Effect of vitamin D3 supplementation in winter on physical performance of university students: a one-month randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There is epidemiological evidence which suggests an association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and bone and muscle function; however, it is unclear whether vitamin D supplementation has an added benefit beyond bone health. Here, we investigated the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation (1 month) on physical performance in Chinese university students in winter. METHODS: One hundred and seventeen eligible subjects with 25(OH)D (19.2 ± 7.8 ng/mL) were randomly assigned to either vitamin D3 supplement (N = 56; 1000 IU/day) or the control (N = 61) group for 1 month. Pre- and post-measurements included: 1) serum levels of 25(OH)D; 2) musculoskeletal and pulmonary function [vertical jump height (VJH) and right handgrip strength (RHS), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume at 1s (FEV1)]; 3) bone turnover markers [parathyroid hormone (PTH), n-terminal osteocalcin (N-MID), and calcium]; 4) hemoglobin-related parameters [hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), red blood cells (RBC), and red cell distribution width (RDW)]; 5) lipid parameters [total triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)]; 6) Fatigue-related indicators [serum creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and total testosterone (T)]. In addition, aerobic capacity was assessed by measuring maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) at baseline. RESULTS: During wintertime, supplementation with 1000 IU/d of vitamin D3 significantly increased serum 25(OH)D levels (from 18.85 ± 7.04 to 26.98 ± 5.88 ng/mL, p < 0.05), accompanied by a decrease of PTH (p < 0.05). However, vitamin D3 supplementation did not significantly impact the physical performance, serum lipid parameters, and bone turnover markers of students. Furthermore, 25(OH)D was found to be positively correlated with VJH and negatively correlated with PTH and TC at the beginning and end of the study (p < 0.05). In addition, the multiple linear regression analysis showed that 25(OH)D combined with athletic, gender, height, weight, Hb, and FVC could account for 84.0% of the VO2max value. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that one-month of 1000 IU/d of vitamin D3 supplementation during the winter had beneficial effects on 25(OH)D status and PTH. However, vitamin D3 intervention was not sufficient to improve physical performance. Furthermore, 25(OH)D levels combined with athletic, Hb and FVC could be a predictor of VO2max.

[Effect of Electroacupuncture Combined with Rehabilitation Training on Neurological Function and Expression of Neuronal Growth Associated Protein 43 and Synaptophysin in Rats with Focal Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with rehabilitation training on motor function and expression of neuronal growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) and synaptophysin (SYP) in hippocampal CA 3 region in rats with focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CI/RI). METHODS: A total of 46 SD rats were randomized into normal control, CI/RI model, rehabilitation training (RT), paralysis-side (unilateral)-EA+RT, and bilateral-EA+RT groups (n=6 in the normal control group, and n=10 in each of the other group). The CI/RI model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO) and reperfusion. EA (5 Hz/10 Hz, 2 mA) was applied to the unilateral "Quchi" (LI 11) and "Housanli" (ST 36) on the affected side or bilateral LI 11 and ST 36 for 30 min, once daily for two weeks except the Sunday. The neurological deficit severity (Zea Longa score) was assessed 24 h, 7 and 14 days after modeling. The immunoactivity of GAP-43 and SYP in the CA 3 region of the hippocampus was detected using immunohistochemistry. Pathological changes of the prefrontal cortex was observed after H.E. staining. RESULTS: Following modeling, the neurological deficit scores of the model, RT, unilateral-EA+RT and bilateral-EA+RT groups were gradually decreased, and were significantly lower on day 7 and 14 in the bilateral-EA+RT group and on day 14 in the unilateral-EA+RT group than in the model group (P<0.05). The effect of the bilateral-EA+RT group was obviously superior to those of both RT and unilateral EA+RT groups in improving neurological function (P<0.05). Results of immunohistochemical staining displayed that the expression levels of GAP-43 and SYP in the CA 3 region of hippocampus were significantly up-regulated in the model group than in the normal control group (P<0.05), and further obviously up-regulated in both unilateral-and bilateral-EA+RT groups (P<0.05). No significant changes of GAP-43 and SYP protein expression in the RT group compared with the model group (P>0.05), and the expression levels of GAP-43 and SYP protein in the bilateral-EA+RT were significantly higher than those in the unilateral EA+RT group (P<0.05). H.E. staining showed that the ischemic injury of cells (neuronal apoptosis and enlargement of intercellular space) of the prefrontal cortex was relatively milder in the EA+RT groups. CONCLUSIONS: EA plus RT can promote the recovery of motor function in CI/RI rats, which may be associated with its function in increasing the expression of GAP-43 and SYP in hippocampal CA 3 region. The effects of bilateral-EA+RT is obviously better than those of unilateral EA+RT.

[Application of SCAR molecular marker technology in identification of Monascus strains].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an effective way for rapid identification of Monascus strains based on DNA molecular marker. METHOD: A random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker named F421 in genomic DNA of Monascus F strain was observed during a comparison of DNA fingerprints derived from 10 cultivated strains of Monascus. F421 was cloned and sequenced. Comparing the sequence of F421 (GenBank accession number EF063107) with other relative sequences in the GenBank databases, no distinct comparability was found. A pair of sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) primers were designed based on the sequence of the cloned fragment and tested for the specific detection of Monascus F. RESULT: The results of polymerase chain reaction showed that only a 421bp segment of Monascus F strain was amplified compared with other 9 cultivated strains of Monascus. And the acquired SCAR marker of strain F could be used as a specific DNA fingerprint to identify Monascus strain F within one day. CONCLUSION: SCAR molecular marker technology is an effective new way to identify Monascus strains more rapidly. And also is an assistant tool to identify Monascus strains more accurately when disagreements come out using traditional classification. It could be applied widely to the protection of germ plasm resources, classification and identification distinguishing false strains of pharmaceutical fungi.