A Magtein®, Magnesium L-Threonate, -Based Formula Improves Brain Cognitive Functions in Healthy Chinese Adults.

Magnesium is one of the most abundant essential minerals in the body. Magnesium supplements mostly have low bioavailability, except magnesium L-threonate. In 2010, a novel magnesium compound, magnesium L-threonate (Magtein®) was identified and was shown to raise the magnesium levels in the brain and neurons effectively. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Magtein®PS, a magnesium L-threonate (Magtein®)- and phosphatidylserine-based formulation additionally containing vitamins C and D, was tested for its cognitive benefits in 109 healthy Chinese adults aged 18-65 years. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either Magtein®PS or placebo (starch) capsules, at a dose of 2 g/day. "The Clinical Memory Test", the standard test commonly used in Chinese hospitals and academic institutes for cognitive evaluation, was administered before and 30 days after subjects received the supplement. Subjects receiving Magtein®PS showed significant improvements over the control group in all five subcategories of "The Clinical Memory Test" as well as the overall memory quotient scores. The older participants showed more improvement than younger participants. Results indicated significant benefits of Magtein®PS in improving memory and cognition in healthy Chinese adults.

Adverse effects of iron deficiency anemia on pregnancy outcome and offspring development and intervention of three iron supplements.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common micronutrient deficiency among pregnant women with severe consequences including impaired immuno-inflammatory system, premature birth, fetal death etc. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of three iron supplements on IDA female rats and their offspring. The IDA female rat model was established with low iron diet and the rats were then mated. After pregnancy, rats were fed diets containing different iron supplements (iron polysaccharide complex, iron protein succinylate and ferrous sulfate) until their offspring were 42 days old. Pregnancy outcomes, haematological, iron metabolism, physical and neurological development indexes were determined. The results showed that all three iron supplements improved the levels of hematological parameters of both mother and offspring rats. After iron supplementation, serum iron, transferrin saturation and serum ferritin levels were increased compared with the IDA group. The level of ferritin light chain in the liver and spleen of both mother and offspring rats in iron supplemented groups was significantly higher than that of the IDA group. The average number of born alive per litter in the iron treatment groups was significantly higher than that in the IDA group. Iron supplements also improved the physical growth and neurobehavioral development of offspring rats. It was also found that iron supplementation improved the expression of ferritin light chain and the synaptic growth associated proteins in the brain and hippocampus. No significant difference was found in the efficacy of three iron supplements. These results suggest that pregnant and postpartum IDA affects pregnancy outcomes, offspring physical development and causes neural impairment. Sufficient iron supplementation can significantly improve IDA and its adverse effects on both mother and offspring.

Systematic study on the reduction efficiency of ascorbic acid and thiourea on selenate and selenite at high and trace concentrations.

Selenate (Se(VI)) and selenite (Se(IV)) are common soluble wastewater pollutants in natural and anthropogenic systems. We evaluated the reduction efficiency and removal of low (0.02 and 2 mg/L) and high (20 and 200 mg/L) Se(IV)(aq) and Se(VI)(aq) concentrations to elemental (Se0) via the use of ascorbic acid (AA), thiourea (TH), and a 50-50% mixture. The reduction efficiency of AA with Se(IV)(aq) to nano- and micro-crystalline Se0 was ≥ 95%, but ≤ 5% of Se(VI)(aq) was reduced to Se(IV)(aq) with no Se0. Thiourea was able to reduce ≤ 75% of Se(IV)(aq) to bulk Se0 at lower concentrations but was more effective (≥ 90%) at higher concentrations. Reduction of Se(VI)(aq)→Se (IV)(aq) with TH was ≤ 75% at trace concentrations which steadily declined as the concentrations increased, and the products formed were elemental sulfur (S0) and SnSe8-n phases. The reduction efficiency of Se(IV)(aq) to bulk Se0 upon the addition of AA+TH was ≤ 81% at low concentrations and ≥ 90% at higher concentrations. An inverse relation to what was observed with Se(IV)(aq) was found upon the addition of AA+TH with Se(VI)(aq). At low Se(VI)(aq) concentrations, AA+TH was able to reduce more effectively (≤ 61%) Se(VI)(aq)→Se(IV)(aq)→Se0, while at higher concentrations, it was ineffective (≤ 11%) and Se0, S0, and SnSe8-n formed. This work helps to guide the removal, reduction effectiveness, and products formed from AA, TH, and a 50-50% mixture on Se(IV)(aq) and Se(VI)(aq) to Se0 under acidic conditions and environmentally relevant concentrations possibly found in acidic natural waters, hydrometallurgical chloride processing operations, and acid mine drainage/acid rock drainage tailings. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.