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1Faculté de Médecine, Université de Batna, Boulevard Chahid Boukhlouf, 05000 Batna, Algeria
2 L.B.S.O., Laboratoire de Biochimie, UFR de Médecine-Pharmacie,
Avenue des Maquis du Grésivaudan, 38700 La Tronche, France
3Unité de Recherche, INES. SM de Constantine, Chalet des
pins, BP 125-25000, Constantine, Algeria
Summary
Vitamins A and E are essential for foetal growth, reproduction, and lactation. In this article we report the results of a study, lead in three Eastern Algeria cities, that involved 786 post-partum women and 250 control. Plasma levels of vitamins A, E, b-carotene, and some nutritional indexes were measured in both groups. In control women, plasma retinol and b-carotene levels were significantly lower in Algeria than in France (retinol: 1.4 ± 0.42 vs. 1.78 ± 0.53 mmol/l; b-carotene: 0.35 ± 0.261 vs. 0.94 ± 0.611). These differences could be the consequence of different b-carotene and retinol intakes. In Algeria, comparisons between post-partum women and controls, showed that plasma vitamin A and b-carotene levels were significantly lower in post-partum than in control women. This fact, and the lower level of retinol in control women, raises the question of supplementation for pregnant women in Algeria, at least for those with the lowest standard of living whose protein and zinc levels are also very low after delivery. Plasma vitamin E levels and vitamin E/total lipid ratios were not different in Algeria and in France. Vitamin E concentration was higher during pregnancy, but the vitamin E/total lipid ratio was significantly lower, which shows a relative deficiency at the end of pregnancy. Comparisons of plasma vitamin E levels, at delivery, in primiparous and in multiparous women reveal a better tocopherol status in multiparous women. This difference could reflect an adaptive response to oxidative stress in multiparous women.
Key words
Vitamin A, vitamin E, b-carotene, Algeria, post-partum
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 69, 1999, Heft 4 © Verlag Hans Huber AG, Bern
1Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INYTA),
Department of Physiology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
2Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of
Ancona, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Summary
Abstract: Physical exercise induces oxidative stress. Dietary fat modulates lipid composition of plasma and fatty acid profile of mitochondrial membranes. Over 8 wk, two groups of rats were fed virgin olive oil or sunflower oil as the only fat sources. Both groups were divided into 4 subgroups according to exercise: one of sedentary rats and the other three of rats subjected to different exercises on a treadmill. There was a lower concentration of vitamin A and coenzyme Q in the plasma of animals subjected to exercise compared to the sedentary animals. The concentrations of these molecules in liver and skeletal muscle mitochondria of animals exercised until exhaustion were higher than in sedentary animals. This can suggest the existence of a balance between plasma and mitochondrial membrane for these antioxidants as a response to an oxidative attack.
Key words
Coenzyme Q, vitamin A, virgin olive oil, sunflower oil, mitochondria, lipid peroxidation, rat, liver, skeletal muscle
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 69, 1999, Heft 4, © Verlag Hans Huber AG, Bern
Division of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Summary
Administration of streptozotocin is used to induce diabetes in experimental models, causing a selective destruction of pancreatic b islet cells associated with generation of free radicals. Supplementation with antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin E is a protective factor against free radicals. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of administration of a diet supplemented with, or deficient in vitamin E to streptozotocin diabetic rats, controlled or not with insulin, on plasma glucose, hepatic vitamin E and hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels before streptozotocin and 24 hours and one and two weeks after drug administration. Deficiency of vitamin E alone increased TBARS levels, and streptozotocin elevated TBARS two times in deficient groups, regardless of insulin control. In rats supplemented with vitamin E, a reduction of plasma glucose and liver vitamin E was observed two weeks after streptozotocin administration (p < 0.05). In conclusion, vitamin E supplementation probably protected against lipoperoxidation and contributed to the absence of elevation of plasma glucose levels, and vitamin E deficiency produced an increase in hepatic TBARS levels in streptozotocin diabetic rats.
Key words
Free radicals, vitamin E, diabetes, supplementation, TBARS, antioxidants
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 69, 1999, Heft 4, © Verlag Hans Huber AG, Bern
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Vitamins and Fine Chemicals Divisions, Research and Development, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
Summary
The potential of the antioxidant vitamin E to modulate the progress of the SLE-like (systemic lupus erythematosus) autoimmune disease in MRL/MP-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice is described. Mice were orally supplemented with 0.4 mg vitamin E per day 5 times per week from week 8 of age onwards and compared with mice on a commercial or a vitamin E-deficient diet. Supplementation with vitamin E extended the mean survival time from 157 to 196 days; the massive spleen and lymph node enlargements were reduced; mitogenic responses of B and T cells were normalized; the abnormal differentiation patterns of thymic and splenic cell subpopulations were changed; titers of anti-double stranded DNA antibodies, concentrations of serum amyloid P component (SAP, an acute phase protein), and proteinuria were reduced. The results indicate that vitamin E beneficially affects the development of the SLE-like disease in MRL/lpr mice suggesting a possible measure to reduce human SLE and probably various other autoimmune diseases in humans as well.
Key words
MRL/lpr mice, systemic lupus erythematosus, vitamin E, immune response
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 69, 1999, Heft 4, © Verlag Hans Huber AG, Bern
1Nutritional Sciences, Department of Food Science and Technology, University College, Cork, Ireland
2Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Hospital, Cork, Ireland
Summary
The concentrations of tocopherols and carotenoids are lowered in umbilical cord blood plasma, which may have a negative effect on antioxidant protection in neonates. Smoking may adversely affect dietary intakes and plasma concentrations of carotenoids. The dietary intakes of vitamin E and b-carotene were assessed in 66 pregnant women (31 smokers and 35 non-smokers) between 10 and 20 weeks gestation using a food frequency questionnaire. The concentrations of a-tocopherol and b-carotene were measured in maternal plasma at the time of the dietary assessment, and in the matched umbilical cords of their newborn after delivery. In smoking and non-smoking mothers, the mean intakes of vitamin E (9.3 [SD 5] and 8.2 [SD 5] mgd-1) and b-carotene (3464 [SD 1885] and 2977 [SD 1503] mgd-1) were not significantly different. The plasma concentrations of a-tocopherol (20.8 [SD 4] and 20.5 [SD 4] mmolL-1), the a-tocopherol to lipid ratios (3.2 [SD 0.8] and 3.5 [SD 0.8]) and the plasma concentrations of b-carotene (0.22 [SD 0.1] and 0.22 [SD 0.1] mmolL-1) were not significantly different in smoking and non-smoking mothers. There were no significant differences in plasma a-tocopherol (7.4 [SD 2] and 7.3 [SD 2] mmolL-1), in a-tocopherol to lipid ratios (3.2 [SD 0.6] and 2.8 [SD 0.6]) or in b-carotene concentrations (0.05 [SD 0.04] and 0.03 [SD 0.02] mmolL-1) in cords from newborns of smoking and non-smoking mothers. There was a significant correlation (r = 0.41, P = 0.015) between dietary intakes and plasma concentrations of b-carotene in non-smoking mothers. However, this relationship was not significant in smoking mothers (r = 0.28, P = 0.12). There were no relationships between dietary intakes and plasma concentrations of tocopherol. These results indicate that smoking during pregnancy does not appear to affect the dietary intakes or plasma concentrations of a-tocopherol and b-carotene in pregnant women or their babies. However, smoking does influence the relationship between dietary intakes and plasma levels of b-carotene.
Key words
Vitamin E, b-carotene, cord plasma levels, maternal dietary intakes, smoking
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 69, 1999, Heft 4, © Verlag Hans Huber AG, Bern
1 Vitamins and Fine Chemicals, Human Nutrition and Health and 2 Pharma Research, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
Summary
The urinary metabolic pattern after administration of the radiolabeled non-provitamin A carotenoid canthaxanthin was investigated in rats. In the rather complex HPLC urinary metabolic pattern a fraction was found which was conjugated. Deconjugation of the polar conjugates with glusulase, purification of the metabolite with HPLC and identification with GC-MS and NMR revealed that it was 3-hydroxy-4-oxo-7,8-dihydro-beta-ionone. This structure was confirmed by comparisons with HPLC retention times, UV/VIS- and NMR-spectroscopy and GC-MS of the synthesized compound.
Key words
Carotenoids, canthaxanthin, metabolism, urinary metabolite, rat
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 69, 1999, Heft 4, © Verlag Hans Huber AG, Bern
* Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.152, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
Summary
Summary: The hypothesis tested was that a high intake of potassium (K) interferes with cobalt (Co)-vitamin B12 metabolism in ruminants. Ouessant sheep were fed either a low- (8 g K/kg dry matter) or high-K diet (43 g K/kg dry matter) with an adequate amount of Co (124 mg Co/kg dry matter). Plasma vitamin B12 concentrations were measured. Sheep fed a low-K diet, but containing only 70 mg Co/kg dry matter, served as positive controls. Feeding the low-Co ration produced a significant decrease in plasma vitamin B12 concentrations. The high- versus low-K ration induced a significant decrease in plasma vitamin B12 during the first 6 weeks, but thereafter the values in the high-K group rose to those seen in the low-K group. The mechanism by which dietary K may interact with Co-vitamin B12 metabolism in sheep is unknown.
Key words
Cobalt, potassium, vitamin B12, sheep
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 69, 1999, Heft 4, © Verlag Hans Huber AG, Bern
1 Centre for Human Nutrition, The University
of Sheffield, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU
2 Division of Child Health, The University of Sheffield,
Sheffield Children's Hospital, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TH
3 Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University Kebangsaan
Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Summary
A cross-sectional nutritional survey was carried out on 350 elderly Malays aged 60 and above from 11 randomly selected villages in a rural area on the East Coast of Malaysia. The findings indicated that the mean intakes of energy and all of the nutrients investigated were below the Malaysian Recommended Dietary Allowances, excepts for protein and vitamin C. Nutrients most likely to be inadequate were vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and calcium, with more than 50% of the subjects having estimated intakes of below 23 of the recommendations. However, vitamin A status was adequate, with only 2 subjects being biochemically deficient (plasma retinol < 0.7 mmol/l). Approximately a third of the subjects had hypoalbuminaemia (plasma albumin < 3.3 g/dl) and anaemia (Haemoglobin < 12 g/dl for men; < 13 g/dl for women). Riboflavin deficiency, as assessed by an erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation coefficient (EGRAC) of more than 1.35 was identified in 77% of the subjects. The prevalence of vitamin E deficiency (plasma a-tocopherol < 12 mmol/l) was 27%, with men being at a greater risk. In conclusion, the dietary intakes of these rural elderly Malays was inadequate. Over three quarters of the sample were biochemically deficient in riboflavin, the functional consequences of which need to be further investigated.
Key words
Elderly people, nutritional status, dietary intake, biochemical indicators
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 69, 1999, Heft 4, © Verlag Hans Huber AG, Bern
Research Institute of Child Nutrition, Heinstück 11, 44225 Dortmund, Germany
Summary
Infants and young children are a vulnerable group with regard to nutrition. However, there is a lack of information about the dietary composition of healthy German infants and children. Therefore, the intake of vitamins (A, C, E, B1, B2, B6, folate, niacin) was assessed in 354 healthy German infants and children aged 3 to 36 months from 3-day-weighed diet records and compared with German, European and US reference values. Intake of all B-vitamins (B1, B2, B6, folate, niacin) increased during the first 3 years of life, whereas intake of vitamin E decreased. Intake of vitamin A and C varied between age groups. The highest levels of the nutrient densities of most vitamins were found at the end of the first year of life. Depending on the reference values chosen, the vitamin supply of the study population ranged between sufficient and very good. The reported satisfactory intake of vitamins in infants and young children in this study gives rise to the question of whether the current extent of fortification of commercial infant food in Germany is necessary.
Key words
Infants, young children, nutrition survey, vitamin intake
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 69, 1999, Heft 4, © Verlag Hans Huber AG, Bern
Growth Biology Laboratory, Livestock and Poultry Science Institute, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
Summary
Male, Indian River, broiler chickens growing from 7 to 28 d were fed on diets containing 180 g crude protein, 300, 600 or 1200 kcal fat calories and 0 or 1 mg T3/kg diet. Birds were bled and sacrificed at d 28, 29 and 30. Measurements taken at these intervals included in vitro lipogenesis (IVL), growth and feed consumption and hepatic enzyme activities. Plasma metabolites as well as thyroid hormones were also determined. Dietary fat levels did not influence growth or feed intake. In contrast, T3 decreased growth and feed intake by 25% without altering the efficiency of feed utilization. Dietary T3 and additional fat decreased IVL and lipogenic enzyme activities. Dietary T3 increased plasma T3 and decreased plasma T4. Dietary fat energy levels had no effect upon plasma thyroid hormone levels. Although both additional dietary fat and T3 modify broiler lipid metabolism, there was no additional treatment effect when high-fat diets were supplemented with T3. In contrast to previous reports, T3 did not increase any parameter associated with lipid metabolism.
Key words
Chickens, dietary fat, thyroid
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, Band 69, 1999, Heft 4, © Verlag Hans Huber AG, Bern