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1 Institut für
Ernährungswissenschaften, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Wien
2 Universitätsklinik für Kinder- und
Jugendheilkunde, Währinger Gürtel 18 - 20, 1090 Wien
Summary
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of oral b-carotene supplementation for the correction of an oxidant-antioxidant imbalance in cystic fibrosis (CF). We studied 24 patients with cystic fibrosis and 14 healthy controls. 13 CF-patients were allocated to a CF-supplementation group, which received 1 mg b-carotene/kg BW/d up to a body weight (BW) of 50 kg, patients with a BW greater 50 kg received 50 mg b-carotene/d for 12 weeks. For the following 12 weeks all patients of the CF-supplementation group were treated with 10 mg b-carotene/d. Placebos with starch were applied to 11 CF-patients. Baseline plasma b-carotene concentrations of CF patients (mean ± SD, 0.08 ± 0.04 mmol/l) were significantly lower than those of age-matched controls (0.3 ± 0.1 mmol/l) (p < 0.001). b-carotene concentrations of the CF-supplementation group increased rapidly and reached a value of 0.6 mmol/l after 12 weeks of supplementation. Normal values were measured for plasma ascorbate and a-tocopherol. Plasma retinol concentrations were in the lower normal range and did not increase during supplementation. Total antioxidative capacity in plasma of the CF-supplementation group increased after 12 weeks of supplementation at an extent of 12%. Positive influence was indicated by a decrease of plasma malondialdehyde. Thus oral b-carotene supplementation is effective in normalizing status of b-carotene and malondialdehyde in CF patients.
Keywords
b-carotene, Cystic fibrosis, Oral supplementation, Lipid peroxidation. Total antioxidative capacity. Malondialdehyde, Tocopherols, Retinol
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 68, 1998, Heft 2, © Verlag Hans Huber, Bern
The Ohio State University, School of Natural Resources, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
Summary
In scurvy-prone animals ascorbic acid uptake is regulated by the number of intestinal "brush-border" carriers available for transport. The number of carriers is negatively affected by an increasing dietary ascorbic acid intake, thus limiting the maximum attainable uptake. We tested a new approach towards manipulating the accumulation of ascorbic acid in rainbow trout by repeatedly feeding a 10 day ascorbic acid allowance in a 1 or 3 day "pulse" followed by withdrawal, rather than spread out over the entire 10 day period. Pulse dosing led to initially increased mortalities compared to continuous dosing, but this was reversed after 55 days. Although individual weight and cumulative mortality were not significantly different after 88 days, total liver ascorbic acid levels were significantly higher in the 1-day pulse group (16.3±3.9 mg/g) than in the 3-day pulse (9.8±0.9 mg/g) or continuous (9.3±0.9 mg/g) groups. This led us to conclude that after an initial adaptation phase a feeding profile with intermittent ascorbic acid withdrawal results in a compensatory increase in uptake of ascorbic acid from the diet and/or a better conservation of the body pool of ascorbic acid, opening interesting new avenues for ascorbic acid dosing and therapy.
Keywords
Vitamin C, Ascorbyl monophosphate, Salmonid, Aquaculture, Water soluble vitamin
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 68, 1998, Heft 2, © Verlag Hans Huber, Bern
1 Department of Nutrition, Faculty of
Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156,
Japan
2 Faculty of Education, Okayama University, Tsushimanaka,
Okayama 700, Japan
3 Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of
Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya-ku,
Tokyo 156, Japan
4 Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University of
Medicine, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo 124, Japan
Summary
As a clue to clarifying the role of vitamin B12 (B12) in the function of the complement system, serum C3 content was determined in B12-deficient rats, and the effect of the administration of methylcobalamin (CH3-B12) on the serum C3 content was also studied. It was found that the serum C3 content in rats fed on a vitamin B12-deficient diet for 90 and 120 days significantly decreased compared with that in control rats. The administration of CH3-B12 restored the serum C3 content to control levels. The above results indicate that B12-deficiency depressed the serum C3 content and lowered humoral immunocompetence, and that these changes were ascribable to B12-deficiency.
Keywords
Vitamin B12-deficiency, Serum C3
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 68, 1998, Heft 2, © Verlag Hans Huber, Bern
Institute of Nutritional Science, Dept. of Pathophysiology of Human Nutrition, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Summary
Elevated plasma homocysteine levels are a risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. Elevated fasting plasma homocysteine concentrations can be reduced by vitamin supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, but the effect of nutritive amounts of single vitamins on homocysteine plasma levels within the normal range is not known. This study was performed to investigate the effect of folic acid supplementation (400 mg/d) on fasting plasma homocysteine levels in healthy young women, in comparison to vitamin B6 (2 mg/d) or a combination of both vitamins. Healthy young women with normal homocysteine levels were supplemented for four weeks either with folic acid, vitamin B6 or the combination. The combination of folic acid and vitamin B6 reduced plasma homocysteine by 17%. Supplementation with folic acid reduced plasma homocysteine levels by 11.5%. The effect of folic acid and vitamin B6 was not significantly different from the effect of folic acid alone. Vitamin B6 had no effect on plasma homocysteine concentrations. Results show that homocysteine levels within the normal range are lowered by low-dose vitamin supplementation including folic acid.
Keywords
Homocysteine, Folic acid, Vitamin B6, Vitamin supplementation
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 68, 1998, Heft 2, © Verlag Hans Huber, Bern
School of Pharmacy, Kobe Gakuin University, Nishi-ku, Kobe 651-21, Japan
Summary
NAD+ biosynthesis from tryptophan in the presence of nicotinic acid or vice versa by rat hepatocytes was investigated. In the control hepatocytes, NAD+ synthesis from tryptophan was not affected by nicotinic acid from 0.026 to 0.26 mM. NAD+ synthesis from nicotinic acid was slightly inhibited with varying concentrations of tryptophan from 0.1 to 1.0 mM. In the clofibrate-treated hepatocytes, NAD+ synthesis from tryptophan was greatly increased (234% of the control), while that from nicotinic acid was decreased (71.2% of the control). Both, NAD+ synthesis from tryptophan and that from nicotinic acid were decreased by the coexisting nicotinic acid or tryptophan. Total amount of NAD+ synthesized from tryptophan and nicotinic acid at their physiological concentrations was significantly higher than that in the control hepatocytes as a result of a large increase of NAD+ synthesized from tryptophan. When the metabolic flux of 0.1 or 0.5 mM tryptophan was investigated, the glutarate pathway was suppressed in the clofibrate-treated hepatocytes, the quinolinic acid-NAD+ flux being elevated. Similarly to clofibrate, DEHP and CPP revealed an increase in NAD+ synthesis from tryptophan. Mutual relationship of NAD+ biosyntheses from tryptophan and nicotinic acid in rat hepatocytes is discussed and the relevance with peroxisomal proliferation is suggested.
Keywords
Hepatocytes, NAD+ biosynthesis, Tryptophan, Nicotinic acid, Metabolic flux of Trp, Peroxisome-proliferators
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 68, 1998, Heft 2, © Verlag Hans Huber, Bern
1 Tishcon Corp., Westbury, NY 11590
2 Biosytes (USA), Tenafly, NJ 07670
3 The New England Heart Center, Manchester, CT 06040
4 Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., Nutley, NJ 07110
Summary
The relative bioavailability of typical commercially available forms of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) was compared with that of Q-Gel, a new solubilized form of CoQ10, in human subjects in two separate trials. In the first, standard softgel capsules containing CoQ10 suspension in oil, powder-filled hardshell capsules and powder-based tablets were tested along with Q-Gel using a daily dosage of 120 mg for three weeks. The baseline plasma CoQ10 values were all very tight (0.50 - 0.52 mg/mL) and after three weeks the values were 1.37, 1.63 and 1.60 mg/mL for the first three products and 3.31 mg/mL for Q-Gel. The relative bioavailability calculated using the areas under the plasma CoQ10 curve (AUC) were (mg/mL ¥ time in days) 7.16 (100%), 8.97 (125%), 9.19 (128%) and for Q-Gel 22.86 (319%). The second trial, carried out to replicate the findings in the first, employed only two groups, namely the standard softgel capsules containing the suspension and Q-Gel, and the duration was extended to four weeks. Plasma CoQ10 values were: baseline 0.40 and 0.38 and after four weeks 1.26 and 2.80; the corresponding AUCs were: 8.33 (100%) and 22.75 (273%). Thus, the data from both the trials show that Q-Gel, the new solubilized form of CoQ10, is vastly superior to typical commercially available preparations of CoQ10. This means much lower doses of Q-Gel will be required to rapidly reach and maintain adequate blood CoQ10 values than with any of the other currently available products.
Keywords
Coenzyme Q10, Ubiquinone-50. Bioavailability. Absorption, Humans, Softgels, Capsules, Tablets, Dosage forms
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 68, 1998, Heft 2, © Verlag Hans Huber, Bern
1 Department of Food and Nutrition
and
2 Department of Microbiology, University of Ulsan, Ulsan
680-749, Korea
3 Institute of Human Environmental Life Science,
Ochanomizu University, Tokyo 112, Japan, and
4 Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of
Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616-8643, USA
Summary
Capsaicin (CAP) is the spicy principle of hot peppers that has been used as a food additive, preservative, and medicine. In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary CAP on immune status and selected immune responses. BALB/c mice were divided into 5 groups and fed diets with either 0, 5, 20, 50 or 100 ppm CAP for 3 weeks. The parameters measured with lymphocytes included mitogen-induced proliferation, plaque-forming cell number, and total serum immunoglobulin levels. In spleen cells of mice fed 20 ppm CAP there was a greater T-cell mitogen induced, lymphocyte proliferative response. In addition, the number of antibody-producing B cells and serum IgG and IgM levels increased in mice fed 20 ppm CAP as compared to the control with no CAP. The effect of dietary CAP on macrophage activity was assessed by phagocytosis and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFa) production. Dietary CAP had no effect on phagocytic activity by peritoneal macrophages, but the levels of secreted TNFa increased in the groups fed 20 ppm CAP compared to the control. These results suggest that dietary CAP may differentially enhance immune status as well as select immune functions. That is in contrast with previous studies that show immunosuppression observed after CAP injection.
Keywords
Capsaicin, Hot pepper, Immune response, Tumor necrosis factor
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 68, 1998, Heft 2, © Verlag Hans Huber, Bern
1 Human Nutrition Unit, Faculty of
Medicine and Health Sciences, Rovira i Virgili University
2 Research Department, Pharmaceutical-Chemistry BAYER SA
(Barcelona)
Summary
Objective: The aim of this study was to observe whether the act of participation in a well-controlled clinical trial can, co-incidentally, modify the dyslipaemic patient's adherence to his/her diet. Design and Subject: Food diaries of 55 men and 51 women (aged 47.4 ± 10.6 and 55.8 ± 12.1 years respectively) were analyzed at the beginning and the end of the double-blind stage of treatment (12 weeks). Statistics: Variance analysis and multi-variant analysis with repeated data by SPSS/PC statistical package. Results: In neither sex were there any statistically significant differences between the start and end of the study with respect to the intake of energy, proteins, total lipids, carbohydrates, saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol, fibre and alcohol. Conclusions: Although in individual cases some changes in dietary awareness can occur, on a larger scale, the hypocholesterolaemic intervention trial induced no significant overall changes in the participants dietary/lifestyle patterns and, as such, augurs well for other such trials in which the effect of the therapy may sometimes be confounded by changes in the patients' life-style patterns coincidental to the act of participation in the trial.
Keywords
Dietary assessment, Hypercholesterolaemia, Clinical trial, Food diaries
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 68, 1998, Heft 2, © Verlag Hans Huber, Bern
1 Departamento de Nutrición,
Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040-Madrid
(España)
2 Laboratorio de Técnicas Instrumentales, Facultad
de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040-Madrid
(España)
3 Departamento de Higiene Alimentaria. Exmo. Ayuntamiento
de Madrid, c/Mayor 83, 28013-Madrid (España)
Summary
The aim of the present study was to analyse the differences between the breakfast habits of obese/overweight (O) (those with body mass index [BMI] above the 75th percentile) and normal weight schoolchildren (N) (those with BMI equal to or below the 75th percentile). A seven consecutive days "food record" was used to record the intake of foods at breakfast and throughout the rest of the day. O subjects, and in particular female O subjects, omitted breakfast more frequently and took significantly smaller quantities of cereals than did N subjects. The energy supplied by breakfast, measured as a percentage of energy expenditure, was significantly lower in O subjects (17.0 ± 8.5% in males and 14.6 ± 6.1% in females) than in N subjects (20.9 ± 9.4% in males and 17.6 ± 6.5% in females). With respect to the energy and nutrients supplied by breakfast, O subjects took lower quantities of carbohydrates, thiamin, niacin, pyridoxine, vitamin D and iron than did N subjects. The energy profiles of O subject breakfasts were more imbalanced than those of N subjects. A significant difference was seen between the amounts of energy supplied by carbohydrates. Without doubt, O subjects have less satisfactory breakfast habits than N subjects. This might be a reflection of a whole diet that is less adequate, however, it is possible that an inadequate breakfast contributes to the making of poor food choices over the rest of the day, and, in the long term, to an increased risk of obesity.
Keywords
Breakfast, Schoolchildren, Overweight, Obesity, Normal weight, Energy profiles of breakfasts
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 68, 1998, Heft 2, © Verlag Hans Huber, Bern
1 Institute of Public Health, Zagreb,
Mirogojska 16, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
2 Clinical Institute of Laboratory Diagnosis, School of
Medicine, University of Zagreb, Kispaticeva 12, 10000 Zagreb,
Croatia
3 UNDP/UNFPA/who/World Bank Special Programme of Research,
Development and Training in Human Reproduction, World Health
Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
4 F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Human Nutrition Research, CH-4070
Basel, Switzerland
5 Medical Center Tresnjevka, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Summary
The effects of vitamin supplementation on the age-related decline in immune function was studied in a population of elderly subjects with a high prevalence of low and deficient serum values of vitamin C, vitamin E, riboflavin and pyridoxin, as well as iron and zinc. The immune function was examined by measuring delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) after intradermal application of a set of 7 antigens in 72 subjects aged 60 - 89 years living in two homes for the elderly. The results showed an almost linear statistically significant decline in the DCH test with age (p < 0.01). Vitamin supplementation for a period of 10 weeks significantly improved the biochemical parameters for those vitamins and the age related decline in the DCH test was no longer statistically significant (P > 0.05). No statistically significant changes in DCH were observed in the placebo group. The results of this study suggest that nutrition may be an important determinant of immunocompetence in the elderly.
Keywords
Ageing, Nutritional status, Vitamin deficiency, Immune function, Vitamin supplementation
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 68, 1998, Heft 2, © Verlag Hans Huber, Bern
Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College Medical School, St. James' Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
Summary
Fasting serum folate levels are commonly used in assessing folate status and also in estimating the bioavailability of synthetic folic acid and food folate. Previous work has shown that serum folate more than doubles in concentration during a 48 hour fast. Following a 24-hour standardisation procedure, serum and urinary folate levels were measured in nine healthy female volunteers fasting for 36 hours and in the first 6 hours during refeeding. Serum folate concentration increased from a mean of 14.8 ng/ml to 29.3 ng/ml during the 36 hour fast and fell to 22.1 ng/ml during the 6 hour refeeding period. The rise in serum folate concentration during the fast was negatively related to serum folate concentration at 0 hours fasting. It is hypothesised that the enterohepatic recirculation of folate plays an important role in the underlying physiological mechanism. These findings highlight the need to standardise energy intake to control for hepatic influences on folate metabolism in future studies assessing the bioavailability of folate in food.
Keywords
Serum folate, Fasting, Enterohepatic recirculation
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 68, 1998, Heft 2, © Verlag Hans Huber, Bern
1 National Food Research Institute,
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2-1-2, Kannondai,
Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305 Japan
2 Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of
Agriculture, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan 113
Summary
The effects of b-sitosterol on liver ultrastructure were studied using young and aged male mice. Both groups of mice were fed a b-sitosterol or a control diet. The b-sitosterol diet contained 1% b-sitosterol. Ultrastructural differences in the liver cells were evident between two groups fed the two diets. The number of peroxisomes was significantly greater in the liver cells of both young and aged mice fed the b-sitosterol diet than in those fed the control diet. There were also significant differences in the maximum length of lipid droplets between the young and aged mice fed the b-sitosterol diet. These results suggest that b-sitosterol affects liver ultrastructure, and that some ultrastructural differences in liver cells exist between young and aged mice fed the b-sitosterol diets.
Keywords
Young mouse, Aged mouse, Ultrastructure, b-Sitosterol, Liver
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 68, 1998, Heft 2, © Verlag Hans Huber, Bern
1 Institute of Nutrition and Food Science
and
2 Agriculture Industry Institute, University of Perugia,
S. Costanzo, 06100 Perugia, Italy
Summary
Gustatory and food habit changes during the menstrual cycle were
studied in 8 women, 6 smokers and 2 non-smokers, aged 23 - 37 years.
The following parameters were evaluated during three consecutive
menstrual cycles: blood oestradiol and progesterone levels on the
7th, 14th and 21st day of each cycle (radioimmunoassay); detection
and recognition thresholds and concentration preferences for sucrose,
sodium chloride, citric acid and quinine sulphate on the 1st, 7th,
14th and 21st day of each cycle; food consumption (weighed record) on
days 1 and 2, 6 - 8, 13 - 15 and 20 - 22 of each cycle.
The four basic tastes were influenced differently by blood hormone
levels during the menstrual cycle. Sensitivity to sweet taste
increased with an increase of oestradiol, while sensitivity to bitter
taste increased with an increase of progesterone. No correlations
between hormone levels and acid taste, and only a few correlations
for salt taste were found.
Food habits changed during the cycle particularly for meat and fruit.
Vegetables and cereals showed only a tendency to vary.
In correspondence with the highest oestradiol values there was a
tendency towards lower energy intake, - 122 kcal ( - 0.51 MJ) = 8%,
predominantly provided by carbohydrates (as bread).
Keywords
Gustatory function, Menstrual cycle, Food habits
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 68, 1998, Heft 2, © Verlag Hans Huber, Bern