidly during the entire period. In experiments 5 and 6 male broiler chickens were given for 8 weeks the basal diet with 7.5 IU retinyl acetate or palmitate per g. Lots of 3 different body-weight ranges were taken from each treatment and liver vitamin A was measured. No significant effects of treatment on stores or bodyweight were found in either trial. In one trial liver weights were significantly higher in the acetate groups and the combined results showed significantly greater vitamin A stores in groups given acetate.-G. F. H. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

Effect of nonfat milk on the utilization of carotene and vitamin A

Rats fed 60 μg. daily of carotene homogenized in nonfat milk deposited significantly more vitamin A in their livers than rats fed the same amount of carotene homogenized in water. When 32 μg. carotene was fed daily, there was no difference in liver storage of vitamin A between the water and milk homogenates. When vitamin A per se was fed, there was no significant difference in vitamin A storage between the milk and water homogenates except for reconstituted nonfat milk which significantly lowered liver storage of vitamin A when 52 μg. of vitamin A was fed.