BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Physical exercise promotes energy producing pathways requiring thiamin and riboflavin as a coenzyme. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of regular exercise training on urinary excretion of thiamin and riboflavin. MATERIALS/METHODS: Fifty rats were randomly assigned to one of two groups: non-exercise training (NT, n = 25) and regular exercise training (ET, n = 25) for 5 weeks. The rats performed moderate exercise on a treadmill (0.5-0.8 km/hour) for 30 min/day, 5 days/week. Twenty-four hour urine samples were collected at the end of the 0 week, 3rd week, and 5th week of training and thiamin and riboflavin were analyzed. RESULTS: No significant differences in thiamin and riboflavin intakes for each week were observed between the NT and ET groups. Urinary thiamin excretion of each group was the highest at the 5th week compared to the levels at 0 and 3rd week. Urinary thiamin at the 5th week was significantly lower in the ET group than in the NT group. Urinary riboflavin excretion was increased by training duration, however, no difference was observed between NT and ET for each week. At 0 and 3rd week, no significant relationships were observed between dietary intake and urinary excretion of thiamin and riboflavin, however, at the 5th week, urinary excretion was significantly increased by dietary intake only in the NT group (P < 0.05). Thiamin excretion of both NT and ET groups was significantly increased with riboflavin excretion at the 5th week (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Regular moderate exercise training increased urinary excretion of thiamin. Dietary intakes and urinary excretions of thiamin and riboflavin showed positive correlation in both the exercise training and non-exercise training groups as the exercise training period went by, while the correlations in the exercise training group were weaker than those in the non-exercise training group. Therefore, regular exercise training can alter the urinary excretion of thiamin and riboflavin in rats.
Animals ; Exercise ; Rats ; Riboflavin* ; Vitamin B Complex

Adequate vitamin B(2), vitamin B(6), folate and vitamin B(12) nutrition is known to be important for reproductive function in women of childbearing age. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum vitamin B(2), vitamin B(6), folate and vitamin B(12) status and serum homocysteine levels in 115 women aged 33.2 +/- 4.0 years, who had been diagnosed with infertility, and 49 women aged 34.5 +/- 3.8 years having at least one born child. Total vitamin B(2) and vitamin B(6) intakes in infertile women were significantly lower than those in control. Serum vitamin B(2), vitamin B(6), folate and vitamin B(12) concentrations were significantly lower in infertile women than those in control and serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in infertile women than those in control. Thirteen percent in infertile women and zero percent in control were assessed as hyperhomocysteinemic and there was a significant difference in the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia between infertile women and control. 41% infertile women were assessed as folate deficiency. Serum folate concentrations was negatively correlated with serum homocysteine of the infertile women and control. Total vitamin B2 intakes was negatively correlated with serum homocysteine of the infertile women and control. Total vitamin B6, folate intakes were negatively correlated with homocysteine of infertile women only. In conclusion, infertile women are needed to intake more B vitamins intakes. Furthermore researches are needed to estimate adequate B vitamin supplementation in infertile women.
Child ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Infertility ; Prevalence ; Riboflavin ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin B Complex ; Vitamins*

Consumption of vegetables and fruits is associated with a reduced risk of stroke, but it is unclear whether their protective effects are due to antioxidant vitamins or folate and metabolically related B vitamins. The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that intake of fruits and vegetables, which are major sources of antioxidant and vitamin B complex vitamins, reduces the risk of stroke. Cases consisted of patients diagnosed with first event of stroke (n = 69). Controls (n = 69) were age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched to cases. Multivariable-adjusted regression analysis showed that subjects who ate four to six servings of vegetable per day had a 32% reduction in the risk of stroke, and those with more than six servings per day had a reduction of 69% after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and family history of stroke. Intakes of total fat, plant fat, calcium, potassium, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, niacin, and folate were significantly and negatively associated with the risk of stroke. Although the trend was not significant, stroke risk was reduced in the second quartile (1.21-2.66 servings per week) of fish intake. However, intake of fruits (average daily intake of 1.0 serving) and antioxidant vitamins such as carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E was not associated with the risk of stroke. In conclusion, our observational study suggests that intake of fat and vegetables, rich sources of vitamin B complex, calcium, and potassium may protect against stroke.
Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Carotenoids ; Folic Acid ; Fruit ; Humans ; Korea ; Niacin ; Plants ; Potassium ; Riboflavin ; Stroke ; Thiamine ; Vegetables ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin B Complex ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

Electronic retrieval was carried out on literatures from the period of May 1, 2006 and June 1, 2011 in databases of PubMed, ISI web of knowledge and CNKI. The selected literatures were summarized and classified from three aspects of acupoints selection, medication selection and manipulations. It is concluded that cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) points, Fengchi (GB 20) and Ashi points, etc. are common acupoints. The medications contain simple Chinese herbs (Danggui injectio, etc.) and compound Chinese herbs (compound Danggui injectio, etc.), simple western medicine (vitamin B family, etc.) and Chinese herbs combined with western medicine (compound Danggui injectio combined with vitamin B12, etc.). Disposable syringes are used for injection equipment. Acupoint injection in treating cervical spondylosis is effective. However, mechanism studies is still in deficient since most of the researches focus on clinical observation. Manipulation of acupoint injection is not standardized. Laws of clinical effect are not clear. Thus, the above mentioned defects are still remained for further improvement.
Acupuncture Points ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Spondylosis ; drug therapy ; Vitamin B Complex ; administration & dosage

For the past 20 years, it has been suggested that B vitamins (vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12) and antioxidant vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E) can prevent cardiovascular disease. Many observational studies reported a consistent dose-related association between homocysteine levels and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Homocysteine can be easily lowered by supplementation of vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin B12. Because the vitamins are inexpensive and relatively safe, such therapy would be highly cost effective. However randomized clinical studies using vitamin B6, folate or vitamin B12 supplementation failed to show benefit in preventing cardiovascular disease despite adequate lowering of homocysteine. Similarly, the role of anti-oxidant vitamins was linked to prevention of cardiovascular disease by limiting oxidation of low density lipoprotein cholesterol. In large observational studies, higher intake of anti-oxidant vitamins from diet or supplement was associated with decreased risk of coronary artery disease in men and women. However, a series of large randomized trials demonstrated no benefit from these anti-oxidant vitamins. Instead, several meta-analyses showed that supplementation of carotene, vitamin C or vitamin E increased cardiovascular mortality or all cause mortality. Considering currently available evidences, vitamins taken in excess of the dose required to prevent deficiency states are not beneficial in preventing cardiovascular disease and may harm people.
Ascorbic Acid ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotenoids ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Diet ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Stroke ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin B Complex ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the dietary intake of nutrients and food in postmenopausal Korean women. METHODS: One hundred eighty-nine postmenopausal women were recruited from 10 different hospitals in Seoul. The dietary intake of nutrients and foods was obtained using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, including 102 foods based on the Korean food pattern. RESULTS: Postmenopausal Korean women consumed energy and most of the nutrients adequately, except vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and folate. Intake of vitamin D and calcium was 60% and 78%, respectively, of the Korean Dietary Reference Intake (KDRI). Elderly postmenopausal women > 65 years of age consumed significantly less nutrients, such as fat, n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B complex, calcium, potassium, iron, fruit, fish, and mushrooms. The intake of vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and folate, was less than the KDRI in both groups of postmenopausal women. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the intake of vitamin D, folate, calcium, and potassium was less than the KDRI in postmenopausal women and the nutritional status of elderly postmenopausal women was worse than younger postmenopausal women.
Agaricales ; Aged ; Calcium ; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Fruit ; Humans ; Iron ; Nutritional Status ; Potassium ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin B Complex ; Vitamin D ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the dietary intake of nutrients and food in postmenopausal Korean women. METHODS: One hundred eighty-nine postmenopausal women were recruited from 10 different hospitals in Seoul. The dietary intake of nutrients and foods was obtained using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, including 102 foods based on the Korean food pattern. RESULTS: Postmenopausal Korean women consumed energy and most of the nutrients adequately, except vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and folate. Intake of vitamin D and calcium was 60% and 78%, respectively, of the Korean Dietary Reference Intake (KDRI). Elderly postmenopausal women > 65 years of age consumed significantly less nutrients, such as fat, n-3 and n-6 fatty acids, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B complex, calcium, potassium, iron, fruit, fish, and mushrooms. The intake of vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and folate, was less than the KDRI in both groups of postmenopausal women. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the intake of vitamin D, folate, calcium, and potassium was less than the KDRI in postmenopausal women and the nutritional status of elderly postmenopausal women was worse than younger postmenopausal women.
Agaricales ; Aged ; Calcium ; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Fruit ; Humans ; Iron ; Nutritional Status ; Potassium ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin B Complex ; Vitamin D ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We investigated the nutritional state of B vitamins and the neuropsychological functions in 25 subjects, aged 63.1 +/- 6.3 years, residing in rural areas of Korea. Nutritional states of thiamin, riboflavin, and pyridoxine were assessed enzymatically in the erythrocytes, and folate concentrations were measured microbiologically in the plasma and erythrocytes. A battery of composite neuropsychological test was administered to the subjects. Plasma folate was correlated with the total intelligence score (p=0.049). Folate levels in the erythrocytes were correlated with the performance intelligence scores such as block design (p=0.017) and picture arrangement (p=0.016). The red cell folate was correlated with memory scores such as general memory (p=0.009) and delayed recall (p=0.000). Although it did not reach statistical significance, verbal memory (p=0.053) was highly correlated with the red cell folate. The red cell folate was also correlated positively with the percent of conceptual level response number score (p=0.029), and negatively with the grooved pegboard test score for the non-dominant hand (p=0.010). Fine motor coordination was also influenced by folate nutrition, as finger tapping scores in both hands were significantly correlated with red cell folate (dominant hand; p=0.026, non-dominant hand; p=0.004). Other B vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin B6 were not as strongly correlated with neuropsychological function test scores as folate was. These results suggest that folate nutrition influences neuropsychological function test scores significantly in humans. Further studies are needed to explore the relationship between folate or other vitamin B nutrition and neuropsychological functions and the implications thereof.
Aged ; Erythrocytes ; Fingers ; Folic Acid ; Hand ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Korea ; Memory ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Plasma ; Pyridoxine ; Riboflavin ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin B Complex ; Vitamins

Elevated homocysteine concentration is known to be related to placental abruption, spontaneous abortion, and many adverse pregnancy outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of folic acid supplementation (1000 microgram per day) and 5, 10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism genotype on serum homocysteine and B vitamin levels in 50 infertile women (aged 31.2 +/- 3.2 years). Blood sampling was performed at baseline and at the end of folic acid supplementation period. In infertile women, serum folate and vitamin B12 concentrations were significantly higher in post-supplementation than those in pre-supplementation. Serum homocysteine concentration was significantly lower in post-supplementation than that in pre-supplementation. However, serum homocysteine levels were still higher in the T/T genotype than those in the C/C or C/T even after folic acid supplementation. Serum homocysteine was inversely related to serum folate in T/T homozygotes at baseline and at the end of folic acid supplementation. These results suggest that folic acid supplementation is needed for infertile women to improve their vitamin status and also to reduce the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia. These effects were different according to their MTHFR C677T genotypes. Therefore, further studies are necessary to determine the optimal level of supplementation of folic acid by MTHFR genotypes.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Abruptio Placentae ; Female ; Folic Acid* ; Genotype ; Homocysteine* ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamin B Complex* ; Vitamins

Elevated plasma homocysteine is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Exercise is generally believed to reduce the plasma homocysteine levels and therefore, being beneficial for cardiovascular disease(CVD). However, there is a possibility that athletes undergoing strenuous training and competition which increase oxidative stress may suffer from increased plasma homocysteine levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of endurance training on the plasma concentrations of B vitamins and homocysteine in 23 male adolescent field hockey players. Data collection and blood sampling was performed during the training period and non-training period. Following the training period, significant changes in energy and vitamin B6 intakes were observed in these subjects. Plasma vitamin B2, pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and homocysteine levels were significantly higher during the training period than non-training period, whereas no difference was observed in plasma folate and vitamin B12 levels. Positive correlation was observed between plasma folate and folic acid intakes. When energy, B vitamin intakes were adjusted there was a significant negative correlation between plasma homocysteine levels and plasma riboflavin, folate and vitamin B12 levels. In conclusion, it is suggested that athletes with oxidative stress by strenuous exercise may need B vitamins since riboflavin, folic acid and vitamin B12 were shown to be negatively correlated with plasma homocysteine in athletes during the training period.
Adolescent* ; Athletes ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Data Collection ; Folic Acid ; Hockey* ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Male* ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma* ; Pyridoxal Phosphate ; Riboflavin ; Risk Factors ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin B Complex ; Vitamins*