Scavenger receptor class B, member 2 (SCARB2) is linked to Gaucher disease and Parkinson's disease. Deficiency in the SCARB2 gene causes progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME), a rare group of inherited neurodegenerative diseases characterized by myoclonus. We found that Scarb2 deficiency in mice leads to age-dependent dietary lipid malabsorption, accompanied with vitamin E deficiency. Our investigation revealed that Scarb2 deficiency is associated with gut dysbiosis and an altered bile acid pool, leading to hyperactivation of FXR in intestine. Hyperactivation of FXR impairs epithelium renewal and lipid absorption. Patients with SCARB2 mutations have a severe reduction in their vitamin E levels and cannot absorb dietary vitamin E. Finally, inhibiting FXR or supplementing vitamin E ameliorates the neuromotor impairment and neuropathy in Scarb2 knockout mice. These data indicate that gastrointestinal dysfunction is associated with SCARB2 deficiency-related neurodegeneration, and SCARB2-associated neurodegeneration can be improved by addressing the nutrition deficits and gastrointestinal issues.
Animals ; Mice ; Dysbiosis/metabolism* ; Mice, Knockout ; Humans ; Lysosomal Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Receptors, Scavenger/genetics* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Myoclonic Epilepsies, Progressive/genetics* ; Vitamin E Deficiency/complications* ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/genetics* ; Bile Acids and Salts/metabolism* ; Male ; Lipid Metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/pathology*

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is known to play roles in immunity through the stimulation of Toll-like receptors, regulating pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and increasing antimicrobial peptide production. Recent studies have revealed the role of vitamin D deficiency in the immunopathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the correlation between vitamin D concentrations and the severity of AD and also elucidate the relationship between the amount of sunlight exposure and serum 25-Hydroxy vitamin (25(OH)D) levels using the sunlight exposure questionnaire. METHODS: Sixty-one Korean patients with AD and 120 healthy control patients were enrolled. We evaluated the disease severity using the SCORAD index and measured the serum levels of 25(OH)D, and total IgE levels and eosinophil counts. All patients completed a one-week recall sunlight exposure questionnaire. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the 25(OH)D levels between the two groups. Eosinophil counts (p <0.001) were significantly higher in patients with AD than in control patients. A significant inverse correlation (r= -0.309, p=0.015) was found between the SCORAD score and 25(OH)D levels. A significant positive correlation (r=0.236, p=0.001) was found between the weekly sunlight exposure score and the serum levels of 25(OH)D. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that vitamin D deficiency is related to the severity of AD and the serum 25(OH)D concentration is positively correlated with the sunlight exposure score.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Sunlight ; Toll-Like Receptors ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and functions primarily as a lipid antioxidant. Inadequate vitamin E status may increase risk of several chronic diseases. Thus, the objectives of this study were to estimate intake and plasma concentration of each tocopherol and to evaluate vitamin E status of Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Three consecutive 24-h food recalls and fasting blood samples were collected from healthy 20- to 59-y-old adults (33 males and 73 females) living in the Seoul metropolitan area, South Korea. alpha-, beta-, delta-, and gamma-tocopherol intakes and plasma concentrations of tocopherols (alpha-, delta-, and gamma-tocopherol) were analyzed by gender. RESULTS: Dietary vitamin E and total vitamin E intake (dietary plus supplemental vitamin E) was 17.68 +/- 14.34 and 19.55 +/- 15.78 mg alpha-tocopherol equivalents, respectively. The mean daily alpha-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol intakes were 3.07 +/- 2.27 mg and 5.98 +/- 3.74 mg, respectively. Intakes of total vitamin E and each tocopherol of males were significantly higher than those of females (P < 0.05). Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration was 15.45 +/- 10.16 of males and 15.00 +/- 4.54 micromol/L of females, respectively. There were no significant differences in plasma tocopherol concentrations by gender (P > or = 0.05). Plasma alpha-tocopherol was negatively correlated with gamma-tocopherol intake (P < 0.05). Twenty-three percent of the subjects had plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations < 12 micromol/L indicating a biochemical deficiency of vitamin E. Approximately 8% and 9% of these participants had plasma alpha-tocopherol:total lipid ratio less than 1.59 micromol/mmol and plasma alpha-tocopherol:total cholesterol ratio less than 2.22 micromol/mmol, respectively, which are also indicative of vitamin E deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin E intakes of Korean adults were generally adequate with the Korean Dietary Reference Intakes for vitamin E. However, alpha-tocopherol intake was lower than that reported in other countries, and 23% of the subjects in the current study were vitamin E deficient based on plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations.
Adult* ; alpha-Tocopherol ; Cholesterol ; Chronic Disease ; Fasting ; Female ; gamma-Tocopherol ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged* ; Plasma ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Seoul ; Tocopherols ; Vitamin E Deficiency ; Vitamin E* ; Vitamins*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and functions primarily as a lipid antioxidant. Inadequate vitamin E status may increase risk of several chronic diseases. Thus, the objectives of this study were to estimate intake and plasma concentration of each tocopherol and to evaluate vitamin E status of Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Three consecutive 24-h food recalls and fasting blood samples were collected from healthy 20- to 59-y-old adults (33 males and 73 females) living in the Seoul metropolitan area, South Korea. alpha-, beta-, delta-, and gamma-tocopherol intakes and plasma concentrations of tocopherols (alpha-, delta-, and gamma-tocopherol) were analyzed by gender. RESULTS: Dietary vitamin E and total vitamin E intake (dietary plus supplemental vitamin E) was 17.68 +/- 14.34 and 19.55 +/- 15.78 mg alpha-tocopherol equivalents, respectively. The mean daily alpha-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol intakes were 3.07 +/- 2.27 mg and 5.98 +/- 3.74 mg, respectively. Intakes of total vitamin E and each tocopherol of males were significantly higher than those of females (P < 0.05). Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration was 15.45 +/- 10.16 of males and 15.00 +/- 4.54 micromol/L of females, respectively. There were no significant differences in plasma tocopherol concentrations by gender (P > or = 0.05). Plasma alpha-tocopherol was negatively correlated with gamma-tocopherol intake (P < 0.05). Twenty-three percent of the subjects had plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations < 12 micromol/L indicating a biochemical deficiency of vitamin E. Approximately 8% and 9% of these participants had plasma alpha-tocopherol:total lipid ratio less than 1.59 micromol/mmol and plasma alpha-tocopherol:total cholesterol ratio less than 2.22 micromol/mmol, respectively, which are also indicative of vitamin E deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin E intakes of Korean adults were generally adequate with the Korean Dietary Reference Intakes for vitamin E. However, alpha-tocopherol intake was lower than that reported in other countries, and 23% of the subjects in the current study were vitamin E deficient based on plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations.
Adult* ; alpha-Tocopherol ; Cholesterol ; Chronic Disease ; Fasting ; Female ; gamma-Tocopherol ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged* ; Plasma ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Seoul ; Tocopherols ; Vitamin E Deficiency ; Vitamin E* ; Vitamins*

PURPOSE: Vitamin D deficiency has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. In addition, inverse correlationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and severity of atopic dermatitis has been suggested. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory parameters including serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and serum total IgE of 251 patients with atopic dermatitis who were 13 months to 18 years were measured. Severity of atopic dermatitis was assessed with SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson correlation coefficient, one-way analysis of variance test and chi-square test. RESULTS: Among 251 patients, vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D<20 ng/mL, group 1) was present in 76 subjects (30.3%), vitamin D insufficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D 20-29 ng/mL, group 2) was present in 101 (40.2%), and vitamin D sufficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D> or =30 ng/mL, group 3) was present in 74 (29.5%). There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and values of SCORAD index (R=-0.24, P<0.000). Serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were inversely correlated with total IgE (R=-0.29, P<0.000), and age (R=-0.49, P<0.000). CONCLUSION: The results from this study indicate that serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is inversely correlated with clinical severity of atopic dermatitis in children.
Child* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Deficiency

PURPOSE: A growing body of literature has linked vitamin D deficiency with allergic diseases, particularly atopic dermatitis (AD). In this study, we investigated the association between serum vitamin D status and the clinical manifestation of AD. We also developed an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3), using liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). METHODS: This study included 157 patients (79 males and 78 females) with AD, aged 4 months to 56 years. We evaluated disease severity using the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Serum levels of 25(OH)D3 were determined by LC coupled with MS/MS. Total IgE and specific IgE levels were assayed using the immunoCAP system. ANOVA was used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: We found mild, moderate, and severe AD in 30 (11.1%), 87 (55.4%), and 40 (25.5%) patients, respectively. There was no significant correlation between serum levels of 25(OH)D3 and AD severity. However, among the 36 patients with food sensitization, the mean+/-SD serum levels of 25(OH)D3 were significantly higher (P<0.05) in patients with mild disease (21.2+/-5.18 ng/mL) compared with the levels in patients with moderate (17.9+/-4.02 ng/mL) or severe AD (13.3+/-5.11 ng/mL) disease. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that vitamin D deficiency is related to the severity of AD associated with food sensitization. Thus, these data suggest a role for vitamin D in a select group of AD patients.
Aged ; Cholecalciferol ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Male ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamins

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; deficiency ; Female ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type III ; blood ; metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; metabolism ; Vitamin D ; blood

Alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (alpha-TTP) is a liver cytosolic transport protein that faciliates alpha-tocopherol (alpha-T) transfer into liver secreted plasma lipoproteins. Genetic defects in alpha-TTP, like dietary vitamin E deficiency, are associated with infertility, muscular weakness and neurological disorders. Both human and alpha-TTP deficient (alpha-TTP-/-) mice exhibit severe plasma and tissue vitamin E deficiency that can be attenuated by sufficient dietary alpha-T supplementations. In this review, we summarize the literature concerning studies utilizing the alpha-TTP-/- mice. Levels of vitamin E in the alpha-TTP-/- mice do not appear to be directly related to the amounts of dietary alpha-T or to the levels of alpha-TTP protein in tissues. The alpha-TTP-/- mice appear to present a good model for investigating the specific role of alpha-T in tissue vitamin E metabolism. Furthermore, alpha-TTP-/- mice appear to be useful to elucidate functions of alpha-TTP beyond its well recognized functions of transferring alpha-T from liver to plasma lipoprotein fractions.
alpha-Tocopherol* ; Animals ; Cytosol ; Humans ; Infertility ; Lipoproteins ; Liver ; Metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout* ; Muscle Weakness ; Nervous System Diseases ; Plasma ; Vitamin E ; Vitamin E Deficiency ; Vitamins

With the step-up of the aging process, the increase of old population and the advance of living standard, China has already entered into the aged society. Problems on the health and life quality of the aging male have been receiving more and more attention from scientific researchers. Partial androgen deficiency in the aging male (PADAM) is a kind of syndrome which affects the aging male s health. At present, testosterone supplementation therapy is mostly used to improve the symptoms of PADAM, but it may bring some adverse effects, such as erythrocytosis and hyperplasia and carcinoma of the prostate. Some studies have shown that quite a few nutrients, especially vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc and selenium are favorably related to androgen deficiency and sperm production. This article discussed the effects of micronutrients on PADAM.
Aged ; Androgens ; deficiency ; Deficiency Diseases ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Micronutrients ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Selenium ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin A ; therapeutic use ; Vitamin E ; therapeutic use ; Zinc ; therapeutic use

In this study, the effects of chronically administered aluminum on iron metabolism-related parameters of liver and blood of mice were investigated. An additional purpose to determine how chronic aluminum administration together with vitamin E as an antioxidant to mice changed the parameters related to iron metabolism. For these purposes, we used 21 adult female Balb-c mice in this study. The animals were divided into three groups: one group with aluminum administered chronically, another group with aluminum plus vitamin E administered chronically, and the control group. Serum levels of hemoglobin, ferritin, iron, transferrin, hematocrit, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), as well as percentage of transferrin saturation were determined in all groups. In addition, the liver tissue levels of ferritin and iron were analyzed. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels of the aluminum group and aluminum plus vitamin E group were significantly decreased compared to the control. In conclusion, no changes occurred in the serum iron related parameters although Al induced anemia in mice when Al administered chronically. There was an increase in the levels of liver iron and ferritin with Al, but Vit E had no effect on the changes of all blood and liver parameters caused by Al.
Aluminum/*pharmacology ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency/blood/*chemically induced/prevention & control ; Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology ; Female ; Ferritin/metabolism ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; Iron/*blood ; Liver/*drug effects/metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vitamin E/pharmacology