Keratocyne(R) is the complex of cystine and vitamine B6. Cystine is collagenase inhibitor and vitamine B6 is essential to the metabolism of cystine. We administered Keratocyne(R) orally combined with specific topical therapy to investigate its healing effect on various corneal diseases. The results were as follows: 1. The cases which improved after Keratocyne(R) administration were 15 patients out of 22 patients. 2. No untoward side effects were observed. We concluded that Keratocyne(R) was effective on certain corneal diseases which released collagenase.
Collagenases ; Corneal Diseases* ; Cystine ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Vitamins

Seizures are a frequent symptom in metabolic disorders, although metabolic disorders are rarely found to be the cause of epilepsy. A precise diagnosis might not only influence treatment, but it might also call for counseling of the family, even if there are no direct therapeutic consequences. We review the main characteristics of epilepsy in metabolic disorders with regard to energy metabolism, toxic effects, neurotransmitters, and vitamins.
Counseling ; Energy Metabolism ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Seizures ; Vitamins

In this study, the skeletal abnormalities associated with scurvy in subadults crania from three archaeological skeletal collections (Nukdo, Imdang, Yeanri), South Korea was analyzed to examine the prevalence and distribution of childhood scurvy of ancient Korea. For this, 30 subadults crania from the Nukdo, Imdang, Yeanri site were examined. Using criteria described by Ortner and Ericksen (1997) for identifying scurvy in skeletal material we evaluated the cranial skeleton of the subadults for evidence of abnormal porosity. All skeletal materials were macroscopically evaluated for pathological changes associated with scurvy. In results, lesions indicative of probable scurvy were observed in 22 individuals of 30 individuals. Based on the results, childhood disease relating to nutrition and metabolism in ancient Korea might have been widespread, along with scurvy. The results of the present study will be useful for understanding the health condition of the ancient Korean populations. Future work will add significantly to the larger picture of diet and disease within populations of ancient Korea.
Diet ; Korea* ; Malnutrition ; Metabolism ; Paleopathology ; Porosity ; Prevalence ; Scurvy* ; Skeleton ; Vitamins

Child ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Vitamin D ; metabolism ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamins ; metabolism

Vitamin D plays an important role in mineral and bone homeostasis, immune responses, cardiovascular function and keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. Vitamin D performs most of its functions by binding to vitamin D receptors (VDR), which interact with other intracellular signaling pathways to regulate bone metabolism, inflammation, immunity, cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Autophagy is a basic stress response in yeast, plants and mammals, and plays a critical role in maintaining optimal functional states at the level of cells and organs. Vitamin D/VDR plays an anti-infection role via inducing and regulating autophagy.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mammals/metabolism* ; Receptors, Calcitriol/metabolism* ; Vitamin D/physiology* ; Vitamins

Refeeding syndrome refers to a life-threatening shift of electrolytes and fluid with metabolic abnormalities in malnourished patients undergoing refeeding, whether orally, enterally, or parenterally. Clinical findings are fluid-balance abnormalities, abnormal glucose metabolism, hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia and deficiencies of vitamin and trace element. Multiple organ systems including cardiac, respiratory, neurologic, renal, hematologic, and gastrointestinal can be affected. When recognized in a timely manner, these complications can be easily and successfully prevented and treated. Four factors appear fundamental: early identification of patients at risk, correction of abnormalities before refeeding, close monitoring during refeeding, and an appropriate feeding regimen.
Electrolytes ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Hypophosphatemia ; Metabolism ; Nutritional Support ; Refeeding Syndrome* ; Vitamins

Vitamins are micronutrients which are essential for the maintenance of biological responses including immune system. Hence, vitamin deficiency increases a risk of infectious, allergic, and inflammatory diseases. Accumulating evidence has recently revealed the molecular and cellular mechanisms of vitamin-mediated regulation in the active and quiescent immune responses. In this review, we focus on the immunologic roles of vitamins in the regulation of homeostasis and surveillance in the gut.
Avitaminosis ; Energy Metabolism ; Homeostasis* ; Immune System ; Immunoglobulin A ; Inflammation ; Micronutrients ; Monitoring, Immunologic* ; Vitamins*

PURPOSE: The most common metabolic defect appearing following a gastrectomy is anemia. Two types have been identified: One is related to a deficiency in iron and the other is related to an impairment in vitamin B12 metabolism. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence and treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency after a total gastrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum vitamin B12 concentrations were measured in 128 patients who had undergone a total gastrectomy. The group with a serum concentration under 200 pg/ml was supplemented at one-month intervals with Actinamide and five-six months later, serum concentrations of the vitamin B12 were rechecked. RESULTS: The group with vitamin B12 under 200 pg/ml was 61 (47.6%) of the 128 patients who had undergone a total gastrectomy. In this group, the cumulative incidences of vitamin B12 deficiency were 7.0, 23.4, 33.6, 39.1, 41.4, and 47.7% at 6 months, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 or more years, respectively. The treated group with vitamin B12 under 200 pg/ml had 36 (28.17%) of the 128 patients. The 16 of those cases with vitamin B12 levels of 100~150 pg/ml were supplemented 5.21 times and the vitamine B12 was elevated to above 650 pg/ml. The other 20 cases with an average of vitamin B12 levels of 150~200 pg/ml were supplemented an average of 4.75 times, and the vitamin B12 was elevated to above 780 pg/ml. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to supplement vitamin B12 even 1 year later after a total gastrectomy. The group with vitamin B12 under 200 pg/ml was supplemented 5~6 times at one-month intervals with Actinamide 1,000microgram IM injections and reached normal levels.
Anemia ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iron ; Metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency* ; Vitamin B 12* ; Vitamins*

Antioxidant vitamin supplementation focuses one's attention on the prevention of age-related diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant status and lipid profiles and to look into the antioxidant vitamin supplementation that affects lipid metabolism in 20 elderly non-smoking Korean women (placebo group: n = 6, vitC suppl: n = 7, vitE suppl: n = 7). Age, height, weight, muscle, percent of fat and WHR were not significantly different among the groups, however % of fat was above 33% and WHR was above 0.9. And blood pressure of the placebo group was 131.7/81.7 (border line hypertension), that of vitamin C supplement was 141.4/87.1 (hypertension) and that of vitamin E supplement was 151.4/92.9 (hypertension). Although nutrient intakes of all groups were poor, antioxidant status (blood vitamins C, E, A, and beta-carotene) and lipid profile (TG, total-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol) were normal. For nutritional intervention, the vitamin C supplement group received L-ascorbic acid 1,000 mg, and vitamin E supplement group received d-alpha-tocopherol 400IU for 4 weeks, showing the effects of vitamin E supplementation. Response total cholesterol of HDL-cholesterol (T-Chol/HDL) in vitamin E supplement group was significantly decreased from 4.3 to 3.2. And response LDL-cholesterol of HDL-cholesterol (LDL/HDL) in the vitamin E supplement group was also significantly decreased from 2.6 to 1.7. In addition, after the adjustment for plasma lipids (TG, total cholesterol), plasma vitamin A levels in vitamin E supplement group were significantly increased from 7.89 mg/g to 14.91 mg/g. And systolic blood pressure in vitamin E supplement group was significantly reduced. These results suggested that vitamin E supplementation affects the lipid profiles and blood pressure in elderly non-smoking women. So various nutrition programs must be implemented against age-related diseases and further studies are needed regarding sorts and amounts of antioxidant nutrients and supplementation periods.
Aged* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Plasma ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

This study compared activity factor, predicted resting metabolic rate (RMR), and nutrient intakes between athletic and non-athletic high school students in Gangwon-do. Fifty soccer players (30 males and 20 females; mean ages 16.7+/-1.0 years and 16.4+/-1.1 years, respectively) and 50 non-athletic (30 males and 20 females; mean ages 17.5+/-0.4 years and 16.4+/-1.1 years respectively) high school students were included. Anthropometric measurements included: weight and height, triceps skinfold, mid-arm circumference, and body fat. Prediction equations consisted of those from the Harris-Benedict, FAO/WHO/UNU, IMNA, Cunningham, Mifflin et al., and Owen et al. A one-day activity diary was collected by interview, and the 24-hour recall method was used to analyze nutrient intakes of subjects. The activity factors of the male and female athletic groups (2.23 and 2.16, respectively) were significantly higher than those (1.52 and 1.46, respectively) of the non-athletic group. There was only a significant difference in RMR by use of the Cunningham's equation between two groups. For the males, almost all nutrient intakes of the athletic group (except carbohydrate, iron, vitamin B1, B6, and niacin) of athletic group were significantly higher than those of the non-athletic group. The female athletic group showed significantly higher nutrient intakes with the exception of most vitamins. These results suggest that assessments of energy balance between energy intake and energy expenditure by employing RMR and activity factors would be useful to prevent and treat obesity in high school athletes. In addition, the Cunningham's equation would be appropriate for predicting their energy needs.
Adipose Tissue ; Athletes ; Energy Intake ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Male ; Obesity ; Soccer ; Sports ; Thiamine ; Vitamins