Adult ; Ascorbic Acid ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Occupational Health ; Riboflavin ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Thiamine ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Vitamins ; administration & dosage ; analysis

BACKGROUND: Although there are several available management strategies for treatment of both acute pain of herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), it is difficult to treat them adequately. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intravenously administrated vitamin C on acute pain and its preventive effects on PHN in patients with HZ. METHODS: Between September 2011 and May 2013 eighty-seven patients who were admitted for HZ were assessed according to age, sex, underlying diseases, duration of pain and skin lesion, dermatomal distribution, and PHN. It was a randomized controlled study, in which 87 patients were randomly allocated into the ascorbic acid group and control group. Each patient received normal saline infusion with or without 5 g of ascorbic acid on days 1, 3, and 5 then answered questionnaires that included side effects and pain severity using visual analogue scale on days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. After discharge, the severity of pain was obtained at out-patient clinic or by telephone on weeks 2, 4, 8, and 16. RESULTS: There was no differences in severity of pain on patients' age, sex, underlying diseases, duration of pain and skin lesion and dermatomal distribution between two groups (p>0.05). Since 8th week, pain score in ascorbic acid treatment group was significantly lower than control group (p <0.05). The incidence of PHN was significantly lower in the treatment group compared to control group (p=0.014). The changes of overall pain score was significantly different between the two groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Intravenously administered ascorbic acid did not relieve acute HZ pain; but is effective for reducing the incidence of PHN.
Acute Pain ; Administration, Intravenous* ; Ascorbic Acid* ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic* ; Outpatients ; Skin ; Telephone ; Vitamins*

This study investigated the effects of vitamin C on oxidative stress induced by volatile anesthetics in pigs. One group of pigs was used as an anesthesia control group (group 1), and they were anesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen and saline (0.9% NaCl) was injected intravenously. The other group (group 2) was anesthetized with isoflurane and injected intravenously with vitamin C. Total oxidant status, total antioxidant status, and the oxidative stress index in group 2 were significantly different compared with those in group 1. The results showed that intravenous administration of vitamin C decreased oxidative stress during isoflurane anesthesia in pigs.
Administration, Intravenous ; Anesthesia ; Anesthetics ; Ascorbic Acid ; Isoflurane ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen ; Swine ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: The decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) is a major complication after kidney transplantation. This was reported to occur preferentially during the first 6 months. However, the treatment and prevention strategies against a decline of BMD are not yet clear. METHODS: The data on the pre-transplant baseline and post-transplant 1 year BMD were archived and retrieved in 125 renal transplant recipients. The post-transplant changes of the BMD were compared by the baseline status of the BMD and the types of anti-osteoporosis treatment either with a vitamin D agent (alfacalcidiol) (n=18) or alendronate (n=21). Anti-osteoporosis treatment began within 30 days after transplantation, with an oral administration of 0.5 mcg/day vitamin D or 70 mg/week alendronate, and maintained until 1 year after transplantation. RESULTS: Regardless the degree of baseline BMD status, each group (the control, vitamin D, or alendronate group) showed a significant and uniform decrease of BMD during the post-transplant 1 year. The mean change in the spine BMD in the control, vitamin D, and alendronate group was -7.1+/-7.5%, -3.3+/-7.4% and -2.6+/-6.5%, respectively. The femur BMD also changed -5.1+/-7.7%, 1.1+/-5.3% and -1.5+/-8.2%, respectively. The degree of BMD decrease in the treatment groups was significantly lower than that in the control (P=0.014 in spine, P=0.003 in femur). When the severely reduced baseline BMD (T-score of spine or femur < or =-1) subgroups were analysed separately, the treatment groups (-3.7+/-6.5% in vitamin D and -1.1+/-6.4% in alendronate group) showed a significantly less decrease in the spine BMD than the control (-8.2+/-6.2%)(P=0.036). The femur BMD also showed a less decrease in the BMD in the treatment group, but this was not statistically significant (P=0.234). There was no significant difference between the vitamin D and alendronate treatment groups. CONCLUSION: After renal transplantation, early administration of vitamin D or alendronate showed some benefit to reduce the post-transplant decrease of BMD in both spine and femur area.
Administration, Oral ; Alendronate* ; Bone Density* ; Femur ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Spine ; Transplantation ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

OBJECTIVETo examine the differences in food and antioxidant vitamin intake in current non-smokers,light smokers,and heavy smokers.

METHODS51 115 people (24 077 male, 27 038 female) aged above 15 years who had completed providing information on smoking habit and dietary intake, were selected from 2002 national health and nutrition survey.

RESULTSAfter adjustment for geographic areas and age, data showed the smokers ate more light vegetable and alcohol, less dark vegetable and fruit than non-smokers. Male smokers consumed more energetic stuff and macronutrients than non-smokers, but female smokers had opposite trends. Light smokers (LS) consumed less antioxidant than non-smokers (NS) after adjusted for area, age, BMI and energy, with carotene (Male LS = 1824.7 microg, NS = 1964.8 microg; Female LS = 1565.4 microg, NS = 2127.4 microg), thiamin (Male LS = 0.84 mg, NS = 0.85 mg; Female LS = 0.72 mg, NS = 0.74 mg), vitamin E (alpha) (Male LS = 9.2 mg, NS = 9.3 mg; Female LS = 7.4 mg, NS = 8.1 mg), vitamin C (Male LS = 91.2 mg, NS = 94.2 mg; Female LS = 76.9 mg, NS = 87.5 mg).

CONCLUSIONSmokers had a significantly lower overall mean dietary antioxidant vitamin intake than non-smokers. Increasing the daily consumption of variety of fruits and vegetables had been recommended to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Antioxidants ; administration & dosage ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Diet ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Smoking ; Vegetables ; Vitamins ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate trend of dietary nutrient intake among adult females in China.

METHODSThe changes of dietary energy and major nutrient intake among females aged 25 to 55 years in 9 provinces were analyzed by using the data from Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey, 2000-2011 (CHNS) and indicators of Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) 2013.

RESULTSDuring the past decade, the proportion of females with the intake of energy and protein meeting the requirement of recommendation decreased, while the proportion of females with low carbohydrate (< 50% energy) and high fat (> 30% energy) intakes increased. Meanwhile, the vitamin and mineral intakes among the females were also unsatisfactory, only small proportion of the females met the requirement for micronutrient intake, and this proportion continued to decline. In 2011, the proportion of the females who met the requirements for energy and protein intakes were 43.0% and 54.4%, respectively; the proportion of the females with low carbohydrate and high fat intakes were 40.2% and 63.8%, respectively; the proportion of females who met the requirements for vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C and vitamin E intakes were 25.2%, 10.7%, 6.9%, 54.9%, 24.3% and 88.5% respectively and the proportion of females who met the requirements for calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and selenium intakes were 3.3%, 23.6%, 50.9%, 75.7% and 13.3% respectively.

CONCLUSIONFurther nutritional education and intervention is needed to improve nutrition status among Chinese females.

Adult ; Ascorbic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Calcium, Dietary ; administration & dosage ; China ; Diet ; trends ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; administration & dosage ; Micronutrients ; administration & dosage ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Requirements ; Nutritional Status ; Vitamins ; administration & dosage

Methemoglobinemia is a condition in which the iron portion of hemoglobin, which binds to oxygen, is oxidized to produce methemoglobin, which increases blood concentration. There are many causes of methemoglobinemia, the most common being food, drugs, and chemicals. A 75-year-old male patient who had taken an herbicide did not notice any nonspecific symptoms. However, after 4 hours, his methemoglobin levels increased to 17.1%, while after 7 hours it increased to 26.5%, at which time intravenous administration of methylene blue 1 mg/kg (an antidote) was started. After a total of five doses of methylene blue at 1 mg/kg due to reactive methemoglobinemia for about 36 hours, the methemoglobin levels increased to 23.7%. Because no more methylene blue could be administered, 10 g of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) was administered intravenously. After 82 hours, ascorbic acid 10 g was administered six times for repeated reactive methemoglobinemia. No additional reactive methemoglobinemia was observed. The ventilator and endotracheal tube were successfully removed on day 5 after admission.
Administration, Intravenous ; Aged ; Ascorbic Acid* ; Humans ; Iron ; Male ; Methemoglobin ; Methemoglobinemia* ; Methylene Blue ; Oxygen ; Poisoning* ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Vitamins*

A cardiovascular collapse, due to preoperatively administered intravenous vitamin K (phytonadione), was experienced in a 59-year-old woman who was scheduled to undergo a left upper lung lobectomy. The patient developed sudden facial flushing, an upper torso rash, dyspnea, palpitation, and severe hypotension about 2 min after the intravenous administration of approximately 2 mg of vitamin K. Immediate hydration and an injection of 20 mg ephedrine restored her blood pressure to the preoperative level within 5 min. The patient recovered without any sequelae, but the operation was postponed. The patient's symptoms seemed to be due to an anaphylactoid reaction or anaphylaxis following the intravenous administration of vitamin K. This case report suggests that physicians should carefully review the indications of vitamin K prior to administration, even at low doses.
Administration, Intravenous ; Anaphylaxis ; Blood Pressure ; Dyspnea ; Ephedrine ; Exanthema ; Female ; Flushing ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Torso ; Vitamin K ; Vitamins*

Although many regimens for the acne therapy were proposed and vere used upto date, there is, no ideal choice of treatment. Since a certain relationship between the vitamin A and some dermatoses accompanied, with dyskeratoses had been proposed by Harris in 1932. many studies have been reported for the acne treatment with vitamin A topical or oral administration. (Straumfjord 1943, Lynch & Cook 1947, Anderson & Stokoe 1968). In 1969, Kligman observed the peeling effect of vitamin A acid (VAA), a metabolite of vitamin A, on the human skin and he experienced very good effect of VAA topical application on acne patients. Tbereafter, many authors studied about the VAA and reported the excellent effect on acne (McGills et al. 197l, Mills R Plewig 1972, Juhlin 1975). Moxeover, in 1976, Kim & Lee observed similar results with the authors mentioned above in its cure rate and side effects. In contrast to their high cure rate in those studies, however, its untoward side effects were freqvently elicited with severe intensity. So, author studied the effectiveness and side effects of VAAD which was changed in its chemical structure to diminish the side effects of VAA. Thirty-seven patients (M:F=4:33) were studied, and the results obtained were as follows. 1. The total number of lesions decreased significantly from third week and decreased by half in 4th. week. 2. The number of closed comedones decreased significantly from second week but the number of open comedones temporarily increased in 1st. week and decreased thereafter. 3. pustules and papul s continually decreased but new pustule formation developed in 3 patients and also disappeared in 4 weeks of treatment. 4. Allergic contact dermatitis was developed in 1 patient among 37 patients in 4th. week. 5. There were some undesirable side effects of scaling, pruritus, buming sensation in about 80% respectively, but its intensity was mild or moderate, and fissure, edema and exudation which appeared in VAA treatment were not observed. only a few patients complained tightness, erythema and pain. In comparison with VAA, the duration of treatment with VAAD was delayed about 1-2 weeks and the effectiveness in acne therapy with VAAD was almost equal to VAA therapy, and the side effects were markedly diminished.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Administration, Oral ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Edema ; Erythema ; Humans ; Pruritus ; Sensation ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Tretinoin* ; Vitamin A* ; Vitamins*

The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence, types, and trends of dietary supplement (DS) use. We analyzed the Dietary Supplement Questionnaire data of Korean aged 19 years old or older from the Nutrition Survey of the 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey. Each reported DS was coded based on ingredients according to the 2010 Korean Food and Drug Administration Notification. The prevalence (standard error) of current DS use was 20.6% (0.7) for men, 32.2% (0.7) for women. Those with DS use for longer than two weeks during previous one year were 27.2% (0.7), and 40.2% (0.8), for men and women respectively. Vitamin mineral supplement (221.6/10(3) persons) was the most frequently consumed DS in Korean adults. The trend for DS use in Korean adults is changing as well as increasing.
Adult ; Aged ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence ; United States Food and Drug Administration ; Vitamins