Pumpkins have considerable variation in nutrient contents depending on the cultivation environment, species, or part. In this study, the general chemical compositions and some bioactive components, such as tocopherols, carotenoids, and beta-sitosterol, were analyzed in three major species of pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae pepo, C. moschata, and C. maxima) grown in Korea and also in three parts (peel, flesh, and seed) of each pumpkin species. C. maxima had significantly more carbohydrate, protein, fat, and fiber than C. pepo or C. moschata (P < 0.05). The moisture content as well as the amino acid and arginine contents in all parts of the pumpkin was highest in C. pepo. The major fatty acids in the seeds were palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids. C. pepo and C. moschata seeds had significantly more gamma-tocopherol than C. maxima, whose seeds had the highest beta-carotene content. C. pepo seeds had significantly more beta-sitosterol than the others. Nutrient compositions differed considerably among the pumpkin species and parts. These results will be useful in updating the nutrient compositions of pumpkin in the Korean food composition database. Additional analyses of various pumpkins grown in different years and in different areas of Korea are needed.
Arginine ; beta Carotene ; Carotenoids ; Cucurbita ; Fatty Acids ; gamma-Tocopherol ; Korea ; Linoleic Acid ; Linoleic Acids ; Nutritive Value ; Seeds ; Sitosterols ; Tocopherols

PURPOSE:To investigate the change in the antioxidant vitamin levels in maternal uterine venous plasma (MUVP), amniotic fluid (AF), and chorioamnion after vitamin C and E supplementation during pregnancy. METHODS:Thirty pregnant women who were scheduled for elective cesarean section between 37 and 39 gestational weeks were randomized in this study. Fifteen women were given a daily oral dose of vitamin C 1,000 mg and vitamin E 400 IU from 33~34 gestational weeks to delivery. The other fifteen women were not given, as a control group. Maternal uterine venous blood, AF, and chorioamnion were obtained after cesarean section. Lipid peroxides and oxygen-radical absorbance capacity value were measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction and Cao's method respectively. Ascorbic acid, uric acid, beta-carotene, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. The tissue sections of chorioamnion were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson-trichrome stain, and immunohistochemical stain for collagen type IV was also performed. RESULTS:The lipid peroxide levels in MUVP of the study group were significantly lower than those of the control group but in contrast, ORAC (Oxygen-radical absorbance capacity) values were lower in the control group. The alpha-tocopherol levels in MUVP, AF, and chorioamnion study group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Amniotic membrane and subepithelial stromal tissue in the study group were thicker than those in the control group. And subchorionic type IV collagen of placenta tissue in the study group was more stained than that of the control group. CONCLUSION:Maternal vitamin C and E supplementation may be beneficial in the prevention of diseases caused by oxidative stress such as preeclampsia and PROM and in increasing fibrin and type IV collagen in chorioamnion.
alpha-Tocopherol ; Amnion ; Amniotic Fluid ; Ascorbic Acid ; beta Carotene ; Cesarean Section ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Collagen Type IV ; Female ; Fibrin ; gamma-Tocopherol ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxides ; Oxidative Stress ; Placenta ; Plasma ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Thiobarbiturates ; Uric Acid ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVE: This controlled trial investigated the effect of supplementation with vitamins C and E on the lipid peroxide, antioxidant ability, and antioxidant vitamin levels in full term maternal and umbilical venous plasma. METHODS: Forty pregnant women were randomized in this study. They were nulliparous or multiparous women with history of preeclampsia or preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Twenty women were given vitamin C (1,000 mg/day) and vitamin E (400 IU/day) from 15~20 gestational weeks to delivery. The others were not given, as a control group. Maternal venous blood was obtained before vitamin supplementation and just before delivery. Umbilical venous blood was obtained after delivery. Lipid peroxide level and oxygen-radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) were measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction and Cao's method, respectively. Ascorbic acid, uric acid, beta-carotene, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Results: Supplementation with vitamins C and E was associated with decrease in lipid peroxide levels and increase in ORAC values and alpha-tocopherol levels in maternal venous plasma. And it was also associated with decrease in lipid peroxide levels and increase in ORAC values and alpha-tocopherol levels in umbilical venous plasma. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with vitamins C and E may be beneficial in the prevention of oxidant-antioxidant imbalance origin diseases such as preeclampsia, PPROM. And it also may affect antioxidant ability of the fetus.
alpha-Tocopherol ; Ascorbic Acid ; beta Carotene ; Female ; Fetus ; gamma-Tocopherol ; Humans ; Membranes ; Plasma ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnant Women ; Rupture ; Thiobarbiturates ; Uric Acid ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the effect of vitamin E on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by homocysteine.

METHODSDNA synthesis in the VSMCs cells was measured using [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay, and the cell number determined by trypan blue method. The level of ROS in the cells was determined using DCF-DA as the fluorescence probe.

RESULTSHomocysteine promoted VSMC DNA synthesis, proliferation, and ROS production. Cysteine resulted in increased ROS production in VSMCs, but had no significant effect on DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Catalase significantly inhibited ROS production induced by homocysteine, but did not significantly inhibited homocysteine-mediated proliferation of VSMCs. While alpha-tocopherol and beta-tocopherol both suppressed increased ROS production induced by homocysteine in VSMCs, only alpha-tocopherol significantly inhibited homocysteine-mediated VSMC proliferation.

CONCLUSIONROS is not associated with VSMC proliferation, and vitamin E-induced suppression of VSMC proliferation is probably related to protein kinase C inhibition.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Homocysteine ; pharmacology ; Muscle, Smooth ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology ; alpha-Tocopherol ; pharmacology ; beta-Tocopherol ; pharmacology

The role of free radicals in the progression of many diseases and aging has been given a great attention and total antioxidant status (TAS) has shown to be reduced with aging. The incidence of hypertension has shown to be relatively high in the aged population, and it is known to be associated with increased obesity and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to examine the obesity indices and the total antioxidant status in hypertensive elderly (64ytocopherol, beta-carotene and ascorbic acid did not show their significant correlations with TAS. These results showed that the hypertensive elderly are prone to be obese and to have increased TAS. Due to unknown factors affecting TAS values, measurement of plasma TAS as a sole indicator of total antioxidant capacity is limited to fully understanding changes in the body's free radical trapping power. However, the results from the current study may suggest that hypertension and/or obesity might increase oxidative stress, followed by increased the body's total antioxidant defense system.
Aged* ; Aging ; alpha-Tocopherol ; Ascorbic Acid ; beta Carotene ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Free Radicals ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Ideal Body Weight ; Incidence ; Obesity* ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma* ; Ulsan* ; Uric Acid ; Waist-Hip Ratio

OBJECTIVE: It is now accepted that intakes and serum levels of antioxidant vitamins are associated with the degree of oxidative stress and prevalence of some negative pregnancy outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional status of antioxidant vitamins. METHODS: The study included 82 pregnant women in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Samsung Cheil Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center between December 2000 and May 2001. The study group was divided according to gestational age: group I (8-17 weeks, 26 women), group II (18-27 weeks, 27 women), group III (28-36 weeks 29 women). Data on dietary intake was collected with the 24 hours recall method. Plasma concentrations of retinol, beta-carotene and alpah-tocopherol were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In addition, the relationship between intakes of antioxidant vitamins and plasma concentrations of retinol, beta-carotene, alpah-tocopherol were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean daily intake of energy was 1,958.5 kcal (85.5% of recommended dietary allowance, RDA). Mean daily intake of vitamin A, retinol, beta-carotene and vitamin E was 90.5 microgram RE (retinol equivalent) (117.9% of RDA), 195.2 microgram, 4,052.8 microgram and 15.0 mg (140% of RDA) respectively. Plasma levels of retinol, beta-carotene and alpah-tocopherol was 1.48 micro mol/l, 0.27 micro mol/l and 19.99 micro mol/l respectively. Maternal plasma levels of beta-carotene in group III were significantly higher than those in group I or II (p<.05). No significant relationship between plasma antioxidant vitamin intakes and plasma antioxidant vitamin levels was observed with exception of that between plasma alpah-tocopherol concentration and dietary intakes of vitamin E (p<.05) in group I. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the nutritional status of antioxidant vitamins of some Korean pregnant women may evaluated as acceptable in general.
alpha-Tocopherol ; beta Carotene* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Nutritional Status ; Obstetrics ; Oxidative Stress ; Plasma* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnant Women* ; Prevalence ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Vitamin A* ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins, the level of antioxidant vitamins (retinol, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol), lipid peroxidation, and the capacity of antioxidants in exfoliated cervicovaginal cells by lavage technique in normal women and patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in Korea. METHODS: The study included 56 patients with histopathologically diagnosed CIN and 63 healthy women as control in the Department of Gynecology Cancer Center in Samsung Cheil Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center between December 2002 and March 2003. Data on dietary intake were collected with semiquantitative frequency questionnaire method. Retinol, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol were assayed with high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA) and antioxidant capacity (TRAP) were determined by fluorometric method and inhibition assay method. RESULTS: The intake of antioxidant vitamins in both groups exceeds the amount recommended by the Korea dietary recommendation 7th ed, which was relatively good. Cervicovaginal cells beta-carotene levels were found to be significantly decreased (p<0.001), and alpha-tocopherol, and retinol levels were significantly increased in patients with CIN as compare with controls (p<0.05). The average concentration of cervicovaginal cellular malondialdehydes (MDA) in the patients was significantly higher (p<0.001) than the control group and total radical trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP) concentration was significantly lower than the control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the levels of in situ beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, retinol, malondialdehydes, and total radical trapping antioxidant potential concentration were measurable in samples of exfoliated epithelial cells obtained by cervicovaginal lavage technique. These findings support to hypothesis that changes of cervicovaginal cellular antioxidants vitamins lipid peroxidation may have an etiologic role in the pathogenesis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
alpha-Tocopherol ; Antioxidants ; beta Carotene ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Delivery of Health Care ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Korea ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Surveys and Questionnaire ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Vitamin A ; Vitamins*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intake of antioxidant vitamins and plasma concentrations of those in 60 maternal-infant pairs (30 in normal term delivery group, NT; 30 in preterm delivery group, PT). We also investigated the relationship between vitamin levels of maternal-umbilical cord plasma and pregnancy outcome. Mean energy intakes of NT and PT pregnant women were 93.2% and 85.4%, and their protein intakes were 113.3% and 110.9 % of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), respectively. While vitamin A intakes were only 51.2% and 39.6% of the RDA in NT and PT pregnant women. The vitamin E intake was about 50% of the RDA (NT 6.27 mg, PT 7.78 mg). The levels of retinol in maternal plasma of NT and PT were 1.51 micronmol/l and 1.43 micronmol/l, respectively. The retinol levels in umbilical cord plasma in NT and PT were 0.72 micronmol/l and 0.61 micronmol/l, respectively. The level of beta-carotene in maternal plasma of NT was 0.49 micronmol/l, significantly (p < 0.01) higher than that of PT (0.31 micronmol/l). The beta-carotene of umbilical cord plasma of NT and PT were 0.02 micronmol/l and 0.01 micronmol/l, respectively. The plasma alpha- tocopherol of maternal of NT and PT were 29.51 micronmol/l and 27.17 micronmol/l, respectively. The alpha-tocopherol of umbilical cord plasma of NT and PT were 4.16 micronmol/l and 3.80 micronmol/l, respectively. The antioxidant vitamin levels retinol, beta-carotene, and alpha-tocopherol) in maternal plasma were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than those in umbilical cord plasma. However, there was no correlation between the vitamin levels in maternal plasma and those in umbilical cord plasma. The maternal plasma beta-carotene level showed a positive correlation to gestational age. Also Apgar score at 1 min produced a positive correlation to maternal plasma beta-carotene level.
alpha-Tocopherol* ; Apgar Score ; beta Carotene* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Tocopherols ; Umbilical Cord ; Vitamin A* ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the plasma levels of antioxidant system and oxidative stress of cervical neoplasia patients to normal control, and to investigate the relationship between the plasma antioxidant system and various clinicopathological factors of cervical cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of 90 cervical neoplasia patients and 90 normal control group was recruited from Nov. 2000 to Jan. 2001 at Yonsei University Medical Center. As the parameter of lipid peroxidation, plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) was spectrophotomerically measured. Plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins were analyzed by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was measured by coupled enzyme procedure. The correlation between the results and various clinicopathological factors of cervical cancer were evaluated. RESULTS: In women with cervical neoplasia, the activity of GSH-Px and plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins such as lutein, beta-carotene, lycopene and zeaxanthin were significantly lower compared to normal control, while the concentration of MDA was significantly higher. However, between CIN and cervical cancer, only the levels of alpha-tocopherol and MDA showed significant differences. The changes in plasma antioxidant system showed no significant correlation with the prognostic factors of cervical cancer. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a potential role of oxidative stress-induced lipid peroxidation and the impairment of antioxidant system in the pathogenesis of cervical neoplasia. However, these changes failed to define a causal relationship between the antioxidant system and disease outcome, or to show a significant correlation between several antioxidant parameters and the prognostic factors of cervical cancer.
Academic Medical Centers ; alpha-Tocopherol ; beta Carotene ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Lutein ; Malondialdehyde ; Oxidative Stress* ; Plasma ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVES: Several lines of epidemiological studies have demonstrated a relationship between high intake of foods rich in antioxidant nutrients such as, carotenoids, tocopherols, and vitamin C and a reduced risk of cervical cancer but no available study was performed in Korea ever since. The purpose of this study was to investigate the plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins between cervical neoplasia patients and normal control, to observe the relationship between the level of plasma antioxidant system and various clinicopathological factors of cervical cancer and to evaluate the value of prognostic factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of 180 women including 90 normal control specimens was recruited from Nov. 2000 to Jan. 2001 at YUMC. Plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins were analyzed by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography and these results were correlated with various clinicopathological factors of cervical cancer. RESULTS: Plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins such as lutein, beta-carotene, lycopene and zeaxanthin were significantly lower in women with CIN and cervical cancer compared to those levels of control. However, in terms of comparison between CIN and cervical cancer, only the level of alpha-tocopherol showed significant differences. The changes in plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins showed no significant correlation with the prognostic factors of cervical cancer. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a potential protective role of plasma antioxidative vitamins in the pathogenesis of CIN and carcinoma of the cervix. But these changes neither could distinguish the causal relationships nor could show a significant correlation between several antioxidant vitamins with the prognostic factors of cervical cancer. Further researches are needed to clarify the mechanism of the protective effect.
alpha-Tocopherol ; Ascorbic Acid ; beta Carotene ; Carotenoids ; Cervix Uteri ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lutein ; Plasma* ; Tocopherols ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vitamins*