Serum vitamin levels and the risk of cancer of specific sites in men of Japanese ancestry in Hawaii.

Serum specimens were obtained from over 6800 men of Japanese ancestry in Hawaii from 1971 to 1975. Since then, the following numbers of newly diagnosed cancer cases have been identified: 81 colon, 74 lung, 70 stomach, 32 rectum, and 27 urinary bladder. The stored sera of the cases and 302 controls were tested to determine their beta-carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E levels. There was no association of either vitamin A or E with any of the cancers. For serum beta-carotene, there was a significant association only with lung cancer (20.0 micrograms/dl in cases versus 29.0 in controls, P less than 0.005). The lung cancer odds ratio for men in the lowest quintile of beta-carotene was 3.4 relative to men in the highest quintile. These findings suggest that a low serum beta-carotene level is a predictor of increased lung cancer risk in men.

Urinary oxalate excretion after large intakes of ascorbic acid in man.

The influence of high dose intake of ascorbic acid on the urinary excretion of oxalate was investigated in five healthy male volunteers. Oxalate was measured by a newly developed specific method using isotachophoresis. With intakes of 10 g ascorbic acid (5 X 2 g daily for 5 days; four subjects) mean urinary oxalate excretion was enhanced from about 50 mg to 87 mg (range 60 to 126 mg) per day. At least 25% of the ascorbic acid was absorbed and excreted with the urine. On discontinuing ascorbic acid administration, oxalate excretion returned to baseline values within 24 h. The time-course of oxalate excretion revealed that following the 3rd dose of 2 g ascorbic acid a plateau in urinary oxalate excretion was reached (0.6 microgram ml-1 min-1) which was not exceeded despite additional 2-g doses of ascorbic acid. On termination of ascorbic acid administration the oxalate excretion rate remained at this level for a further 6 h and then decreased to prestudy rates. No effect of high-dose ascorbic acid ingestion was found on the daily urinary excretion of creatinine, uric acid, and inorganic phosphate. Calcium excretion was slightly reduced. In comparison to the large amounts of ascorbic acid ingested, the increase in urinary oxalate excretion as measured by isotachophoresis in these healthy male volunteers was very low, and is thus similar to the change in urinary content of oxalate which results from consuming normal diets.

Plasma antioxidants and coronary heart disease: vitamins C and E, and selenium.

The possibility of a relation between plasma antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and selenium, and mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) was examined. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken of random population samples of apparently healthy middle-aged men in four European regions with differing mortalities from CHD [rate/100,000 for men aged 40-49]: north Karelia (eastern Finland) (n = 99) [212/100,000]; south-west Finland (n = 85) [146/100,000]; Scotland (n = 131) [140/100,000]; and south Italy (n = 80) [43/100,000]. Median (5th-95th percentile) plasma vitamin C concentrations were lower in Scotland: 18.2 (5.7-61.3) microM than in other regions: north Karelia 28.4 (6.2-85.2); south-west Finland 33.5 (5.7-76.6); south Italy 38.0 (10.2-69.8) microM (P less than 0.001). The median levels in the four areas did not however reflect the regional CHD mortality rates. Regional differences in plasma vitamin E levels were also observed: Scottish levels were low 20.0 (12.1-29.3) microM (P less than 0.001) and did not differ between the other areas: 23.0 (16.7-35.1), 22.5 (13.7-31.6) and 23.9 (15.6-41.3) microM respectively. The vitamin E gradient could be explained in part by differences in serum cholesterol. However, cholesterol-adjusted vitamin E levels were low in the three high CHD areas: Scotland 3.41 (2.41-4.62); north Karelia 3.53 (2.67-5.18); south-west Finland 3.53 (2.58-4.92); Italy 4.81 (3.25-5.99) mumol/mmol cholesterol (P less than 0.001). Cholesterol-adjusted vitamin E was not lower in north Karelia, the higher CHD mortality area in Finland. Serum selenium values also varied with the area examined and reported low levels in Finland were confirmed. Nevertheless, selenium levels did not correlate with the reported mortality rates of CHD. Thus in our small cross-cultural study the evidence did not support our hypothesis that plasma antioxidants explain regional differences in CHD mortality.

The influence of portosystemic shunting on zinc and vitamin A metabolism in liver cirrhosis.

To elucidate the possible role of portosystemic shunting on zinc and vitamin A deficiency which has been described in patients with cirrhosis of the liver, a study on 37 hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis was performed. Patients with surgical portosystemic shunt were found to have a significantly lower levels of zinc, vitamin A and retinol-binding protein (RBP) than controls and patients with cirrhosis without shunt. Patients with portal hypertension--considered to have spontaneous shunting--also has lower levels than those without this symptom. A significant correlation between zinc and vitamin A and RBP levels, respectively, was found. Also an increased renal zinc output was demonstrated. An influence of portosystemic shunting on zinc deficiency and subsequent vitamin A deficiency by decreased RBP release is concluded. The importance of these metabolic disorders for clinical symptoms is discussed.

Assay of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, pyridoxal and pyridoxic acid in biological material.

The two vitamin B6-vitamers having an aldehyde function are oxidised to the corresponding acids and subjected to an HPLC separation on an RP 18 phase with a solvent consisting of 5% methanol in phosphate buffer at pH 3.5. The detection is carried out by fluorometry with excitation at 318 nm and emission at 418 nm. The peaks obtained correspond to pyridoxic acid 5'-phosphate and pyridoxic acid. Pyridoxal-5'-phosphate is determined as pyridoxic acid 5'-phosphate. Pyridoxal is determined as pyridoxic acid by subtracting the amount of pyridoxic acid already existing before oxidation.

A simple method for the determination of riboflavin in human milk.

A fluorometric method for the determination of total riboflavin in human milk is described. Flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD) is hydrolyzed to riboflavin by enzyme treatment. Then the fluorescence of total riboflavin is measured in the aqueous phase at pH 4.5. The coefficient of variation was found to be 2.48% (n = 58). The procedure is simple, reproducible and allows the simultaneous analysis of a considerable number of samples. The recoveries are in the range of 95.8-100.8%.

Is pyridoxine an essential nutrient for bone?

Plasma PLP and PL levels were drastically reduced in the B6-deficient group. The plasma and erythrocyte activities of AspAT were depressed by 35 and 15%, respectively. The B6-deficient diet also produced a slight decrease in the plasma levels of AP (holoenzyme and bone isoenzyme) and OH-Pro. This change was accompanied by a slight increase of Pi A negative correlation was found between plasma AP and PLP.

Pyridoxine status as assessed by the concentration of B6-aldehyde vitamers.

Forty-five male Lohmann chicks were randomly assigned to an adequate (30 mumol PN/kg) or a B6-deficient diet. Chicks were grown to 6 weeks of age and the vitamin B6 status was assessed according to the level of B6-aldehyde vitamers in plasma and erythrocytes. Chicks fed a limited amount of pyridoxine showed no nervous signs, but significant metabolic changes. It was found that PL was the major metabolite in plasma and only a trace of PLP was detected, suggesting a different metabolic pathway from those of other animal species or healthy humans. This particular metabolism parallels an elevated ALP concentration. The measurement of plasma PLP level routinely used for the assessment of vitamin B6 status in humans is misleading in a situation with raised ALP.

Clinical chemical methods for the routine assessment of the vitamin status in human populations. Part III: The apoenzyme stimulation tests for vitamin B1, B2 and B6 adapted to the Cobas-Bio analyzer.

The programming of the Cobas-Bio centrifugal analyzer for kinetic tests of transketolase, glutathione reductase and aspartate amino-transferase is described. The results obtained in a population of 200 healthy people of both sexes are reported.

Absorption of large, single, oral intakes of ascorbic acid.

A male non-smoking volunteer increased his daily intake of ascorbic acid continuously by ingesting in a single, oral dose 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 g crystalline ascorbic acid. The dose was always kept constant for 2 days and was taken with breakfast. During the regimen of ascorbic acid ingestion blood samples were taken and all urine was collected. Then, with a 5 g dose of ascorbic acid 8.17 micro Ci (170 microgram) (1-14C)ascorbic acid was ingested. Following the labelled dose radioactivity was determined in plasma, urine, and faeces. Daily ingestion of 5 g ascorbic acid was continued for 10 days. During the whole experiment the ascorbic acid concentrations in plasma and in urine were determined. The urinary excretion of unmetabolized unlabelled ascorbic acid per day was taken as index for the absorption of ascorbic acid. It decreased from 75% (1 g), 44.0% (2 g), 39%, (3g), 28% (4 g) to 20% (5 g) of the ingested ascorbic acid. The linearisation of the relationship between ingested dose and the excreted amount in urine yielded a maximum amount of 1160 mg ascorbic acid which can be absorbed in 24 h under the conditions of the experiment. The experiment with (1-14C)ascorbic acid revealed that a single oral dose of 5 g ascorbic acid is absorbed to 22.2%, in the faeces collected up to 117 h following ingestion of label only 2.8% of the radioactivity could be recovered. Several possibilities are discussed regarding the fate of the remaining unabsorbed (1-14C)ascorbic acid.

Clinical chemical methods for the routine assessment of the vitamin status in human populations. Part II: The water-soluble vitamins B1, B2 and B6.

Simple and proven techniques for the assay of the coenzyme stimulation of the erythrocyte enzymes transketolase, glutathione reductase and glutamate oxaloacetate aminotransferase are described. The results found in a cohort of 150 blood donors and their comparison with the values for total thiamine in whole blood and pyridoxal phosphate in erythrocytes are presented.

Clinical chemical methods for the routine assessment of the vitamin status in human populations. Part I: The fat-soluble vitamins A and E, and beta-carotene.

Reliable HPLC methods for the routine determination of vitamin A (only retinol, not the ester) of beta-carotene and of vitamin E in plasma are described. The results found in 150 blood donors are reported; the correlation of the concentrations of vitamin A with retinol-binding protein and of vitamin E with beta-lipoproteins are calculated.

[Determination of the pigmenting carotenoids in feeds and premixes for laying hens and broilers (author's transl)]. / Bestimmung der pigmentierenden Carotinoide in Futtermitteln und Konzentraten für Eierproduktion und Geflügelmast

A method for the quantitative determination of the main carotenoids, such as lutein, zeaxanthin, apocarotenoic acid ethyl ester, bixin, canthaxanthin, citranaxanthin and paprika pigments in feeds and premixes for laying hens and broilers is described. The method has, compared to the known analytical procedures, several advantages: 1. Differentiation between lutein and zeaxanthin which have different pigmentation properties. 2. Reduction of distribution errors for added carotenoids by increasing sample weights. 3. Individual determinations of added carotenoids which have different pigmentation activities.

Aspartate aminotransferase activity in experimentally induced asymptomatic vitamin B6 deficiency in chicks.

Forty-five male Lohmann chicks were grown up to 6 weeks of age. The experimental diet containing a high protein level (30%) was aimed at increasing the metabolic need for PN. Microbiological analysis on the basal ration revealed a marginal content of 4.7 mumol PN/kg. The vitamin B6 status was assessed at the end of the experiment according to the basal activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) in plasma and in erythrocytes, and the in vitro stimulated activity with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP). None of the deficient chicks had any clinical signs attributable to malfunction of the nervous system, and they grew as well as those receiving the control diet. Vitamin B6 deficiency was biochemically confirmed by a significant depression of AspAT activity in plasma (p less than 0.001) and in erythrocytes (p less than 0.01). The addition of PLP in vitro enhanced the catalytic activity of the plasma enzyme, but had negligible effect on the erythrocyte enzyme. The degree of stimulation in vitro of the apoenzyme of AspAT not only depends on the endogenous vitamin B6 content, but also on the basal activity of the enzyme. A 15-day repletion period with a daily oral dose (50 mumol PN) did not result in a complete restoration of the enzyme activity, indicating that the availability of apoenzyme had been curtailed. This experiment demonstrated that chicks fed a high protein corn-soyamin diet with a limited amount of PN but containing Saccharomyces yeast showed no nervous signs or perosis, but significant metabolic disturbances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Prototype application of a robot in the clinical laboratory enabling fully automated quantification of fecal porphyrins.

Unpleasant specimens, sensitive analytes, and a lengthy chromatographic procedure were the main reasons we implemented fecal porphyrin analysis with a laboratory robot. We describe the system in detail and compare it with the same technique performed manually. The day-to-day variation of assays of standards was lower with the robot than with the manual operation: 8% (CV) for coproporphyrin I and 11% for protoporphyrin IX. We repeatedly analyzed a specimen from a healthy volunteer and determined that the specimen contained (in nmol/g dry wt) 7.1 (SD 0.7) for coproporphyrin I, 3.0 (SD 0.4) for coproporphyrin III, and 44.4 (SD 4.3) for protoporphyrin IX. Upper reference limits as measured in 20 healthy volunteers were 20 nmol/g dry wt for coproporphyrin I, 12 nmol/g for coproporphyrin III, and 80 nmol/g for protoporphyrin IX. We also present characteristic chromatograms for samples from various different porphyrias that exhibit abnormal fecal porphyrin excretion. Calculations of return on investment show that the robot, working at full capacity, is a profitable tool.

[Vitamin A concentration in plasma and ability to hear in patients with chronic alcoholic liver diseases]. / Vitamin A-Konzentration im Plasma und das Hörvermögen bei Patienten mit chronischer alkoholischer Leberschädigung.

59 patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease and with negative history of ear infection, noise exposure, head injury, use of streptomycin and without hereditary deafness underwent a basic audiologic examination. In all age groups we found a depression of the pure tone threshold on from 2,000 Hz and compared to a control group and to the norm curves (Spoor 1966). Following the Carhart-test and the acoustic facial reflex there were always signs of cochlear lesions. Fifty per cent of the alcoholics in the Carhart tone decay test showed a depression of the threshold between 10 and 30 dB. The concentration of vitamin A, RBP, beta-Carotin and zinc in the blood measured at the same time were diminished. Considering recent electron microscopic findings on the pattern of the inner ear of young rats following vitamin A deficit we suppose that the vitamin A deficit in the alcoholics leads to poor hearing.