Influence of Glucose Dosage in Parenteral Nutrition on Body Thiamine Levels in Rats.

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between glucose dosage in parenteral nutrition and reductions in levels of body thiamine in rats. Vitamin-free infusions with differing amounts of glucose were administered to normal or thiamine-deficient rats for 5 days, after which urinary thiamine excretion and the amounts of thiamine in the blood, liver, brain, and skeletal muscles were measured. The total energy dosage was set at three levels (98, 140, and 196 kcal/kg), and the dose of amino acids was constant among all groups. Urinary thiamine excretions on Day 5 decreased with increasing glucose dosage in the infusions. In normal rats, the amount of thiamine in the blood and all organs decreased compared with the diet group; however, no significant differences were found among the infusion groups. In thiamine-deficient rats, on the other hand, the amount of thiamine in the liver and skeletal muscles did not differ significantly among infusion groups; however, the amount of thiamine in the brain and blood decreased with increasing glucose dosage. An organ-specific correlation was found between glucose dosage in infusions and reductions in levels of thiamine. To prevent thiamine deficiencies from affecting the central nervous system, greater caution must be exercised during high-caloric parenteral nutrition. However, a constant supply of thiamine seemed to be essential, irrespective of the amount of energy supplied via parenteral nutrition, to maintain a sufficient level of thiamine in the body.

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for profiling 2-oxo acids in urine and its application in evaluating vitamin status in rats.

B-group vitamins are involved in the catabolism of 2-oxo acids. To identify the functional biomarkers of B-group vitamins, we developed a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for profiling 2-oxo acids in urine and applied this method to urine samples from rats deficient in vitamins B1 and B6 and pantothenic acid. 2-Oxo acids were reacted with 1,2-diamino-4,5-methylenebenzene to produce fluorescent derivatives, which were then separated using a TSKgel ODS-80Ts column with 30 mmol/L of KH2PO4 (pH 3.0):acetonitrile (7:3) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Vitamin B1 deficiency increased urinary levels of all 2-oxo acids, while vitamin B6 deficiency only increased levels of sum of 2-oxaloacetic acid and pyruvic acid, and pantothenic acid deficiency only increased levels of 2-oxoisovaleric acid. Profiles of 2-oxo acids in urine samples might be a non-invasive way of clarifying the functional biomarker of B-group vitamins.

[Evaluation of sufficiency with vitamins C, B1 and B2 of newborn infants feeding different types of nutrition, by means of urinary excretion determination].

With the help of non-invasive methods the sufficiency with vitamins C, B1 and B2 in 58 newborns (38-40 weeks of gestation) on breastfeeding as well as on mixed or artificial feeding has been evaluated. Urinary excretion and breast content of ascorbic acid (measured by visual titration), thiamin (by thiochrome fluorimetric method) andriboflavin (fluorimetrically by titration with riboflavin-binding protein) was determined on the 3-10th day after birth. 35 infants were exclusively breastfed. 40% of their mothers regularly took multivitamin supplements during pregnancy and 42.9%--both during pregnancy and after childbirth, 17.1% did not use vitamin complexes either duringpregnancy or after childbearing. The content of vitamins C, B1 and B2 in the breast milk of women who did not additionally intake vitamins during pregnancy and lactation, was reduced compared with that of mothers who took multivitamin supplements, and provided only a half of the needs of their child in these vitamins. All these babies have urinary excretion of vitamins below the lower limit of norm. Among infants whose mothers took multivitamin supplements during pregnancy, but stop taking them immediately after their birth, only 28.6% of newborns were provided with vitamin C, while all the children identified a lack of vitamins By and B2. The insufficiency with vitamins C and B1 was detected in one third of children breastfed by mothers who took vitamins during pregnancy and continued intaking them after birth, adequate supplied with vitamin B2 was 35.7% of the surveyed. Determination of vitamin urinary excretion (perg creatinine) is useful for vitamin status evaluation. The content of vitamins in breast milk can be used for assessment of vitamin status both a nursing woman and her child. Taking into consideration that the diet of a breastfeeding woman is not always the best, there is no doubt about the need to continue multivitamin intake during breastfeeding. The question on the doses of vitamins in vitamin-mineral supplements for lactating women, providing vitamin content of breast milk at an optimal level, or intended specifically for infants, nowadays is extensively discussed.

[Imbalance of microelements and vitamins in adolescents with diffuse nontoxic goiter and biliary dyskinesia].

The purpose of the present work was to study the level of microelements and vitamins in adolescents with diffuse nontoxic goiter. It has been shown that comorbid biliary dyskinesia leads to significant dysregulation of vitamin and mineral metabolism: the level of essential elements was decreased and the level of toxic elements was increased. Comorbid biliary dyskinesia in adolescents with diffuse nontoxic goiter was accompanied by a disbalance of vitamins. The changes found in micronutrients have sex differences.

[Investigation of vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and niacin levels among children aged 0-3 years old in Chinese urban and rural areas].

OBJECTIVE: To study the nutritional status and differences in vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and niacin of the urban/rural infants in Shandong Province, and to provide scientific basis for infants nutrition interventions. METHODS: 106 urban infants and 290 rural infants were selected from a city in Shandong Province. Forty milliliter urinary was collected from each one, which was adjusted to pH 4-5 with concentrated hydrochloric acid immediately. The concentration of thiamine, riboflavin and niacin in the urine was detected by fluorescence method. RESULTS: The insufficient percentages of vitamin B, vitamin B2 and niacin in urban infants were 1.9%, 8.0% and 9.1%, and that in rural infants were 4.5%, 56.7% and 27.1%. The median concentrations of vitamin B1 in urban and rural infants were 495.00 and 420.56 microg/g respectively, in which the 12-month and 24-month groups in urban were higher than that in rural (P<0.05). The medians of vitamin B2 content in urban and rural infants were 303.07 and 70.88 microg/g, and the content of vitamin B2 in urban infants was higher than that in rural infants in each group (P<0.05). The median concentrations of niacin content in urban and rural infants were 6.31 and 4.22 microg/g, and the niacin content of 6month-, 12 month-, 18 month- and 24 month- groups in urban infants were higher than that in rural infants (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: There were significant differences in vitamin B1, B2 and niacin content of infants between urban and rural areas, and the nutriture of urban infants was better than the rural infants. More improvement measures should be given to infants in rural areas for the high proportion of vitamin B, and niacin deficiency.

Patients with gastrointestinal tract disorders receiving parenteral nutrition need a higher dose of vitamin C.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Appropriateness of the vitamin doses in Japanese commercial multi-vitamin preparations for parenteral nutrition therapy was investigated in patients with gastrointestinal tract disorder by evaluating the vitamin status (blood concentrations and urinary excretions of vitamins B1, B2, B6, and C) of them. METHODOLOGY: Commercial multivitamin preparations were administered continuously with a commercial PN solution over 5 days to 10 patients with gastrointestinal tract disorder. Blood concentrations of vitamins B1, B2, B6, and C were measured on the mornings of day 1, day 4, and day 6. Urinary excretions were measured in 24-h urine collections collected after day 3 and after day 5. RESULTS: Blood concentrations of vitamins B1, B2, and B6 increased but remained within or slightly above the normal throughout the study, and urinary excretion values were normal in all patients. However, blood vitamin C concentration surpassed the lower limit of normal (5.5 microg/mL) only on day 6. Urinary vitamin C excretion was below normal (20.0 mg/day) in all and 7 patients on days 3 and 5, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with gastrointestinal tract disorder, the doses of vitamins B1, B2, and B6 of Japanese commercial multi-vitamin preparations are adequate but that of vitamin C (100 mg/day) is inadequate and should be increased.

[Influence wheat bran on organism vitamin (experiment on rats)].

The inclusion of wheat bran (at a dose of 2,3 and 4,6% of the dry weight) in the semi-synthetic diet of rats under combined deficiency of vitamins (20 and 50% of the adequate level) did not have a significant effect on vitamins C, B1 and B2 liver levels, riboflavin blood plasma level, and thiamine and riboflavin urinary excretion. The consumption of bran in high dose has been accompanied by a decrease of retinol blood plasma level on 19-28% but it has no effect on liver retinol palmitate content. Bran intake in both doses resulted in a deterioration of rats sufficiency with vitamin E, which had been confirmed by a simultaneous significant decrease of blood plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration on 31-40%, and its liver level on 23-43%. The results obtained indicate the advisability of vitamin E enrichment of diets with a high content of dietary fiber.

[Characteristics of nutrition and vitamin supply in girls with metabolic syndrome].

Assessment of actual nutrition in girls with metabolic syndrome revealed excess dietary energy value due to the higher intake of fat and carbohydrates (mono- and disaccharides in particular) and the low intake of vitamin E. The vitamin status of the majority of girls with metabolic syndrome showed varying blood and urinary vitamin E, C, and B, deficiencies.

High-dose thiamine therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria: a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: High-dose supplements of thiamine prevent the development of microalbuminuria in experimental diabetes. The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether oral supplements of thiamine could reverse microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Type 2 diabetic patients (21 male, 19 female) with microalbuminuria were recruited at the Diabetes Clinic, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, and randomised to placebo and treatment arms. Randomisation was by central office in sequentially numbered opaque, sealed envelopes. Participants, caregivers and those assessing the outcomes were blinded to group assignment. Patients were given 3 x 100 mg capsules of thiamine or placebo per day for 3 months with a 2 month follow-up washout period. The primary endpoint was change in urinary albumin excretion (UAE). Other markers of renal and vascular dysfunction and plasma concentrations of thiamine were determined. RESULTS: UAE was decreased in patients receiving thiamine therapy for 3 months with respect to baseline (median -17.7 mg/24 h; p < 0.001, n = 20). There was no significant decrease in UAE in patients receiving placebo after 3 months of therapy (n = 20). UAE was significantly lower in patients who had received thiamine therapy compared with those who had received placebo (30.1 vs 35.5 mg/24 h, p < 0.01) but not at baseline. UAE continued to decrease in the 2 month washout period in both groups, but not significantly. There was no effect of thiamine treatment on glycaemic control, dyslipidaemia or BP. There were no adverse effects of therapy. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In this pilot study, high-dose thiamine therapy produced a regression of UAE in type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria. Thiamine supplements at high dose may provide improved therapy for early-stage diabetic nephropathy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CTRI (India) CTRI/2008/091/000112. FUNDING: Pakistan Higher Education Commission.

A capillary zone electrophoretic method for simultaneous determination of seven drugs in pharmaceuticals and in human urine.

A simple, sensitive, and novel method has been developed and validated for the separation and simultaneous quantitation of seven structurally different drugs-pipemidic acid and ofloxacin quinolone antibiotics, pseudoephedrine decongestant, piroxicam anti-inflammatory, thiamin, pyridoxine, and cobalamin-in a mixture by capillary zone electrophoresis. Factors affecting the separation were pH, concentration of buffer, and applied voltage. Separation was carried out in < 9 min with a 50 mM sodium tetraborate buffer, pH 10, and an applied voltage of 30 kV in an uncoated silica capillary tube. The carrier electrolyte gave baseline separation with good resolution, reproducibility, and accuracy. Calibration plots were linear over at least three orders of magnitude of analyte concentrations, and the lower LODs were within the range of 1-5 microg/mL. Detection was performed by UV absorbance at 230 nm. The method was validated for the analysis of drugs in pharmaceutical preparations and in urine samples with RSD of 0.5-2.4% and recovery of > 99%.

Twenty-four-hour urinary thiamine as a biomarker for the assessment of thiamine intake.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate 24-h urinary thiamine as a potential biomarker for thiamine intake for use in validation studies to assess the validity of dietary intake data collected by self-reporting dietary methods. SUBJECTS: Seven male and six female healthy participants living for 30 days in a metabolic suite under strictly controlled conditions consuming their usual diet as assessed beforehand from four consecutive 7-day food diaries kept at home. During the 30-day study, all 24-h urine specimens were collected, validated for their completeness and analysed for thiamine. RESULTS: Thirty-day mean (+/-s.d.) calculated thiamine intake was 2.22+/-0.55 mg/day. Thirty-day mean (+/-s.d.) urinary excretion of thiamine was 526.5+/-193.0 microg/day (24.7+/-8.10% of intake). There was a highly significant correlation between individuals' 30-day means of thiamine intake and their mean excretion level (r=0.720; P=0.006), where 1 mg of thiamine intake predicted 268.2 microg of thiamine in urine. The correlations between intake and excretion remained significant when measurement from a single 24-h urine collection was used (r=0.56). CONCLUSION: Twenty-four-hour urinary thiamine can be used as a concentration biomarker for thiamine intake in dietary validation studies.

Influence of probiotic and conventional yoghurt on the status of vitamins B1, B2 and B6 in young healthy women.

BACKGROUND: In vitro studies indicate that yoghurt bacteria are able to generate several water-soluble vitamins and therefore yoghurt could be a good source of these micronutrients. However, whether lactobacilli or other viable bacteria release the synthesized vitamins or utilize vitamins from their surroundings is a matter of debate. This study was carried out to investigate whether probiotic and traditional yoghurt bacteria are able to influence the status of different B vitamins (B(1), B(2), B(6)) in young healthy women. METHODS: In this investigation, female volunteers consumed 100 g/day of probiotic (n = 17) or conventional yoghurt (n = 16) for 2 weeks (T1-T2) and 200 g/day for another 2 weeks (T2-T3). A wash-out phase lasting 2 weeks followed. Plasma and urine concentrations of thiamine (vitamin B(1)), riboflavin (B(2)) and pyridoxine (B(6)) were analyzed using HPLC. The functional parameters, i.e. the erythrocyte transketolase (alpha-ETK) expressed as TPP (thiamine pyrophosphate) effect, erythrocyte glutathione reductase (alpha-EGR) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (alpha-EGOT) were determined photometrically. RESULTS: The plasma levels of vitamin B(1) increased significantly in both the probiotic (p < 0.001) and the control group (p < 0.01) when consuming 200 g yoghurt/day (T2-T3) and decreased to the baseline levels after the wash-out phase (T3-T4). Urinary excretion of thiamine and the TPP effect did not significantly change in either the probiotic or the control group during the period of daily yoghurt consumption (T1-T3). The plasma concentration of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) decreased significantly (p < 0.001) after consuming 100 g yoghurt/day (T1-T2) while plasma concentrations of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) (probiotic: p < 0.01, control: p < 0.001) and free riboflavin increased significantly (probiotic: p < 0.01, control: p < 0.001). Afterwards, the levels of these parameters remained unchanged to the end of the study in both tested groups. The urinary excretion of riboflavin and alpha-EGR remained unaffected throughout the study in both the probiotic and the control group. The average status of vitamin B(6), evaluated by its plasma level, urinary excretion and alpha-EGOT was unaffected by daily intake of 100 g (T1-T2) and 200 g yoghurt (T2-T3), respectively, for 4 weeks (T1-T3). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that daily consumption of 200 g of both, probiotic and conventional yoghurt for 2 weeks can contribute to the total intake of vitamin B(1) and B(2) reflected by increased levels of plasma thiamine and free riboflavin in healthy women. The diminished plasma FAD and increased FMN concentrations, observed during the period of daily yoghurt consumption in both groups, may be the result of enhanced immune function and an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, caused by the daily intake of lactic acid bacteria. Since the long term status parameters of all three investigated vitamins (B(1), B(2), B(6)) remained unaffected during the investigation the changes in plasma concentrations seem more likely the result of regular yoghurt consumption as a fermented dairy product, rather than of the specific intake of probiotic bacteria.

Estimation of vitamin B1 excretion in 24-hr urine by assay of first-morning urine.

Urinary B1 (vitamin B1) excretion is commonly determined in 24-hr urine specimens to obtain an estimate of nutritional status. The aim of our study was to investigate whether B1 in random urine specimens, corrected for the urine creatinine (Cr), can be substituted for B1 in 24-hr urines. Collection of such hour urines is often fraught with errors; an alternative method is described here. All urine specimens voided over 24 hr were collected from 32 healthy adults as were the first-morning urines from 30 healthy Japanese women. The B1 excretion was expressed as the ratio of B1 to Cr. Although the B1 excretion was expressed as the B1/Cr ratio, the B1 excretion varied with the urine volume and the time of urine collection. The B1/Cr ratio in random urine specimens not collected at a fixed time may mislead the evaluation of the nutritional status. We found that the B1/Cr ratio in the first-morning urine correlated significantly with the ratio in 24-hr urines (r=0.970, P<0.001) and also with the concentration of total B1 (B1 plus its phosphate esters) in whole blood (r=0.733, P<0.001). We conclude that the B1/Cr ratio in 24-hr urines could be estimated by measuring the ratio in the first-morning urine.

Restoration of thiamine status with white or whole wheat bread in a thiamine-depleted rat model.

Long-term thiamine deficiency has been largely documented, whilst little is known about effects of short-term depletion/repletion periods on thiamine vitamers status. Rats were submitted to short-term depletion (8 days) followed by different durations of repletion (3 or 14 days) with thiamine from bread (whole wheat bread or white bread, whole B and white B respectively) or corresponding controls. Short-term depletion drastically decreased plasma thiamine (-97%) and its urinary excretion (-77%). TDP (thiamine diphosphate) was strongly affected in liver (-67%) but less affected in cerebellum (-38%) or kidneys (-45%). Short-term repletion (3 days) with whole B diet or its control restored TDP at initial values in cerebellum and kidneys. A longer repletion (14 days) was required to restore liver TDP. Comparison of the diet groups indicates that thiamine status in tissues of rat fed whole B or white B diet was comparable to that of rats fed purified thiamine. Plasma thiamine concentration could not be restored at initial values in the bread groups or respective controls. In conclusion, thiamine in whole wheat bread appears effective in preventing marginal deficiencies and plasma thiamine is a less reliable indicator of thiamine status than tissue TDP levels.

Recent trends in determination of thiamine and its derivatives in clinical practice.

Over the last five decades, many methods to analyze thiamine (vitamin B1) and its phosphorylated forms in urine, whole blood, serum, plasma and erythrocytes have been proposed. Some of the methods are presently used in routine practice, but analytical problems regarding reproducibility, standardization, lack of automation, time consuming procedures for pretreatment and analysis are often discussed. With modern approaches to bioanalysis in clinical research of vitamins, whole processes can be automated, making analysis less time consuming, with reduced consumption of solvents and samples. This review critically discusses various analytical techniques, their advantages and disadvantages that are used for determination of thiamine and its derivatives in clinical practice, with emphasis on accurate, reliable and fast analytical procedures.

B-vitamin status and concentrations of homocysteine in Austrian omnivores, vegetarians and vegans.

BACKGROUND: A vegetarian diet is considered to promote health and longevity and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. However, a vegetarian diet may be deficient in some nutrients. Exclusion of animal products in vegetarian diets may affect the status of certain B-vitamins, and further cause the rise of plasma homocysteine concentration. OBJECTIVE: The nutritional status of various B-vitamins (B(1), B(2), B(6), B(12), folic acid) and the concentration of homocysteine in blood plasma of omnivores (n = 40), vegetarians (n = 36) and vegans (n = 42) in Austria was evaluated. METHODS: The evaluation was done using the functional parameters erythrocyte transketolase (ETK), glutathione reductase (EGR) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (EGOT) activation coefficients. Enzyme activity was measured photometrically. The quantity of vitamins B(1), B(2) and B(6) in urine and the concentrations of vitamin B(6) and homocysteine in plasma were determined by HPLC methods with fluorescence detection. Plasma concentration of vitamin B(12) and folic acid were measured with radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Most of the subjects showed a satisfying vitamin B(1) status. Vegans presented a significantly lower mean plasma vitamin B(12) concentration than omnivores and vegetarians and deficiency in 2.4% of the volunteers but the highest mean value of plasma folate among the investigated groups. A deficient status of folate was found in 18% of omnivores and in approximately 10% of vegans and vegetarians. The status of riboflavin is considered to be deficient in about 10% of omnivores and vegetarians and in over 30% of vegans. According to the activation coefficient of GOT, approximately one third of all subjects showed vitamin B(6) deficiency. Elevated homocysteine concentration in plasma was observed in 66% of the vegans and about 45-50% of the omnivores and vegetarians. Vegan subjects had significantly higher mean plasma homocysteine levels than omnivores. CONCLUSION: Thiamin and folate need not be a problem in a well-planned vegan diet. Vitamins B(12) and B(2) may need attention in the strict vegan diet, especially regarding elevated homocysteine levels in plasma. Pyridoxine status appeared to be independent of the diet.

Effect of B vitamins-fortified foods on primary school children in Beijing.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of B vitamins-fortified foods on primary school children. A controlled trial was conducted in 101 normal primary school children aged 9-11 years. They were randomly assigned to supplemental control group (S-control, n=36), riboflavin supplementation group (+riboflavin 0.625 mg/day, n=32), and B vitamin compound supplementation group (+riboflavin 0.625 mg/day, +thiamin 0.512 mg/day, +nicotinic acid 0.365 mg/day, +folic acid 0.13 mg/day, n=33) based on school classes. Urinary riboflavin excretion and erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGRAC) along with erythrocyte transketolase activity (ETKA) were used to evaluate B vitamin levels in the children. AYP index, an index reflecting the brain performance ability, was chosen to assess the children's study abilities. Health education was carried out to help children and their parents adopt scientific dietary concepts. The urinary riboflavin excretion was higher in two supplementation groups (435.24 +/- 153.3 microg/g creatinine, 374.6 +/- 144.6 microg/g creatinine) than in S-control group (235.1 +/- 86.2 microg/g creatinine). Average values of EGRAC were lower in two supplementation groups (0.90 +/- 0.11, 0.80 +/- 0.10) than in S-control group (1.08 +/- 0.25). At the same time, the percentage of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP%) decreased from 63.69 +/- 28.04 to 42.16 +/- 16.31 in B vitamin compound supplementation group. Meanwhile, AYP index increased at the end of the supplementation in two supplementation groups. B vitamins supplementation can significantly increase B vitamin level in children. Biochemical activities of riboflavin and thiamin can improve with the intake of fortified foods. The effect of B vitamin compound supplementation is better than that of single riboflavin supplementation when the effect of riboflavin's biofunction is considered. In addition, micronutrient supplementation appears to assist children's study abilities.

Determination of thiamine and its phosphorylated forms in human plasma, erythrocytes and urine by HPLC and fluorescence detection: a preliminary study on cancer patients.

In man, neurotoxicity associated to ifosfamide treatment can be reversed by intravenous thiamine administration. Trying to explain this clinical finding, we decided to study possible changes in thiamine availability and activation in patients exposed to ifosfamide. Free thiamine and its phosphate esters levels were measured in plasma, erythrocytes and urine by an ion-pair HPLC method with pre-column derivatization, which allowed separation of the fluorescent compounds in less than 10 min. The method was validated by linearity, sensitivity and reproducibility studies, whose values met the demands for bioanalytical assays. This method was applied to assess thiamine status in cancer patients exposed to ifosfamide therapy for advanced disease.

Values of water-soluble vitamins in blood and urine of Japanese young men and women consuming a semi-purified diet based on the Japanese Dietary Reference Intakes.

We investigated the levels of water-soluble vitamins except for vitamin B6 in the blood and urine of Japanese college male (n = 10) and female (n = 10) students. They consumed for 7 d a semi-purified diet based on Japanese Dietary Reference Intakes to assess the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for water-soluble vitamins and to present some new normal values for blood and urine levels of water-soluble vitamins in Japanese. The blood and the 24-h urine samples were collected on the last day of the experiment and measured. The values of total vitamin B1 in whole blood, total vitamin B2 in whole blood, total cyanocobalamin in serum, total nicotinamide in whole blood, total pantothenic acid in whole blood, total folates in serum, total biotin in serum, and ascorbic acid in plasma were 104+/-17 pmol/mL (mean+/-SD), 216+/-25 pmol/mL, 0.34+/-0.05 pmol/mL, 59.1+/- 5.0 nmol/ mL, 2.45+/-0.37 nmol/mL, 15.6+/-4.6 pmol/mL, 8.3+/-0.5 pmol/mL, and 62+/-10 nmol/mL, respectively, in males, and 90+/-23, 234+/-18, 0.67+/-0.20, 61.9+/-6.0, 2.48+/-0.30, 30.2+/-8.6, 8.4+/-0.3, and 67+/-14, respectively, in females. There was a significant difference in the values of cyanocobalamin and total folates between men and women. The urinary excretion of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, cyanocobalamin, sum of the catabolic metabolites of nicotinamide, pantothenic acid, folates, biotin, and ascorbic acid were 665+/-114 nmol/d, 562+/-325 nmol/d, 93+/-31 pmol/d, 84+/-26 micromol/d, 9.3+/-2.3 micromol/d, 19.4+/-2.8 nmol/d, 83+/-18 pmol/d, and 148+/-51 micromol/d, respectively, in males, and 495+/-212, 580+/-146, 145+/-49, 83+/-19, 16.9+/-1.3, 22.7+/-2.7, 83+/-23, and 140+/-51, respectively, in females. There was a significant difference in the urinary excretion of cyanocobalamin, pantothenic acid and total folates between men and women. These values will be useful for the nutritional assessment of water-soluble vitamins for Japanese, although the examination period was short. In future, an experiment with various age groups and re-evaluation by repeated experiments will provide more accurate values.

Effects of excess pantothenic acid administration on the other water-soluble vitamin metabolisms in rats.

To acquire the data concerning the tolerable upper intake level which prevents health problems from an excessive intake of pantothenic acid, an animal experiment was done. Rats of the Wistar strain (male, 3 wk old) were fed on a diet which contains 0%, 0.0016% (control group), 1%, or 3% calcium pantothenate for 29 d. The amount of weight increase, the food intake, and the organ weights were measured, as well as the pantothenic acid contents in urine, the liver and blood. Moreover, to learn the influence of excessive pantothenic acid on other water-soluble vitamin metabolism, thiamin, riboflavin, a vitamin B6 catabolite, the niacin catabolites, and ascorbic acid in urine were measured. As for the 3% addition group, enlargement of the testis, diarrhea, and hair damage were observed, and the amount of weight increase and the food intake were less than those of the control group. However, abnormality was not seen in the 1% addition group. The amount of pantothenic acid in urine, the liver, and blood showed a high correlation with intake level of pantothenic acid. It was only for 4-pyridoxic acid, a vitamin B6 catabolite, in urine that a remarkable difference was observed against the control group. Moreover, the (2-Py+4-Py)/MNA excretion ratio for these metabolites of the nicotinamide also indicated a low value in the 3% pantothenic acid group. As for the calcium pantothenate, it was found that the 3% level in the diet was the lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level (LOAEL) and the 1% level was the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL).