1.Association of Serum Folate and Vitamin B12 Concentrations with Obesity in Chinese Children and Adolescents
Rang Qian ZHU ; Dieuwertje E KOK ; Tesfaye Hailu BEKELE ; Koen MANUSAMA ; Xian Jing ZHANG ; Wei XIE ; Qi Wen ZONG ; Hui ZUO ; Jian ZHANG ; Ellen KAMPMAN ; Yue DAI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(3):242-253
Objective This study aimed to evaluate the associations of serum folate and/or vitamin B12 concentrations with obesity among Chinese children and adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted including 3,079 Chinese children and adolescents,aged 6 to 17 years,from Jiangsu,China.Anthropometric indices,such as,children's body mass index(BMI),BMI z-scores,waist circumference,and waist-to-height ratio were utilized.Multivariable linear regression and generalized additive models were used to investigate the associations of serum folate and vitamin B12 levels with anthropometric indices and odds of obesity. Results We observed that serum vitamin B12 concentrations were inversely associated with all anthropometric indices and the odds of general obesity[odds ratio(OR)= 0.68;95%confidence interval(CI)= 0.59,0.78]and abdominal obesity(OR = 0.68;95%CI = 0.60,0.77).When compared to participants with both serum vitamin levels in the two middle quartiles,those with both serum folate and vitamin B12 levels in the highest quartile were less prone to general(OR = 0.31,95%CI = 0.19,0.50)or abdominal obesity(OR = 0.46,95%CI = 0.31,0.67).Conversely,participants with vitamin B12 levels in the lowest quartile alongside folate levels in the highest quartile had higher odds of abdominal obesity(OR = 2.06,95%CI = 1.09,3.91). Conclusion Higher serum vitamin B12 concentrations,but not serum folate concentrations,were associated with lower odds of childhood obesity.Children and adolescents with high levels of vitamin B12 and folate were less likely to be obese.
2.Glycyrrhizic acid: a potential drug against COVID-19
Fu-jing GE ; Chen-ming ZENG ; Fang-jie YAN ; Mei-jia QIAN ; Wei-hua WANG ; Pei-hua LUO ; Qin-jie WENG ; Rang-xiao ZHUANG ; Jian-jun XI ; Jin-song HUANG ; Bo YANG ; Hong ZHU ; Qiao-jun HE
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2021;56(5):1211-1216
Pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 has seriously threatened human life and health worldwide and caused a large number of deaths. Viral infection and acute inflammation are important causes of death, so it is particularly important to combine antiviral therapy with anti-inflammatory therapy. Glycyrrhizic acid, the main component of the glycyrrhizic root extract, has a wide range of pharmacological effects as well as high efficiency and low toxicity, its preparation has been widely used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis and other diseases. Glycyrrhizic acid can regulate the expression and release of a variety of cytokines and play a significant anti-inflammatory effect. At the same time, glycyrrhizic acid also showed significant inhibition towards a variety types of viruses. Therefore, the potential application of glycyrrhizic acid as COVID-19 treatment should be explored.