Effects of high and low doses of vitamins A and E on the excitability of frog cardiomyocytes

The effects of complex vitamins A and E on electrophysiological characteristics was investigated on frog cardiomyocytes. Large doses of vitamins A and E decreased the steepness of the action potential (AP) front, decreased the spike amplitude, shortened the plateau, decreased the steepness in the last phase of AP-repolarization, and decreased the rest potential level but considerably increased overshoot. The Ap-duration decreased noticeably. Small doses of vitamins decreased the spike amplitude, shortened the plateau, decreased the Ap-duration. We assume that complex of vitamins A and E can affect the cardiomyocyte membrane transport function, mainly due to the suppression of the slow membrane channels. The AP-front increase is less steep under the influence of vitamins. It is shown that the 0-phase depolarization speed decreases due to the inhibition of sodium channels.     

The influence of B-group vitamins on monooxygenase activity of cytochrome P450 3A4: Pharmacokinetics and electro analysis of the catalytic properties

Simultaneous administration of loading doses of B-group vitamins and diclofenac allow to decrease the daily dose of this drug without reduction of its analgesic effect. In all three schemes of the diclofenac intake (diclofenac alone, diclofenac plus 2 tablets of Gitagamp (a mixture of B-group vitamins), and diclofenac plus 4 tablets of Gitagamp—maximal concentration of blood diclofenal (C_max) was observed 1 h after the treatment. In the case of diclofenac treatment alone, with 2 tablets of Gitagamp, and with 4 tablets of Gitagamp C_max values were 1137.2 ± 82.4, 1326.7 ± 122.5 and 2200.4 ± 111.3 ng/mL, respectively. Thus, loading doses of B-group vitamins caused a statistically significant effect on the C_max value of blood diclofenac concentration; they also reduced manifestations of the pain syndrome. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics data were confirmed in electrochemical studies of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) activity. This enzyme was immobilized onto screen printed graphite electrodes modified with gold nanoparticles and synthetic membrane-like compound didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB/Au). Electrochemical analysis revealed the influence of B-group vitamins on metabolism of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac catalyzed by cytochrome P450 3A4. Comparative analysis of the effect of 300 μM vitamins of the B-group (B₁, B₂, and B₆) demonstrated that riboflavin was the most effective inhibitor of diclofenac hydroxylation catalyzed by CYP3A4. These data support possibility of regulation of pharmacokinetic parameters and manifestation of pharmacodynamic effects by loading doses of B-group vitamins, which regulate the catalytic activity of drug metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome P450 3A4.     

Preimplantation embryonic development of spontaneous mouse parthenotes after oocyte meiotic maturation in vitro

Of eggs ovulated in LT/Sv mice, 10–20% undergo spontaneous parthenogenetic activation, and 40–50% of the parthenotes develop to blastocysts when cultured in simple defined medium from the one-cell stage. Similar percentages of oocytes isolated from Graafian follicles undergo parthenogenetic activation after spontaneous maturation in simple defined medium, but embryonic development proceeds no further than the two-cell stage. The simple defined medium that supported preimplantation development of ovulated eggs and spontaneous maturation of extrafollicular oocytes contained no serum, free amino acids, or vitamins. The present experiments were conducted to determine what conditions during spontaneous maturation of extrafollicular oocytes could promote the ability of oocytes to develop to blastocysts after parthenogenetic activation and mimic the environment of preovulatory follicles. Cumulus-enclosed oocytes that were matured in simple medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) developed to blastocysts after spontaneous parthenogenetic activation. Furthermore, minimum essential medium (MEM), a complex medium containing free amino acids and vitamins, could substitute completely for FBS for maturing oocytes from (C57BL/6J × LT/Sv)F₁ mice, and to a lesser extent for maturing LT/Sv oocytes. Therefore, even though germinal vesicle breakdown in mouse oocytes and preimplantation development of mouse eggs can occur in the absence of an exogenous supply of free amino acids and vitamins, a complete, or normal, mouse oocyte maturation cannot. These results also demonstrated that gonadotropins are not necessary during oocyte meiotic maturation for parthenogenetically activated eggs to develop through the preimplantation stages. Luteinizing hormone or 17β-estradiol in MEM during oocyte maturation had no effect on the subsequent development of parthenotes. In contrast, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and progesterone in the maturation medium decreased the number of ova that subsequently cleaved, and FSH decreased the number of cleaved eggs that developed to blastocysts.     

In vitro effects of singular or combined anti-oxidative vitamins and/or minerals on tilapia (Oreochromis hybrids) peripheral blood monocyte-derived, anterior kidney-derived, and spleen-derived macrophages

The present study was to determine the in vitro effects of singular or combined anti-oxidative vitamins (A, C, and E) and/or minerals (Se, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe) on the immune functions of tilapia, Oreochromis hybrids, peripheral blood monocyte-derived, anterior kidney-derived, and spleen-derived macrophages. An optimal dose of vitamins and minerals increased cell viability and lysozyme activity. On the other hand, the above activities decreased at the high doses of combined vitamins (A+C+E group, each 300 microg mL(-1)) or single mineral (Se, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe groups, each 200, 800 or 1000 microg mL(-1)). Combining two of the aforementioned vitamins (A+C, A+E, and C+E groups, each 100 microg mL(-1)) was able to prolong cell viable time up to 72 h compared with singular vitamin addition. Before or after adding vitamins or minerals during infection, addition of vitamins decreased the percentage of dead cells and a greater effect was observed for mineral (each 40 or 80 microg mL(-1)) and vitamin (each 100 microg mL(-1)) combinations. A low dose of vitamins increased nitric oxide production and decreased superoxide production, but high dose of vitamins decreased superoxide and nitric oxide productions. Furthermore, minerals also decreased nitric oxide production at concentrations of 40, 80, 200, 800 or 1000 microg mL(-1). The threshold concentrations for cell death by necrosis and/or apoptosis were >1000 and >800 microg mL(-1) for vitamins and minerals, respectively. In conclusion, appropriate concentration of vitamins or minerals can increase tilapia macrophage immunity; nevertheless, extreme concentrations of vitamins or minerals are lethal to cells.     

Dietary supplementation of vitamin A, C and E prevents p-dimethylaminoazobenzene induced hepatic DNA damage in rats

The preventive effect of antioxidant vitamins A, C, E and their analogues against DNA damage induced by a hepatocarcinogen p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB) was assessed by comet assay. For genotoxicity (DNA damage) study, male albino rats were divided into 11 groups, consisting of four rats each. Group I served as control. Group II to VII received 1, 10, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg per kg body wt of DAB respectively; group VIII to XI received 500 mg/kg body wt of DAB. They were sacrificed by cervical decapitation 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after treatment; livers were excised immediately and subjected to comet assay to measure DNA damage. To study the effect of vitamins, experiments were conducted on a group of 275 rats divided into 3 sets of 25 rats each. First set served as control; second set received 0.06% DAB and third set received 0.06% DAB, along with analogues of vitamins A, C and E. Rats fed with 0.06% DAB were provided water ad libitum for a period of 4 months, followed by a normal (basal) diet for further 2 months. Vitamins A (10,000-50,000 IU), C (75-1000 mg) and E (50-500 mg) and their analogues were given (per kg body wt) to the third set of rats by gavage route once in a week for a period of 6 months. The DAB induced DNA damage only at the highest tested dose of 500 mg/kg body wt. Administration of high doses of vitamin A acid, L-ascorbic acid and vit. E succinate individually prevented the DNA damage. However, administration of a mixture of these vitamins at low doses prevented the DAB-induced DNA damage, which may be due to their synergistic effect. The results indicate that there is a significant advantage in mixed vitamins therapy at low dose over the treatment with individual vitamins.     

Biosynthesis of vitamins B by the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus in a submerged culture

The intra- and extracellular contents of vitamins were studied in the course of submerged cultivation of the higher basidial mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.: Fr.) Kummer st. IMBF-1300 on liquid nutrient media. This strain was found to be autotrophic in respect of thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and biotin (vitamin B7), but it failed to synthesize cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12). The composition and pH of the culture medium, containing such complex biostimulating supplements as maize extract and concentrated potato sap noticeably influence the contents of vitamins B1, B5 and B7 in the mycelium, and to a less degree they change the level of the intracellular biosynthesis of vitamins B2 and B6. Higher excretion of vitamins B5, B7 and especially B6 was observed on the semisynthetic media during the postexponential growth. Under experimental conditions vitamins B1 and B2 were accumulated only in the cells. The dry mycelium of P. ostreatus obtained by submerged cultivation on liquid media is a valuable source of B vitamins and, especially, of niacin. Thus the oyster mushroom and other edible mushrooms can be put at one of the top places among food-stuffs by the content of niacin.     

Effect of vitamins and various amino acids on glucose isomerase biosynthesis by Streptomyces albogriseolus culture

The effect of vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, H, PP and folic acid) and amino acids (glutamic and aspartic acids) on glucose isomerase biosynthesis was studied in Streptomyces albogriseolus. These compounds were added either alone or in combinations to different growth media (synthetic and complex). The results were processed using mathematical methods, and the following mixture of vitamins and amino acids was proposed to be added to the complex fermentation medium: B2, 10 micrograms/L; B6, 10 micrograms/L; H, 1 microgram/L; aspartic acid, 0.01 microM. The production of glucose isomerase rose more than 1.5 times after such additions.     

Hepatocyte-specific Dyrk1a gene transfer rescues plasma apolipoprotein A-I levels and aortic Akt/GSK3 pathways in hyperhomocysteinemic mice

Hyperhomocysteinemia, characterized by high plasma homocysteine levels, is recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The increased synthesis of homocysteine, a product of methionine metabolism involving B vitamins, and its slower intracellular utilization cause increased flux into the blood. Plasma homocysteine level is an important reflection of hepatic methionine metabolism and the rate of processes modified by B vitamins as well as different enzyme activity. Lowering homocysteine might offer therapeutic benefits. However, approximately 50% of hyperhomocysteinemic patients due to cystathionine-beta-synthase deficiency are biochemically responsive to pharmacological doses of B vitamins. Therefore, effective treatments to reduce homocysteine levels are needed, and gene therapy could provide a novel approach. We recently showed that hepatic expression of DYRK1A, a serine/threonine kinase, is negatively correlated with plasma homocysteine levels in cystathionine-beta-synthase deficient mice, a mouse model of hyperhomocysteinemia. Therefore, Dyrk1a is a good candidate for gene therapy to normalize homocysteine levels. We then used an adenoviral construct designed to restrict expression of DYRK1A to hepatocytes, and found decreased plasma homocysteine levels after hepatocyte-specific Dyrk1a gene transfer in hyperhomocysteinemic mice. The elevation of pyridoxal phosphate was consistent with the increase in cystathionine-beta-synthase activity. Commensurate with the decreased plasma homocysteine levels, targeted hepatic expression of DYRK1A resulted in elevated plasma paraoxonase-1 activity and apolipoprotein A-I levels, and rescued the Akt/GSK3 signaling pathways in aorta of mice, which can prevent homocysteine-induced endothelial dysfunction. These results demonstrate that hepatocyte-restricted Dyrk1a gene transfer can offer a useful therapeutic targets for the development of new selective homocysteine lowering therapy.     

AZT induces oxidative damage to cardiac mitochondria: protective effect of vitamins C and E

AZT (zidovudine) is a potent inhibitor of HIV replication and a major antiretroviral drug used for AIDS treatment. A major limitation in the use of AZT is the occurrence of severe side effects. The aim of this work was to test whether AZT causes oxidative damage to heart mitochondria and whether this can be prevented by supranutritional doses of antioxidant vitamins. An experimental animal model was used in which mice were treated with AZT for 35 days (10 mg/kg/day) in drinking water. Animals treated with antioxidant vitamins were fed the same diet as controls but supplemented with vitamins C (ascorbic acid, 10 g/ kg diet) and E (alpha-dl-tocopherol, 0.6 g/kg diet) for 65 days before sacrifice. This resulted in a daily intake of 1250 mg/kg/day (vitamin C) and 75 mg/kg/day (vitamin E). Cardiac mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of mice treated with AZT had over 120% more oxo-dG (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine, which is a biomarker of oxidative damage to DNA) in their mitochondrial DNA than untreated controls. AZT treatment also caused an increase in mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and an oxidation of mitochondrial glutathione. Dietary supplementation with supranutritional doses of the antioxidant vitamins C and E protected against these signs of mitochondrial oxidative stress. The oxidative effects of AZT are probably due to an increase in production of reactive oxygen species by mitochondria of AZT-treated animals, raising the possibility that oxidative stress may play an important role in the cardiotoxicity of AZT.     

In vivo antimutagenic effect of vitamins C and E against rifampicin-induced chromosome aberrations in mouse bone-marrow cells

-The genotoxic effect of rifampicin (RMP), one of the most active antituberculosis agents is studied. Also, the possible protection provided by the natural antioxidant vitamins C (VC) and E (VE) against the genotoxic effect of RMP is assessed.Mice were orally treated by gavage with 10, 50, 150 and 300 mg RMP kg(-1) body weight (bw). Also, oral treatment was conducted with RMP plus the vitamins. Mice received 300 mg RMP kg(-1) bw plus 100, 200 and 400mg VC or VE kg(-1) bw. Samples were taken 24h after the treatment. Repeated treatments with: (1) the therapeutic dose of RMP (10 mg kg(-1) bw); (2) RMP plus a dose of 25, 50 and 75 mg VC kg(-1); (3) RMP plus 10, 20 and 40 mg VE kg(-1) bw for 30 consecutive days were conducted.The tested doses of RMP induced a significant increase in the percentage of chromosome aberrations. However, a lower percentage of chromosome aberrations was observed when animals were treated with the therapeutic dose for 30 consecutive days.The obtained results revealed that chromosome aberrations induced by RMP decreased to a significant extent when mice were treated with RMP plus VC. The repeated doses of VC reduced the percentage of chromosome aberrations induced by RMP in a significant and dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, repeated doses of VE were not very effective in reducing the percentage of chromosome aberrations induced by RMP. Only the highest dose (3 x 40 mg kg(-1) bw) showed a significant effect (P<0.01).The results on the induction of chromosome damage clearly show that only VC appears able to efficiently protect the bone-marrow cells when given together with RMP, while no significant reduction in the yield of chromosome aberrations was observed for VE in combination with the antituberculosis drug.     

Proteins involved in fat-soluble vitamin and carotenoid transport across the intestinal cells: New insights from the past decade

It is now well established that vitamins D, E, and K and carotenoids are not absorbed solely through passive diffusion. Broad-specificity membrane transporters such as SR-BI (scavenger receptor class B type I), CD36 (CD36 molecule), NPC1L1 (Niemann Pick C1-like 1) or ABCA1 (ATP-binding cassette A1) are involved in the uptake of these micronutrients from the lumen to the enterocyte cytosol and in their secretion into the bloodstream. Recently, the existence of efflux pathways from the enterocyte back to the lumen or from the bloodstream to the lumen, involving ABCB1 (P-glycoprotein/MDR1) or the ABCG5/ABCG8 complex, has also been evidenced for vitamins D and K. Surprisingly, no membrane proteins have been involved in dietary vitamin A uptake so far. After an overview of the metabolism of fat-soluble vitamins and carotenoids along the gastrointestinal tract (from the mouth to the colon where interactions with microbiota may occur), a focus is placed on the identified and candidate proteins participating in the apical uptake, intracellular transport, basolateral secretion and efflux back to the lumen of fat-soluble vitamins and carotenoids in enterocytes. This review also highlights the mechanisms that remain to be identified to fully unravel the pathways involved in fat-soluble vitamin and carotenoid intestinal absorption.     

Effect of low doses of radiation on vitamin A and E levels in rat liver

It has been established that under intake of small doses of 137Cs by rat for 9 months the radioactivity of whole rat body was increased in irregular manner. Under this condition the level of fat-soluble vitamins A and E is decreased and the decrease is well correlated with a level of radionuclide accumulation by rat's body. The possible causes of decrease of the vitamins A and E level under intake of small doses of radionuclide are discussed.     

Normal adaptations to exercise despite protection against oxidative stress

It has been reported that supplementation with the antioxidant vitamins C and E prevents the adaptive increases in mitochondrial biogenesis and GLUT4 expression induced by endurance exercise. We reevaluated the effects of these antioxidants on the adaptive responses of rat skeletal muscle to swimming in a short-term study consisting of 9 days of vitamins C and E with exercise during the last 3 days and a longer-term study consisting of 8 wk of antioxidant vitamins with exercise during the last 3 wk. The rats in the antioxidant groups were given 750 mg·kg body wt(-1)·day(-1) vitamin C and 150 mg·kg body wt(-1)·day(-1) vitamin E. In rats euthanized immediately after exercise, plasma TBARs were elevated in the control rats but not in the antioxidant-supplemented rats, providing evidence for an antioxidant effect. In rats euthanized 18 h after exercise there were large increases in insulin responsiveness of glucose transport in epitrochlearis muscles mediated by an approximately twofold increase in GLUT4 expression in both the short- and long-term treatment groups. The protein levels of a number of mitochondrial marker enzymes were also increased about twofold. Superoxide dismutases (SOD) 1 and 2 were increased about twofold in triceps muscle after 3 days of exercise, but only SOD2 was increased after 3 wk of exercise. There were no differences in the magnitudes of any of these adaptive responses between the control and antioxidant groups. These results show that very large doses of antioxidant vitamins do not prevent the exercise-induced adaptive responses of muscle mitochondria, GLUT4, and insulin action to exercise and have no effect on the level of these proteins in sedentary rats.     

Synthesis and protective anti-infective action of anomeric lipophilic glycosides of N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine

Anomeric pairs of alpha- and beta-dodecyl, alpha- and beta-(1-pentylhexyl), and alpha- and beta-cyclododecyl glycosides of N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP) were synthesized. The starting beta-D-glucosaminides were obtained by the oxazoline method, and the corresponding alpha-isomers, by the mercuric iodide-catalyzed glycosylation of alcohols with alpha-glucosaminyl chloride peracetate in nitromethane at -90 degrees C. No reliable differences between the stimulation of mouse resistance to the infection with Staphylococcus aureus (doses of 2, 20, and 200 microg/mouse) and Escherichia coli (doses of 0.05, 1, and 20 microg/mouse) with the MDP alpha- and beta-glycosides were found.     

Provision of residents of the city of Kiev with vitamins C and B1. Effectiveness of a complex vitamin-mineral preparation in preventing spring vitamin deficiencies

The investigation was conducted on provision with vitamins C and B1 of Kyiv inhabitants limited contingent at spring period and efficiency of complex vitamin-mineral preparations in normalisation of the vitamins level in blood of human-subjects. The deficit of vitamin C in 54% and vitamin B1 in 18.5% of the investigated people was revealed. Supradin gave the best results among rest preparations ("Centrum", "Vitrum", "Duovit", "Multi-Tabs") in the normalization of the level of vitamin C and biologically-active form of thiamine (thiamindiphosphate) in the blood of investigated people.     

Vitamin Intake Reduce the Risk of Gastric Cancer: Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Randomized and Observational Studies

Aim

The association between vitamin intake and gastric cancer (GC) has been widely debated due to the relatively weak evidence. In this study, a meta-analysis of prospective and well designed observational studies were performed to explore this association.

Methods

MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Sciencedirect were searched for studies of vitamin consumption and gastric cancer. This produced 47 relevant studies covering 1,221,392 human subjects. Random effects models were used to estimate summary relative risk (RR). Dose-response, subgroup, sensitivity, meta-regression, and publication bias analyses were conducted.

Results

The RR of gastric cancer in the group with the highest vitamin intake was compared to that of the lowest intake group. Total vitamin intake was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.71−0.83). In 9 studies that individuals were given doses at least 4 times above the tolerable upper intake (UL) vitamins, the RR was 1.20 (95% CI, 0.99−1.44). However, in 17 studies that individuals received doses below the UL, the RR was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.68−0.86). Dose-response analysis was conducted on different increments in different types of vitamins (vitamin A: 1.5 mg/day, vitamin C: 100 mg/day, vitamin E: 10 mg/day) intake with a significant reduction in the risk of gastric cancer, respectively, 29% in vitamin A, 26% in vitamin C, and 24% in vitamin E.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis clearly demonstrated that low doses of vitamins can significantly reduce the risk of GC, especially vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E.     

Trichinella spiralis: quantitative relationships between intestinal worm burden, worm rejection, and the measurement of intestinal immunity in inbred mice

The effect of widely different doses of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae on time to rejection of intestinal adults and on host survival was assessed in mice of the three rejection phenotypes; strong, intermediate, and weak. Rejection is weak with doses of less than 50 larvae per mouse. At these doses all mice rejected worms at a similar rate and no phenotypic variation was evident among strains. In contrast, rejection time was shortest for all strains and phenotypic variation among strains was evident in the range 50-100 muscle larvae/mouse. Above this dose the time taken to rejection increases monotonically with dose for all mouse strains examined. Despite this, the relative strength of rejection (i.e., phenotype) of a given strain of mouse was not changed at higher doses. Based on an end point of 98% rejection of the infective dose, time to rejection was predictable to +/- 1 day for all mouse strains and doses tested over the range 100-1000 worms administered. The principal reason for the increased time to complete rejection with larger worm doses was a delay in the initiation of intestinal rejection. This delay was evident above a dose of 50-100 larvae per mouse and occurred in all strains. Once begun, rejection was faster and eliminated more worms in unit time at higher doses (400-800 more) than at lower doses of worms. This appeared to be due to a stronger immune response of the host at higher doses. However, the increase in the rate of rejection was still not as great as the increase in the dose. We postulate that the delay in rejection with increased dose is due to a requirement for a "critical mass" of effectors/worm required to cause rejection. As dose increases, more time is required to reach the level at which worm rejection commences. Deaths due to higher doses of worms also occurred in a strain-specific manner and were temporally biphasic. The intestinal phase of infection produced mortality from 1 to 5 days after infection and the strongest rejection phenotype (NFS) was also the most resistant to intestinal deaths. Deaths occurring after Day 5 were due to the parenterally migrating newborn larvae. The weakest rejection phenotype, that of the B10 congenics, was also the least resistant to intestinal deaths. An experimental formula describing 98% worm rejection time with different doses was derived from the data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Vitamin B biosynthesis in plants

The vitamin B complex comprises water-soluble enzyme cofactors and their derivatives that are essential contributors to diverse metabolic processes in plants as well as in animals and microorganisms. Seven vitamins form this complex: B1 (thiamin (1)), B2 (riboflavin (2)), B3 (niacin (3)), B5 (pantothenic acid (4)), B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxal (5), and pyridoxamine), B8 (biotin (6)), and B9 (folate (7)). All seven B vitamins are required in the human diet for proper nutrition because humans lack enzymes to synthesize these compounds de novo. This review aims to summarize the present knowledge of vitamin B biosynthesis in plants.     

To the 20th anniversary of the Chornobyl accident study of vitamin status and provision with micro- and macroelements of limited groups of people at different time periods since the accident at Chornobyl nuclear power plant

Results of the study of the provision with vitamins and some micro- and macroelements of limited groups of people, who suffered from the accident at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant (ChNPP), which have been carried out by Ukrainian and Russian scientists during various periods after the accident, are generalized in the paper. Persons which participated in liquidation of the accident and lived during the accident in the territory, adjoining to Pripyat (the Kyiv region, town of Slavutich), people which worked at the object "Shelter" and ChNPP were involved in the inspection. It was noted, that in 1-4 years after the ChNPP accident in blood of liquidators the biochemical parameters displaying security of their organism by vitamins A and B1, remain lower in comparison with the same parameters in a group of relatively healthy persons which were not affected by the accident (control), that testifies to stable metabolic disturbance in the organism of people under irradiation influence. Selective inspection of the vitamin status of ChNPP and object "Shelter" personnel in 1992 has shown, that provision with vitamins C, B1, B2, B6 of the overwhelming majority of these people (67-91%) are much below the norm. Deficiency of vitamins C, B1, B6, folate and selenium is also revealed in an organism of 50-90% of women and children living in Slavutich. Deficit of vitamins in most of persons was characterized by polyhypovitaminoses, that is a combination of several group B vitamins deficiency at simultaneously low provision with selenium, and in a part of women and children--by low amount of iron. The results of long-term complex studies by groups of authors give evidence on importance and urgency of formulation and execution of International program on optimisation of nutrition, micronutrition status and health among population of affected areas in Ukraine, Bielorus' and Russia.     

B Vitamin and/or n-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation and Health-Related Quality of Life: Ancillary Findings from the SU.FOL.OM3 Randomized Trial

Background

Despite growing attention to nutrition and quality of life in cardiovascular disease survivors, the impact of dietary factors according to disease type or to quality of life domain is poorly understood. We investigated the effects of B vitamin and/or n-3 fatty acid supplementation on health-related quality of life among survivors of stroke, myocardial infarction, or unstable angina.

Methods

We performed ancillary analyses of the SU.FOL.OM3 trial (2003–2009; France). In total, 2,501 men (mean age = 61 y) and women (mean age = 63 y) were randomized in a 2×2 factorial design to: 1) 0.56 mg 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate, 3 mg vitamin B6, 0.02 mg vitamin B12; 2) 600 mg eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in a 2∶1 ratio; 3) B vitamins and n-3 fatty acids combined; or 4) placebo. Health-related quality of life was evaluated at follow-up with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. Data from 2,029 individuals were used in this analysis.

Results

After 3.1±0.4 y, no effects of supplementation with either B vitamins or n-3 fatty acids on quality of life (physical or mental health domains) were found. However, participants receiving B vitamins had slightly more activity limitations due to emotional problems compared with those not receiving B vitamins (mean difference = 3.8; 95% CI: 0.4, 7.1). A significant interaction of treatment by prior disease revealed an inverse association between n-3 fatty acids and vitality among myocardial infarction survivors (mean difference = 2.9; 95% CI: 0.5, 5.2).

Conclusions

There were no beneficial effects of supplementation with relatively low doses of B vitamins or n-3 fatty acids on health-related quality of life in cardiovascular disease survivors. The adverse effects of B vitamins on activity limitations and of n-3 fatty acids on vitality among individuals with prior myocardial infarction merit confirmation.