AIMTo investigate the effects of a nutritional supplement on nutritional status and hypoxia endurance in young adults living at high altitude.

METHODSForty healthy male young adults were recruited and randomly assigned to control and intervention groups. The nutrition survey was carried out using weighing method. The intervention group was given a nutritional supplement specifically designed for use at high altitude, while the control group was treated with a supplement made of stir-fried flour. After 20 days of supplementation, they marched from the altitude of 3700 m to 5100 m. The changes in HR, SaO2, serum concentrations of VA and VB2 and some minerals were measured.

RESULTSThe results of nutrition survey showed that the ratio of three macronutrients was not adequate and the intakes of calcium, VA and VB2 were below Chinese RNI. The serum concentrations of calcium, magnesium and VA were below normal references. The serum VB2 concentration was at the low level o f normal reference. The nutritional supplement could increase the serum concentrations of calcium, magnesium, VA and VB2, indicating an improved nutritional status. The changes in HR and SaO2 were diminished in intervention group compared with control group.

CONCLUSIONThe nutritional supplement can improve nutritional status and increase the hypoxia endurance in young adults living at high altitude.

Adult ; Altitude ; Dietary Supplements ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; prevention & control ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Vitamins ; therapeutic use

Humans ; Vitamins/therapeutic use* ; Iron, Dietary ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Nutrition Surveys ; Diet ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin K

Metformin has robust glucose-lowering effects and multiple benefits beyond hypoglycemic effects. It can also be used in combination with various hypoglycemic drugs and is cost effective. In the absence of the strong indications of glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) or sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) for cardiorenal protection, metformin should be used as the first-line pharmacological treatment for newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and the basic drug for the combined treatment of hypoglycemic drugs. Metformin does not increase the risk of liver and kidney function damage, but patients with renal dysfunction should adjust the dosage of metformin based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels. Moreover, the correct use of metformin does not increase the risk of lactic acidosis. Because long-term use of metformin is associated with a decrease in vitamin B₁₂ levels, patients with insufficient intake or absorption of vitamin B₁₂ should be regularly monitored and appropriately supplemented with vitamin B₁₂. In view of the new progress made in the basic and clinical research related to metformin, the consensus updating expert group updated the consensus on the basis of the Expert Consensus on the Clinical Application of Metformin (2018 Edition).
Humans ; Consensus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications* ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Metformin/therapeutic use* ; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Vitamins/therapeutic use* ; China

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Gujing Maisiha Tablets combined with natural vitamin E in the treatment of idiopathic asthenospermia. METHODS: This study included 135 outpatients with idiopathic asthenospermia received in our hospital from February 2015 to January 2016. We randomly divided them into a treatment group (n = 65, aged 22－44 ［mean 32.8］ yr) and a control group (n = 55, aged 21－43 ［mean 33.7］ yr) to be treated with Gujing Maisiha Tablets combined with natural vitamin E or natural vitamin E only, both for 90 days. We obtained total sperm motility and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS) from the patients before and after medication and evaluated the clinical effects by comparing the collected parameters and pregnancy rates between the two groups. RESULTS: The baseline total sperm motility and PMS were (25.23 ± 5.57)% and (17.53 ± 5.78)% in the treatment group, with no statistically significant differences from (26.05 ± 6.77)% and (15.11 ± 6.55)% in the control (P >0.05). After 90 days of medication, both the treatment and the control groups showed remarkable increases in total sperm motility (［48.73 ± 8.66］% and ［36.54 ± 8.09］%, P <0.05) and PMS (［32.77 ± 6.04］% and ［26.99 ± 6.87］%, P <0.05). However, both total sperm motility and PMS were significantly higher in the treatment than in the control group after medication (P <0.05), and so was the total rate of clinical effectiveness (73.85% vs 54.55%, P <0.05). No adverse reactions were observed in either of the two groups during the treatment. CONCLUSIONS Gujing Maisiha Tablets combined with natural vitamin E is safe and effective for the treatment of idiopathic asthenospermia.
Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Motility ; Tablets ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamin E ; therapeutic use ; Vitamins ; therapeutic use

Vitamin B12 deficiency has been associated with significant neurological pathology, especially peripheral neuropathy. This review aims to examine the existing evidence on the effectiveness of vitamin B12 supplementation for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. A search of PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for all relevant randomised controlled trials was conducted in December 2014. Any type of therapy using vitamin B12 or its coenzyme forms was assessed for efficacy and safety in diabetics with peripheral neuropathy. Changes in vibration perception thresholds, neuropathic symptoms and nerve conduction velocities, as well as the adverse effects of vitamin B12 therapy, were assessed. Four studies comprising 363 patients met the inclusion criteria. This review found no evidence that the use of oral vitamin B12 supplements is associated with improvement in the clinical symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Furthermore, the majority of studies reported no improvement in the electrophysiological markers of nerve conduction.
Diabetic Neuropathies ; complications ; drug therapy ; Dietary Supplements ; Humans ; Vitamin B 12 ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Vitamins ; therapeutic use

No abstract available.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Antioxidants/*therapeutic use ; Helicobacter Infections/*drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; Stomach Neoplasms/*prevention & control ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamins/*therapeutic use

OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study was to observe the interventional effect of cod liver oil supplementation on re-vaccination to hepatitis B virus (HBV) among infants and young children.

METHODSAll 7-36 months old infants and young children, who had been vaccinated with obligatory HBV vaccines routinely by the national technical and administrative procedures for HBV vaccination on children of China, were convened among villages in Linyi, Shandong province, from October 2008 to March 2009. After detection of serum anti-HBV, one hundred children with lower serum anti-HBV were picked out for the randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled vitamin A supplementation study. The children in the intervention group (50 subjects) took 0.5 g condensed cod liver oil (containing 25 000 IU vitamin A and 2500 IU vitamin D(2)) every 15 days for six times. The children in the control group (50 subjects) were given corn oil with same volume. All children were re-vaccinated at the 30th and the 60th day of the experiment. The serum samples were collected from each child at the 90th day of the experiment. Retinol concentration in serum samples was analyzed with HPLC method before and after the intervention. The levels of serum anti-HBs were detected by the electro-chemi-luminescence immunoassay (ECLIA).

RESULTSTotal 74 children finished the supplemental experiment and blood collection, 37 subjects in each group, respectively. After intervention, the serum retinol level in the experimental and control group were (404.1 ± 123.1) and (240.8 ± 92.8) µg/L (t = 6.441, P < 0.01), respectively. The serum anti-HBs levels in the experimental and control group were (2737.2 ± 2492.6) and (1199.7 ± 2141.6) U/L (t = 2.846, P < 0.01), respectively. The rate of weak or no-answer case in experimental and control groups was 0.00% (0/37) and 10.81% (4/37) (χ(2) = 4.229, P = 0.040), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that vitamin A supplementation might enhance the re-vaccination reaction against HB vaccine in infants and young children.

Child, Preschool ; Cod Liver Oil ; therapeutic use ; Dietary Supplements ; Double-Blind Method ; Hepatitis B ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Active ; Infant ; Vitamin A ; therapeutic use ; Vitamins ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safety of vitamin D (VD) in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia.

METHODSThis study included 86 infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia, who were randomized to a VD and a control group of equal number, the former given oral VD 200 IU/d and calcium 600 mg/d,qd, while the latter administered oral vitamin E 100 mg and vitamin C 100 mg, tid. After 3 months of medication, we compared the semen parameters, adverse reactions, and pregnancy rate between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter medication, the count of progressively motile sperm per ejaculate was increased from (9.82 ± 3.72) x 10(6) to (21.47 ± 6.52) x 10(6) ( P < 0.05) and the proportion of progressively motile sperm from (18.41 ± 9.82)% to (28.27 ± 4.47)% (P < 0.05) in the VD group. In comparison, the count of progressively motile sperm per ejaculate was elevated from (9.51 ± 6.31) x 10(6) to (12.36 ± 4.43) x 10(6) (P > 0.05) and the proportion of progressively motile sperm from (17.79 ± 5.25)% to (21.35 ± 2.41)% (P > 0.05) in the control group. Pregnancy was achieved in 7 cases (16.3%) in the VD group, but only lease (2.3%) in the control (P < 0.05). No adverse reactions were observed in either of the groups.

CONCLUSIONVitamin D, as a safe option for the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia, can effectively improve the semen quality, especially the progressive sperm motility of the patient.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Semen ; drug effects ; physiology ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Vitamin D ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin E ; therapeutic use ; Vitamins ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of adding folic acid, vitamin B(12) and probucol to standard antihypertensive medication on plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), serum NO and eNOS of essential hypertensive patients.

METHODA total of 120 patients with hypertension were randomly divided to three groups (n = 40 each): group 1 (standard medication), group 2 (adding folic acid 5 mg/day and vitamin B(12) 500 µg twice daily) and group 3 (adding folic acid 5 mg/day and vitamin B(12) 500 µg twice daily and probucol 500 mg twice daily). Plasma Hcy and ADMA, serum NO and eNOS levels were observed at baseline, 2 and 12 weeks after various therapy.

RESULTSIn group 1, concentrations of plasma Hcy [(23.06 ± 14.15) µmol/L, (23.67 ± 12.31) µmol/L, (23.25 ± 11.64) µmol/L], ADMA [(0.21 ± 0.12) µmol/L, (0.23 ± 0.13) µmol/L, (0.21 ± 0.09) µmol/L] and serum NO [(64.14 ± 15.07) µmol/L, (65.29 ± 15.04) µmol/L, (65.32 ± 13.58) µmol/L], eNOS [(20.02 ± 4.50) µg/L, (20.79 ± 4.03) µg/L, (19.82 ± 5.70) µg/L] remained unchanged during the 12 weeks therapy (all P > 0.05). In group 2, concentrations of plasma Hcy [(12.54 ± 6.49) µmol/L] and ADMA[(0.18 ± 0.07) µmol/L] were significantly decreased after the treatment of 12 weeks than the treatment baseline value [(21.51 ± 7.82) µmol/L, (0.20 ± 0.12) µmol/L] and 2 weeks value[(19.38 ± 8.14) µmol/L, (0.21 ± 0.12) µmol/L], however the concentrations of serum NO and eNOS showed contrary results of the Hcy and ADMA's. (all P < 0.05). In group 3, similar changes occurred at 2 weeks after therapy (P < 0.05 2 weeks vs. baseline and 12 weeks vs. 2 weeks). Plasma ADMA level was positively correlated with Hcy at baseline (r = 0.546, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSupplementation of folic acid, VitB(12) and/or probucol helps to improve endothelial function and reduce plasma Hcy and ADMA levels in patients with hypertension.

Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Female ; Folic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; blood ; Plasma ; metabolism ; Probucol ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin B 12 ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin B Complex ; therapeutic use ; Vitamins ; therapeutic use

Malakoplakia is a rare granulomatous disease that occurs commonly in the urinary tract and secondarily in the gastrointestinal tract. Most reported cases of malakoplakia are associated with immunosuppressive diseases or chronic prolonged illness. Here, we report a rare case of malakoplakia in a young healthy adolescent without any underlying disease. A 19-year-old female was referred to our hospital following the discovery of multiple rectal polyps with sigmoidoscopy. She had no specific past medical history but complained of recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea for 3 months. A colonoscopy revealed diverse mucosal lesions including plaques, polyps, nodules, and mass-like lesions. Histological examination revealed a sheet of histiocytes with pathognomonic Michaelis-Gutmann bodies. We treated the patient with ciprofloxacin, the cholinergic agonist bethanechol, and a multivitamin for 6 months. A follow-up colonoscopy revealed that her condition was resolved with this course of treatment.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Bethanechol/therapeutic use ; Biopsy ; Ciprofloxacin/therapeutic use ; *Colon/drug effects/pathology ; *Colonic Diseases/diagnosis/therapy ; Colonoscopy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; *Intestinal Mucosa/drug effects/pathology ; *Malacoplakia/diagnosis/therapy ; Muscarinic Agonists/therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamins/therapeutic use ; Young Adult