Dietary Supplementation Of Vitamin Research Articles

Real-World Outcomes with Lomitapide Use in Paediatric Patients with Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolaemia.

IntroductionHomozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HoFH) is a rare, autosomal disease affecting the clearance of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from circulation, and leading to early-onset atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Treatment consists mainly of statins, lipoprotein apheresis (LA) and, more recently, the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor lomitapide. Lomitapide is not licensed for use in children, but has been made available through an expanded access programme or on a named patient basis.MethodsThis case series includes 11 HoFH patients in 10 different centres in eight countries, less than 18 years of age (mean 11.6 ± 1.1 years, 64% male), with signs of ASCVD, and who have received treatment with lomitapide (mean dose 24.5 ± 4.3 mg/day; mean exposure 20.0 ± 2.9 months). Background lipid-lowering therapy was given according to local protocols. Lomitapide was commenced with a stepwise dose escalation from 2.5 mg or 5 mg/day; dietary advice and vitamin supplements were provided as per the product label for adults. Laboratory analysis was conducted as part of regular clinical care.ResultsIn the 11 cases, mean baseline LDL-C was 419 ± 74.6 mg/dL and was markedly reduced by lomitapide to a nadir of 176.7 ± 46.3 mg/dL (58.4 ± 6.8% decrease). Six patients achieved recommended target levels for children below 135 mg/dL, five of whom had LA frequency reduced. In one case, LDL-C levels were close to target when lomitapide was started but remained stable despite 75% reduction in LA frequency (from twice weekly to biweekly). Adverse events were mainly gastrointestinal in nature, occurred early in the treatment course and were well managed. Three patients with excursions in liver function tests were managed chiefly without intervention; two patients had decreases in lomitapide dose.ConclusionsLomitapide demonstrated promising effectiveness in paediatric HoFH patients. Adverse events were manageable, and the clinical profile of the drug is apparently similar to that in adult patients.FundingAmryt Pharma.

Doxycycline, Azithromycin and Vitamin C (DAV): A potent combination therapy for targeting mitochondria and eradicating cancer stem cells (CSCs).

Here, we devised a new strategy for eradicating cancer stem cells (CSCs), via a “synthetic-metabolic” approach, involving two FDA-approved antibiotics and a dietary vitamin supplement. This approach was designed to induce a “rho-zero-like” phenotype in cancer cells. This strategy effectively results in the synergistic eradication of CSCs, using vanishingly small quantities of two antibiotics. The 2 metabolic targets are i) the large mitochondrial ribosome and ii) the small mitochondrial ribosome. Azithromycin inhibits the large mitochondrial ribosome as an off-target side-effect. In addition, Doxycycline inhibits the small mitochondrial ribosome as an off-target side-effect. Vitamin C acts as a mild pro-oxidant, which can produce free radicals and, as a consequence, induces mitochondrial biogenesis. Remarkably, treatment with a combination of Doxycycline (1 μM), Azithromycin (1 μM) plus Vitamin C (250 μM) very potently inhibited CSC propagation by >90%, using the MCF7 ER(+) breast cancer cell line as a model system. The strong inhibitory effects of this DAV triple combination therapy on mitochondrial oxygen consumption and ATP production were directly validated using metabolic flux analysis. Therefore, the induction of mitochondrial biogenesis due to mild oxidative stress, coupled with inhibition of mitochondrial protein translation, may be a new promising therapeutic anti-cancer strategy. Consistent with these assertions, Vitamin C is known to be highly concentrated within mitochondria, by a specific transporter, namely SVCT2, in a sodium-coupled manner. Also, the concentrations of antibiotics used here represent sub-antimicrobial levels of Doxycycline and Azithromycin, thereby avoiding the potential problems associated with antibiotic resistance. Finally, we also discuss possible implications for improving health-span and life-span, as Azithromycin is an anti-aging drug that behaves as a senolytic, which selectively kills and removes senescent fibroblasts.

Appearance of systemic granulomatosis is modulated by the dietary supplementation of vitamin E and C in meagre (Argyrosomus regius) larvae fed inert microdiets

Systemic granulomatosis has already been reported in meagre larvae with an adequate feeding protocol and enrichment media preventing its appearance in the first weeks of life. Afterwards, the control of this disease could be prevented through nutritional components of the inert food, being the antioxidants the key to success. For this reason, in the present study, meagre larvae were reared from 30 days post hatching (dph) with five isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental microdiets with different levels of vitamin E and C: C– (40 mg kg−1 E, 100 mg kg−1C), C+ (400 mg kg−1 E, 1000 mg kg−1C), Krill (400 mg kg−1 E, 1000 mg kg−1C and substitution of fish oil by krill oil), EC (200 mg kg−1 E, 500 mg kg−1C) and EECC (800 mg kg−1 E, 2000 mg kg−1C). Prior to this, larvae were co-fed with rotifers and Artemia following a protocol which prevented the appearance of granulomas, as previously demonstrated. The substitution of fish oil by krill oil significantly increased levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 16.6%) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 17.6%) in meagre, consequently increasing the peroxidation index, which in turn translated into a higher incidence of granulomas. Although even low levels of vitamin E and C (40 mg kg−1 E, 100 mg kg−1C; C-) allowed the adequate growth of larvae, these levels were not enough to prevent the appearance of granulomas, requiring superior levels of both antioxidant vitamins (800 mg kg−1 E and 2000 mg kg−1C) to mitigate systemic granulomatosis. This mitigation was simultaneous with the reduction of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances TBARs content in larvae, which were highly correlated with the appearance of granulomas (R2 = 0.892, y = 0.0446× + 0.0756). A strong negative correlation was observed between the dietary levels of vitamin E (y = −0.0098× + 11.174, R2 = 0.8766, p value = .019, r = −0.93) and vitamin C (y = −0.0022× + 6.4777, R2 = 0.9278, p value = .003, r = −0.96) and the percentage of larvae with granulomas. The results showed that the occurrence of systemic granulomatosis seems to be associated to the larvae peroxidation status, so that high dietary levels of vitamin E and C (800 and 2000 mg kg−1, respectively; Diet EECC), reduced lipid peroxidation and completely prevented the appearance of granulomas in meagre larvae at 44 dph.

The study of ameliorative effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin C, vitamin E, and tryptophan on Labeo rohita (Cyprinidae) fry exposed to intense light.

The stress ameliorating effect of dietary supplementation of vitamin C, vitamin E, and tryptophan on rohu Labeo rohita fry was evaluated. Rohu fry (1.1 ± 0.03g) were cultured under five different feeding regimes: enriched with 0.08% vitamin C (D1), 0.02% vitamin E (D2), 1.42% tryptophan (D3), a combination of these three ingredients at similar doses (D4), and control diet (D5). Rohu fry of D5 were divided into two groups-exposed to experimental light (D5FL) and ambient light (114 ± 4lx, D5AL). All fry (except D5AL) were exposed at light intensity of 3442 ± 648lx. Feeding of rohu with enriched diets significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the survival rate and average weight. A 15-25% higher survival and 1.3-1.8-fold higher average weight were recorded in rohu fed with enriched diet compared to D5FL treatment. Supplementation of vitamin C in diet (D1) of rohu resulted in 4.1-fold and 6.9-fold higher nitric oxide synthase and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, respectively compared to the D5FL treatment. The tryptophan-enriched diet (D3) showed 5.8-fold higher melatonin and 4.4-fold lower cortisol levels in rohu compared to the D5FL treatment. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher nitric oxide synthase, GSH and melatonin, and lower cortisol, glucose, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, carbonyl protein, glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase levels were found in D4 diet fed rohu compared to the other treatments. Reduced level of stress in D4 treatment resulted in best performance of rohu in terms of less swimming activity and higher survival and growth compared to the other treatments.

LAYING PERFORMANCE, FAT DIGESTIBILITY AND LIVER CONDITION OF LAYING HENS SUPPLEMENTED WITH VITAMIN B12 OR BIOTIN AND/ OR BILE ACIDS IN DIET

For 8 weeks feeding trial, two hundred and seventy, 53 weeks old laying hens were used to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of vitamin B12 or biotin and/or bile acids on performance, egg quality, fat digestibility and liver composition and histopathology. Birds were randomly divided into 6 groups (three replicates) and fed the experimental diets; group1 (G1) fed on the basal diet without additives as control while G2 and G3 supplemented with 0.02 ppm vitamin B12 and 0.3 mg biotin/kg diet respectively, groups 4-6 fed as the previous detailed design of G1- G3 with the addition of 400 g of dried bile acid (DBA) /tone feed. Biotin supplementation significantly (P˂0.05) increased body weight losses of laying hens, both vitamins significantly (P˂0.05) decreased daily feed intake (FI) and improved FCR. DBA addition alone or with biotin reduced these weight losses along with significant (P˂0.05) increase in daily FI. Vitamin B12 supplementation alone or with DBA increased average egg production (P˂0.05) while was reduced with biotin supplementation. Fat digestibility was non-significantly improved (P≥0.05) with both vitamins supplementation without or with DBA. Biotin significantly (P˂0.05) reduced the average yolk relative weight, which was increased when mixed with DBA, while significantly increased average egg albumin relative weight. Vitamin B12 or biotin addition without or with DBA non-significantly increased blood serum GOT and GPT activities, non-significantly reduced (P≥0.05) fat content of liver tissue (on dry matter or fresh basis) and serum lipid profile parameters except serum HDL concentration, was increased, with no histopathological changes in hepatic tissue. It could be summarized that vitamin B12 supplementation without or with DBA is recommended in layer diet as it gave the best performance, reduced serum lipid profile and improved fat digestibility and the hepatic health.Key words: layers; egg quality; liver; vitamin B12; biotin; bile acids

Association between alcohol consumption and dietary supplement intake of students from the University of Sarajevo

Introduction: Dietary supplements are an important source of vitamins and minerals that may help prevent several disease-causing biological pathways involved in one-carbon metabolism, including the suppression of cell proliferation, oxidative stress, nitric oxide synthesis, and angiogenesis. The present study aimed to assess the association between the intake of folate, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and minerals and the consumption of alcohol among university students.&#x0D; Methods: This study was participated by students aged 19-22 years from the University of Sarajevo between 2017 and 2018. Using a questionnaire, we interviewed in a week them to collect information regarding age, socio-economic status, alcohol consumption, and dietary supplement intake. Then, we investigated the association between the baseline intake of folate, B vitamins, and minerals and that of alcohol consumption.&#x0D; Results: Most students consumed Vitamin B supplements (32%) and folic acid (10%). Dietary multivitamins and minerals were less prevalent in more than a year, accounting for 186 (23.9%) and 174 (24.3%) students, respectively, than those in less than a year. In a year, &lt;20% of students consumed multivitamins 129 (16.6%) and minerals 116 (15.3%). Meanwhile, 256 (27.1%) students consumed alcohol. The Chi-square test of independence showed that drinking habits and the intake of such dietary supplements had no association (p &gt; 0.05).&#x0D; Conclusion: An extremely low percentage of the participating students in Canton Sarajevo used dietary supplements of Vitamin B, folate, multivitamins, and minerals. Moreover, alcohol consumption and dietary supplement intake were not associated. Further research is needed to establish the best cost-effective public health system to achieve a sufficient intake of dietary supplements.

The Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Vitamin E, Selenium, Zinc, Folic Acid, and N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Sperm Motility and Membrane Properties in Dogs.

Simple SummaryPractitioners look for specific treatments to solve sub-fertility, which nowadays represents a common challenge in canine reproduction. In human, as well as in veterinary medicine, several dietary protocols have been developed to relieve poor sperm concentration and function. They both are constraining factors of breeding programs. Particularly, food supplementation should include micronutrients and anti-oxidants in balanced amounts, exploiting their synergistic actions. Thus, the cumulative effect of vitamin E, selenium, zinc, folic acid, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on sperm motility and membrane properties was investigated in healthy normospermic dogs. Results of a 90-day-long supplementation period were compared to a control group, not receiving any dietary integration. The positive results obtained in healthy subjects on sperm motility and membrane properties lead us to consider the opportunity to further use the dietary strategy to improve seminal parameters in sub-fertile dogs, too, as reported for other species. Food supplementation and a balanced diet can be pointed out as cheap and safe alternatives within an innovative multimodal approach to improve reproductive performances in healthy dogs.Sub-fertility represents a common challenge in canine reproduction. Different protocols, supplementing daily given quantities of micronutrients, were investigated to improve poor sperm concentration and/or function, which represent breeding major constraining factors in the canine species. Little information is available for dogs concerning the effect of a daily supplementation with a complex of vitamin E, zinc, selenium, folic acid, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on semen quality. Thus, the present study investigated this effect on semen motility and sperm membrane properties. Serial semen analyses from fourteen healthy normospermic dogs, fed with the same commercial diet, were performed on Days 0 (T0), 30 (T30), 60 (T60), and 90 (T90). Seven dogs were randomly included in the treatment (T) group, receiving a supplementation of vitamin E, zinc, selenium, folic acid, n-3 PUFA; and seven other subjects composed the control (C) group. Total Sperm Count (TSC), Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) indexes, mortality, and functional membrane integrity were assessed. The ANOVA compared results between groups and sampling times (p < 0.05). From T60, the supplementation significantly improved TSC, progressive motility, functional membrane integrity, and decreased mortality. Present results lead us to consider ameliorative effects of a two-month healthy diet supplementation on canine spermatozoa. The positive effects of the described balanced integration of micronutrients on sperm motility and prevention of oxidative stress should be considered, especially when decreased seminal parameters may result from inadequate intake, reduced absorption, increased losses or demand, or to attenuate the impact of age.

Serum biochemical profile of two broiler strains supplemented with vitamin E, raw ginger (&lt;i&gt;Zingiber officinale&lt;/i&gt;) and L-carnitine under high ambient temperatures

In this study, the authors evaluated the comparative effects of dietary supplementation of ginger ( Zingiber officinale ), vitamin E and L-carnitine on certain blood parameters of two strains of broilers in summer. A total of 320 broiler chicks (Hubbard and Cobb) were divided into two groups. The two groups were subdivided into four subgroups with four replicates with 10 chicks per replicate. In each strain subgroup was kept as control while other subgroups were provided with ginger (2%), L-carnitine (500 mg/kg) or vitamin E (250 mg/kg) in the basal diet up to 42 days old. Supplementation of the diet with vitamin E, ginger and L-carnitine significantly decreased mean cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glucose, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein (LDL), and increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) and serum protein concentrations. The results of vitamin E were comparatively better than those of the other two feed additives. The blood biochemical parameters did not vary between the broiler strains. From the findings of the current study, it was concluded that high ambient temperature had a negative effect on broiler hepatic and lipid profiles, and the supplementation of diets with vitamin E, ginger and L-carnitine improved broiler blood biochemical parameters. Keywords: Cholesterol, glucose, liver health, antioxidants, heat stress

Dietary supplementation of vitamin C: an effective measure for protection against UV-B irradiation using fish as a model organism.

The development of UV-B protective mechanisms in aquacultural species is essential for the sustainable production of healthy aqua crop. Freshwater carp Catla catla larvae (13.5 ± 1.12 mg) were fed with a diet containing 0.5% vitamin C (D1) and a control diet (D2) for 40 days. Each group was exposed to two doses of UV-B irradiation: 360 (5 min, D15 min and D25 min) and 720 mJ cm-2 (10 min, D110 min and D210 min) for 15 days. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher survival and average weight were recorded in D1 compared to D2 exposed to the same dose. Also, significantly (p < 0.001) higher nitric oxide synthase and lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and heat shock protein 70 levels were recorded in D15 min compared to the other groups. A direct relationship was found between the dose of UV-B and DNA fragmentation in muscles. DNA damage indices such as tail DNA, tail extent moment and olive tail moment were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in D15 min. Thus, supplementation of vitamin C in the diet provides UV-B protection to larvae.

Single or combined effects of dietary supplemental vitamin C and ethanol extracts of propolis on productive traits, egg quality and some blood biochemical parameters of laying hens

ABSTRACT This 8-week study was conducted to determine the effects of adding ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) and vitamin C (VitC) to diet on performance, egg quality characteristics and blood biochemical of laying hens. A total number of 144 Lohmann LSL-Lite laying hens (59 weeks of age) were assigned to six experimental diets with four replicate cages and six hens per cage. Based on a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, 6 iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets consisting 3 levels of EEP (0, 150 and 300 mg/kg) and 2 levels of VitC (0 and 250 mg/kg) were fed. EEP and VitC had no significant effect on overall egg production, egg weight, abnormal egg and feed intake. Improved egg mass and feed conversion ratio were observed in the EEP group. Increased shell thickness was seen in birds fed the diets included 150 and 300 mg/kg EEP compared to the control. VitC decreased the blood level of glucose, but had no significant effect on performance and egg quality characteristics. Decreased serum triglycerides were observed in birds fed 300 mg EEP/kg. In conclusion, EEP could improve productive performance, shell thickness and decreased blood plasma triglycerides; besides, diet inclusion of VitC decreased serum level of glucose.

Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: an umbrella review.

The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and mortality in healthy adults or those at high risk of CVD. An umbrella review about primary prevention of non-pharmacological interventions was undertaken in key databases as PubMed Health, Effective Health Care Program AHRQ, McMaster University and the Cochrane Plus until July 2017. The primary outcomes were the relative risk of fatal and non-fatal CVD events, and mortality. Secondary outcomes were adverse events. Twenty-four reviews were included of which thirteen reported outcomes of interest. Four of these found a pooled statistically significant risk reduction: dietary supplements of vitamin D, increased consumption of omega 3 fatty acids, Qigong, and counselling or education to modify more than one cardiovascular risk factor. Seven studies reported adverse events but minor or insignificant with respect to the control group. Four non-pharmacological interventions have been shown to provide a statistically significant reduction in risk of CVD events or overall mortality, with minor adverse events if any. Further research should aim for higher methodological quality and longer follow-up of interventions to establish if these interventions, alone or in combination, translate into definite long-term health benefits.

BLOOD LEUKOCYTES AND MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS OF LYMPHOCYTES AT DIFFERENT DOSES OF VITAMINS A AND E IN AMERICAN MINKS (NEOVISON VISON)

The effect of dietary supplementation of vitamins A and E on total and differential leukocyte count as well as morphometric parameters of lymphocytes in peripheral blood of farmed dark-brown American mink ( Neovison vison , Mustelidae, Carnivora) was examined. The mink were characterized by a relatively high number of leukocytes in blood with predominance of neutrophils and a lower content of lymphocytes. The parameters of lymphocytes (surface area and nuclei area) in control and experimental animals were determined by computer morphometry. Lymphocytes in mink peripheral blood were shown to vary in both cell surface area and in nuclei surface area. Supplementation with vitamins A and E for 14 days had no significant effect on the number of leukocytes and differential leukocyte count, but changed the morphometric parameters of lymphocytes. Both vitamins caused an increase in the surface area of the cells, cytoplasm dimensions, and vitamin E in a dose of 4 mg / animal promoted the nuclei surface area. The increase in the average size of lymphocytes occurred due to a decrease in the proportion of the smallest cells and an increase in the number of medium and large cells. This dependency was the most explicit in the groups receiving vitamin E. It was concluded that in mink the immunomodulatory effects of vitamins A and E led to a change in the parameters of lymphocytes, and, possibly, their morphofunctional state.

The Benefits of Ultra-High-Performance Supercritical Fluid Chromatography in Determination of Lipophilic Vitamins in Dietary Supplements

Nine tocopherol derivatives including four tocopherols, four tocotrienols, and one esterified form of α-tocopherol acetate were analyzed using ultra-high-performance supercritical fluid chromatography (UHPSFC) with diode array detection. The separation was carried out on BEH 2-EP column using shallow gradient elution of 1–4% methanol and CO2 in 5 min. Complementary ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed using Ascentis Express F5 core–shell stationary phase and isocratic elution with 75% acetonitrile/methanol (1:1) and 25% water. This separation took 12 min that is the shortest liquid chromatography run in analysis of all tocopherol derivatives reported so far. However, our UHPSFC method resulted in more than two times faster analysis, and allowed direct injection of heptane solutions and extracts from liquid–liquid extraction. These features made UHPSFC a method of choice for subsequent analysis of dietary supplements containing different forms of vitamin E. Sample preparation methods were optimized for individual dosage forms of drops, capsules, tablets, and granulate.

Dietary supplemental vitamin D3 enhances phosphorus absorption and utilisation by regulating gene expression of related phosphate transporters in the small intestine of broilers.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary supplemental vitamin D3 (VD3) on P absorption and utilisation as well as its related mechanisms in the small intestine of broilers. A total of 384 1-d-old Arbor Acres male broilers were assigned randomly into four treatments following a completely randomised design with a 2 (dietary non-phytate P (NPP) contents: 0·43 and 0·22 %)×2 (dietary VD3 supplemental levels: 0 and 87·5 μg/kg) factorial arrangement. The experiment lasted for 22 d. The results showed that P contents in serum from the hepatic portal vein and tibia ash of broilers were higher (P&lt;0·05) for 0·43 % NPP than for 0·22 % NPP. The type IIb Na-dependent phosphate cotransporter (NaP-IIb) protein expressions in the duodenum and ileum were higher (P&lt;0·05) also for 0·43 % NPP than 0·22 % NPP. Supplementation of VD3 enhanced (P&lt;0·05) tibia P retention rate and type III Na-dependent phosphate cotransporter (PiT)-1 protein expression in the duodenum of all broilers. Moreover, VD3 supplementation decreased (P&lt;0·002) mortality and increased (P&lt;0·02) serum P content from the hepatic portal vein after 4 h of feeding, tibia ash content, tibia ash P content and protein expressions of NaP-IIb and PiT-1 in the jejunum of broilers fed diet with 0·22 % NPP. Thus, dietary supplemental VD3 promoted intestinal P absorption and bone P utilisation, and this effect might be associated with enhanced PiT-1 levels in the duodenum and PiT-1 and NaP-IIb levels in the jejunum respectively when dietary NPP is limiting.

Comparison of a grain-based diet supplemented with synthetic vitamin E versus a lucerne (alfalfa) hay-based diet fed to lambs in terms of carcass traits, muscle vitamin E, fatty acid content, lipid oxidation, and retail colour of meat

Dietary supplementation of vitamin E (VitE) in a synthetic or natural form was examined. Forty-eight lambs were assigned (n = 16) to either a grain-based diet at moderate (MOD, 42 mg∙kg−1 VitE as all-rac α-tocopheryl acetate) or supranutritional (SUP, 285 mg∙kg−1 of vitE) levels of synthetic VitE or a lucerne hay-based diet (LUC; 37 mg∙kg−1 VitE) for 8 weeks. Meat from the LUC group had lower muscle n-6 and PUFA levels compared to meat from the MOD and SUP groups. Despite a similar VitE intake, muscle VitE was higher for LUC compared to MOD, while SUP lambs showed the highest VitE. Lipid oxidation did not differ between groups. For fresh meat, redness tended to be higher in LUC fed lambs than the other two groups, but brownness formation was only lower than the SUP group. For aged meat colour stability, redness tended to be higher in lambs fed SUP and LUC, whereas highest browning occurred in the MOD group.

Dietary Sources of Vitamin D, Vitamin D Supplementation, and Its Bio-Viability

The focus of this paper is to review the data on the dietary sources of vitamin D, vitamin D supplementation and its bio-viability. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in human health. Low vitamin D levels (<75 nmol/l) have been reported worldwide in all age groups in recent years. Vitamin D deficiency is rising, mainly due to modern lifestyle and malabsorption disorders. There are two main sources of vitamin D; dietary source which includes food of animal and plant origin as well as dietary supplements and endogenous synthesis under the UVB radiation in the skin. Dietary sources rich in vitamin D are mainly fish oil, sea fish, eggs, and margarines fortified with vitamin D. As the adequate intake of vitamin D is hard to achieve through the diet alone, dietary supplements of vitamin D are recommended. However, there are different factors influencing the bioavailability of vitamin D and are explained within this review article. There is no universal consent on the amount and the frequency of vitamin D supplementation. Furthermore, there is still missing information for better understanding the vitamin D absorption, bioavailability, and metabolism in human. Conclusion – A brief mini review article on vitamin D summarizes the current knowledge about dietary sources of vitamin D, vitamin D supplements, and its bio-viability. The best source of vitamin D is in vivo synthesis in the skin under the UVB radiation. The main dietary sources of vitamin D includes food of animal and plant origin. Adequate intake of vitamin D through the diet alone is hard to achieve, therefore vitamin D supplementation is recommended.

The effects of the dietary supplementation of Echinacea purpurea extract and/or vitamin C on the intestinal histomorphology, phagocytic activity, and gene expression of the Nile tilapia

In this study, the influence of the dietary incorporation of Echinacea purpurea (EP) extract and/or vitamin C on the intestinal histomorphology and some immunological indices were tested in the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linn.). O. niloticus were randomly divided into four groups. The control group G1 was fed on a basal diet, while the G2 and G3 were fed on basal diets, supplemented with EP extract and vitamin C at the doses of 500 mg kg−1 and 400 mg kg−1, respectively. Meanwhile, G4 was fed on a basal diet, supplemented with a mixture of EP extract and vitamin C. After 28 days of feeding, the intestinal tissues were collected for histological observation and immune status, was based on an assay for measuring the phagocytic activity. Furthermore, the expression of the transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) genes was evaluated in intestine and head kidney. The results revealed that the G4 successfully surpassed the other groups in terms of the heights of intestinal villi, the number of goblet cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), and the phagocytic activity, followed by the G3 and G2. The expression of the IL-1β and TNF-α genes were up regulated only in G4 but in the G3 only the expression of the IL-1β gene was up regulated. Hence, EP extract along with vitamin C could be used as a feed additive in order to improve the structure of the intestinal mucosal epithelium and immune response in tilapia.

Dietary supplementation of vitamin D prevents the development of western diet-induced metabolic, hepatic and cardiovascular abnormalities in rats.

The western diet high in fat and fructose may cause metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases. To evaluate whether long-term daily vitamin D3 supplementation prevents hepatic steatosis and cardiovascular abnormalities and restores insulin sensitivity caused by fat diet in rats without vitamin D deficiency. Three groups of rats were fed for 6 months with standard diet (SD), western diet (WD) or WD containing 23 IU/day/rat vitamin D3, respectively. Tail-cuff systolic blood pressure (SBP)measurements in conscious rats and transthoracic echocardiography were performed in basal condition, and after 3 and 6 months of diet. Hepatic steatosis and myocardial fibrosis were assessed in liver and cardiac tissues using standard methods. Serum insulin and 25(OH)D3 concentrations were determined using rat-specific ELISA kits. Insulin resistance was determined according to the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) method. Sixty-one per cent of hepatocytes in WD rats had steatotic vacuoles compared with just 27% in rats on a WD plus vitamin D3 (p < 0.05).HOMA-IR was reduced in rats with vitamin D supplementation compared with WD alone (19.4 ± 5.2 vs 41.9 ± 8.9, p < 0.05). Rat blood pressure and left ventricular mass were both reduced by vitamin D3 supplementation. In animal models of liver and cardiovascular metabolic damage, the supplementation of vitamin D3 shows liver and cardio-protective effects.

A Novel Electrochemical Sensor for the Simultaneous Determination of Fat-Soluble Vitamins Using a Screen-Printed Graphene/Nafion Electrode

In this work, a novel electrochemical sensor was proposed for the simultaneous determination of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) using a screen-printed graphene/Nafion electrode (SPGNE). The scanning electron microscopy was used for morphological characterization of the electrode surface. The electrochemical behaviors of fat-soluble vitamins have been studied in a mixture of ethanol and sodium perchlorate monohydrate using square-wave voltammetry (SWV). The results obtained indicated that the oxidation peak of each fat-soluble vitamin appeared at different potentials leading to the possibility for the simultaneous detection. The influences of experimental parameters such as the effects of proportions of ethanol, potential increment, amplitude, frequency and quiet time were examined. Under the optimized conditions, the linearity between oxidative currents and concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins ranged from 0.1 μg mL-1 to 5 μg mL-1 for vitamin A, 0.08 μg mL-1 to 5 μg mL-1 for vitamin D and E, and 0.2 μg mL-1 to 1.6 μg mL-1 for total vitamin K, with the limits of detection of 0.018, 0.013, 0.012 and 0.004 μg mL-1, respectively. These developed sensors provide high sensitivity in detection and offer high potential to apply them for the simultaneous determination of fat-soluble vitamins in dietary supplements.

The detoxification effect of vitamin C on zearalenone toxicity in piglets

Zearalenone (ZEN), one of the more virulent mycotoxins occurred in various cereals and feed during recent decades and made serious health hazards to plants, animals and humans. Vitamin C (Vc) has been shown to be an effective antidote to zearalenone. In this paper, the effects of diets containing zearalenone on the growth performance, genital organ and immunoglobulin of weaning piglets and the toxicity alleviation of vitamin C were studied. Piglets were weaned at 21 days of age and 32 healthy female hybrid weaning piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large white) with a mean weight of 12.27 ± 0.30 kg were randomly selected. The thirty-two female weaning piglets were divided into four treatment groups according to body weight: control; basal diet + vitamin C (150 mg/kg); basal diet + 1.0 mg/kg ZEN; basal diet + 1 mg/kg ZEN+vitamin C (150 mg/kg). There were eight replicates in each group. The test period was twenty-eight days. The results demonstrated that dietary zearalenone could significantly increase the length, width and area of vulva (P < 0.05), the genital organ coefficient (P < 0.05), the level of IgA, IgG and IgM (P < 0.05), the level of BUN, CRE, AST and TBIL (P < 0.05), and significantly decrease the level of E2, PROG, LH and FSH (P < 0.05). However, the addition of 150 mg/kg vitamin C to dietary zearalenone prevented deformities in the vulva, decrease in immune response capacity, changes in serum biochemical indicators and disorders in hormones level of the piglets that received the diet containing only zearalenone. In conclusion, feeding ZEN of 1.0 mg/kg can result in a deleterious effect on piglets, which was totally or partly ameliorated by dietary supplementation of vitamin C at concentrations about 150 mg/kg diet. This study systematically investigated the inhibition mechanism of vitamin C on ZEN-induced reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity and hematological toxicity of piglets, and which provided new ideas for reducing the harm of mycotoxins to the animals through means of nutrition regulation.