ObjectiveTo explore the antagonistic effect of vitamin E (VE) on male reproductive toxicity induced by di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in pubertal SD rats and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSThirty 5-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups of equal number, corn oil control, low-dose (10 mg/kg/d), medium-dose (100 mg/kg/d) and high-dose DEHP exposure (500 mg/kg/d), and VE intervention (high-dose DEHP + VE ［100 mg/kg/d］), and treated respectively for 30 successive days. At 3 days after treatment, the testes of the animals were harvested for determination of the oxidative stress index, serum reproductive hormone levels, cauda epididymal sperm parameters, and expressions of cell apoptosis-related genes and proteins.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the rats of the medium- and high-dose DEHP groups showed significant decreases in the levels of such serum reproductive hormones as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T), sperm parameters as average path velocity (VAP), straight line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straightness (STR), linearity (LIN) and wobble (WOB), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxide (GSH-Px), but significant increases were observed in the latter two groups in the content of malondialdehyde (MDA)(［3.32±0.87］ nmol/mg pro vs ［2.13±0.49］ nmol/ mg pro), mRNA expressions of Bad, Bax, Cytochrome C, Caspase-3 and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and protein expressions of Cytochrome C and Caspase-3. In comparison with the high-dose DEHP group, the VE intervention group exhibited remarkably increased serum LH and T levels, sperm VAP, VSL, VCL, STR and WOB, and activities of SOD and GSH-Px, but markedly decreased mRNA expressions of Bad, Bax, Cytochrome C, Caspase-3 and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio as well as the protein expressions of Cytochrome C and Caspase-3 in the testis tissue (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExposure to DEHP induces androgen secretion disorders, causes oxidative damage to the testicular tissue, activates the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in the testis, and ultimately reduces the quality of epididymal sperm, while VE can protect the rat testis from DEHP-induced reproductive toxicity.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Autophagy-Related Protein 5 ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Epididymis ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproduction ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Testis ; drug effects ; Testosterone ; blood ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between intake of antioxidant vitamins and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Korean adults. METHODS: A total of 614 subjects aged 30~60 years were recruited from those who received a medical checkup at a general hospital in South Korea between 2009 and 2012. Presence of MetS was determined based on criteria issued by the NCEP ATP III. Intakes of antioxidant vitamins (vitamin A, retinol, carotenoids, vitamin C, and vitamin E) were estimated by combining 3-day diet records with an antioxidant vitamin database for common Korean foods. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the association between dietary intakes of antioxidant vitamins and MetS. RESULTS: Men in the highest tertile for retinol (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.23~0.71, P for trend = 0.0009), carotenoids (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.32~1.00, P for trend = 0.0470), and vitamin E (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.30~0.92, P for trend = 0.0190) intakes had a lower likelihood of having Mets than those in the lowest tertile. The OR of high fasting blood glucose among men in the highest tertile for vitamin A (µg RE: OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.32~0.97, P for trend = 0.0417, µg RAE: OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.29~0.92, P for trend = 0.0211), carotenoids (OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.23~0.73, P for trend = 0.0036), and vitamin E (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.26~0.82, P for trend = 0.0080) intakes was lower than those in the lowest tertile. In women, subjects in the highest tertile of retinol intakes had a lower prevalence of MetS than those in the lowest tertile group (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.30~0.98). The OR for abdominal obesity was lower among women with the highest vitamin A (µg RE) intakes compared to those in the lowest tertile (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.28~0.93, P for trend = 0.0293). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that dietary intakes of antioxidant vitamins might be associated with reduced risk of having MetS among Korean adults.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Adult* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Blood Glucose ; Carotenoids ; Diet Records ; Fasting ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prevalence ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Vitamin E improves the biochemical profiles and liver histology in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, but the role of vitamin E is not clearly defined in the management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which includes both simple steatosis and steatohepatitis. Co-morbid metabolic syndrome increases the probability of steatohepatitis in NAFLD. In this study, we aimed to determine the short-term effects of vitamin E and off-treatment durability of response in a propensity-score matched cohort of NAFLD patients with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A retrospective cohort was constructed by retrieving 526 consecutive NAFLD patients from the electronic medical record data warehouse of a tertiary referral hospital in South Korea. Among them, 335 patients (63.7%) had metabolic syndrome and were eligible for vitamin E therapy. In order to assess the effect of vitamin E, propensity score matching was used by matching covariates between control patients (n=250) and patients who received vitamin E (n=85). RESULTS: The PS-matched vitamin E group (n=58) and control group (n=58) exhibited similar baseline metabolic profiles. After 6 months of vitamin E therapy, the mean ALT levels decreased significantly compared to PS-matched control (P<0.01). The changes in metabolic profiles (body weight, lipid and glucose levels) did not differ between control and vitamin E groups during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term vitamin E treatment significantly reduces ALT levels in NAFLD patients with metabolic syndrome, but metabolic profiles are not affected by vitamin E.
Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Body Weight ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, HDL/blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL/blood ; Liver/pathology ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/*complications/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; Propensity Score ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitamin E/*therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of the levels of galectin-3 (Gal-3) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of children with asthma whose have different serum levels of 25-hydroxyl-vitamin D₃[25(OH)D₃].

METHODSFifty children with asthma between January 2013 and December 2014 were enrolled as the asthma group, and they were classified into 25(OH)D₃sufficient (n=7), insufficient (n=12) and deficient subgroups (n=31) according to the serum levels of 25(OH)D₃. Twenty children with abnormal airway or tracheal foreign bodies served as the control group. The levels of 25(OH)D₃, Gal-3 and total IgE in serum and Gal-3 levels in BALF were measured using ELISA.

RESULTThe serum levels of 25(OH)D₃in the asthma group were lower than in the control group (P<0.05). The 25(OH)D₃deficient subgroup displayed the highest percentages of neutrophils, eosinophils and epithelial cells in BALF, followed by the 25(OH)D₃insufficient subgroup and the 25(OH)D₃sufficient subgroup (P<0.05). The percentages of neutrophils, eosinophils and epithelial cells in BALF in the three subgroups were all higher than in the control group (P<0.05). In children with asthma, serum levels of 25(OH)D₃were negatively correlated with the percentages of neutrophils, eosinophils and epithelial cells in BALF (r=-0.683, -0.795 and -0.670 respectively; P<0.05); and a negative correlation was also seen between serum 25(OH)D₃levels and serum Gal-3 and total IgE levels (r=-0.759 and -0.875 respectively; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe children with asthma have low serum levels of 25(OH)D₃. 25(OH)D₃and Gal-3 may be involved in the airway inflammation and the development of asthma.

Asthma ; etiology ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Galectin 3 ; analysis ; blood ; physiology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Male ; Vitamin D ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; physiology

PURPOSE: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory relapsing skin disorder. Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in the development of AD, and interleukin (IL) 31 is known to be related to pruritus in AD. The aim of our study was to determine whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are related to IL-31 levels or to the severity of AD. METHODS: We enrolled 91 children with AD and 32 control subjects without history or symptoms of allergic diseases. Blood was drawn to evaluate complete blood cell count, total eosinophil count (TEC), and total IgE, specific IgE to common allergens, 25(OH)D, and IL-31 levels. Serum 25(OH)D and IL-31 levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index was used to evaluate the severity of AD. RESULTS: The mean 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in the AD group than in the control group; 25(OH)D decreased greatly in the moderate and severe AD groups compared with the mild AD group. Children with atopic sensitization showed significantly lower 25(OH)D levels than nonatopic children. However, serum IL-31 levels were not related to AD group, SCORAD index, or 25(OH)D levels. The SCORAD index was inversely correlated with serum 25(OH)D level and positively correlated with TECs and total IgE levels. Children with moderate and severe AD had significantly higher TECs than children with mild AD. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D is related to the severity of AD independently of IL-31.
Allergens ; Blood Cell Count ; Child* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Interleukins ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Vitamin D

PURPOSE: We evaluated the relationship between laboratory/clinical factors and vitamin D levels in recurrent wheezers less than 3 years old. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data and laboratory factors (25-hydroxyvitamin D, complete blood count, C-reactive protein, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamyl purovic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase [ALP], eosinophil counts, and serum IgE IgG, IgA, IgM) of 84 children less than 3 years who had experienced wheezing episodes at least 3 times. RESULTS: Children in the normal group (1.4+/-0.9 years) were younger than those in the deficient (2.2+/-1.2 years) and insuffient (2.3+/-1.0 years) groups (P=0.010). Glutamyl purovic transaminase were higher in the normal group (24.5+/-19.4 IU/L) than in the deficient (16.0+/-4.7 IU/L) and insufficient (15.3+/-4.5 IU/L) groups (P=0.009). ALP were higher in the deficient (791.4+/-180.8 IU/L) and insufficient (770.4+/-251.2 IU/L) groups than in the normal group (631.9+/-127.0 IU/L, P=0.034). Total IgE levels were higher in the deficient group (171.9+/-212.1 kU/L) than in the normal group (43.7+/-58.3 kU/L, P<0.05), and the rate of sensitization to aeroallergens was higher in the insufficient group (36.1%) than in the normal group (10%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Among children with recurrent wheezing less than 3 years old, low vitamin D levels may be associated with older age, total IgE, ALP level, glutamic pyruvate transaminase level, and rate of sensitization to aeroallergens.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Asthma ; Blood Cell Count ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child* ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Pyruvic Acid ; Respiratory Sounds* ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitamin D*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Carnitine and vitamin complex (Godex(R)) is widely used in patients with chronic liver disease who show elevated liver enzyme in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to identify the efficacy and safety of carnitine from entecavir combination therapy in Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevated Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) patients. METHODS: 130 treatment-naive patients with CHB were enrolled from 13 sites. The patients were randomly selected to the entecavir and the complex of entecavir and carnitine. The primary endpoint of the study is ALT normalization level after 12 months. RESULTS: Among the 130 patients, 119 patients completed the study treatment. The ALT normalization at 3 months was 58.9% for the monotherapy and 95.2% for the combination therapy (P<0.0001). ALT normalization rate at 12 months was 85.7% for the monotherapy and 100% for the combination group (P=0.0019). The rate of less than HBV DNA 300 copies/mL at 12 months was not statistically significant (P=0.5318) 75.9% for the monotherapy, 70.7% for the combination and it was. Quantification of HBsAg level was not different from the monotherapy to combination at 12 months. Changes of ELISPOT value to evaluate the INF-gamma secretion by HBsAg showed the increasing trend of combination therapy compare to mono-treatment. CONCLUSIONS: ALT normalization rate was higher in carnitine complex combination group than entecavir group in CHB. Combination group was faster than entecavir mono-treatment group on ALT normalization rate. HBV DNA normalization rate and the serum HBV-DNA level were not changed by carnitine complex treatment.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Carnitine/*therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral/analysis ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay ; Female ; Guanine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma/metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondria/physiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamin B Complex/*therapeutic use

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether alterations in plasma vitamin A and E levels in patients with psoriasis have an effect on tear film changes. METHODS: Sixty-two eyes of 31 patients with psoriasis vulgaris (Group A) and 74 eyes of 37 age- and gender-matched control subjects (Group B) were included in the study. Ocular and medical histories and dietary habits were obtained from each patient. The tear film break-up time (TBUT), the Schirmer 1 test results and plasma vitamin A and E levels were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean Schirmer 1 test score was 14.76 +/- 6.12 mm/5 min in Group A and 15.69 +/- 3.10 mm/5 min in Group B. The mean plasma levels of vitamins A and E in Groups A and B were 1.86 +/- 0.62 micromol/L and 1.88 +/- 0.65 micromol/L vs. 26.21 +/- 5.13 micromol/L and 27.19 +/- 8.89 micromol/L, respectively. The Schirmer 1 test results and plasma vitamin A and E levels were not found to be significantly different between the groups (p > 0.05). The mean TBUT was 9.94 +/- 6.18 seconds in Group A and 14.47 +/- 5.65 seconds in Group B, a significant difference (p < 0.05). No correlation existed between plasma vitamin A and E levels, TBUT or the severity and duration of the disease (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma vitamin A and E levels do not seem to be related to tear film changes in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucins/*metabolism ; Psoriasis/*metabolism ; Tears/*metabolism ; Vitamin A/*blood ; Vitamin E/*blood ; Young Adult

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an abdominal obesity management program on dietary intake, stress index, and waist to hip ratio (WHR) in abdominally obese women. The subjects were 195 adult abdominally obese women (WHR > or = 0.80) who had been participating in a nutrition education (total of nine times) and dietary habits and life style modification programs (total of six times) for 12 weeks. The abdominal obesity management program focused on the nutrition provided by breakfast, lunch, and dinner, proper dietary habits, and practices to improve life style. The subjects were divided into a WHR decrease group and a WHR increase group according to changes in the WHR. Daily nutrient intake was assessed with a 3-day food record, body measurements and blood vessel age, stress index, and a health index that were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. After the intervention, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, WHR, and body mass index (BMI) decreased significantly in the WHR decrease group. Energy intake increased from 1486.2 kcal to 1541.4 kcal with a significant improvement in nutrient density for animal protein, total fat, animal fat, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, and saturated fatty acids in the WHR decrease group. Additionally, dietary diversity increased significantly in the WHR decrease group compared to that in the WHR increase group. The WHR decrease group showed a significant improvement in the stress and health indices. Changes in WHR were correlated with changes in nutrient intake (animal protein, total fat, animal fat, plant fat, fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and folate) and medical index profiles (stress and indices) adjusted for age, birth status, baseline BMI, and baseline WHR. These results show that an abdominal obesity management program was effective not only for reducing the WHR but also to improve dietary intake and the stress index in abdominally obese women.
Adult ; Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; Blood Vessels ; Body Mass Index ; Breakfast ; Calcium ; Energy Intake ; Fatty Acids ; Female ; Food Habits ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hip ; Humans ; Iron ; Life Style ; Lunch ; Meals ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Parturition ; Phosphorus ; Plants ; Potassium ; Riboflavin ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio ; Zinc

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of vitamin E on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (RI/RI) in young and aged rats.

METHODSThe model of (RI/RI) was induced by bilateral clamping the renal artery and vein for 45 min followed by reperfusion. The contents of BUN, Scr, MDA, SOD, NO and iNOS were measured. Proteins of HSP70 were observed by immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometer was used to estimate the apoptosis rate of renal cortex cells.

RESULTSAfter ischemia/reperfusion injury, the contents of BUN, Scr and iNOS were increased. Compared with young ischemia/reperfusion group, the contents of MDA were higher and the contents of SOD were lower in aged ischemia/reperfusion group. The expression of HSP70, the contents of NO and the apoptosis rate of renal cortex cells were higher in aged ischemia/reperfusion group than that in control group. Vitamin E significantly decreased the contents of BUN, Scr, MDA and iNOS, and increased the contents of NO and SOD after RI/RI. The expression of HSP70 was increased in both VE groups than that in both I/R groups. The apoptosis rate of renal cortex cells was less in both VE groups than that in both I/R groups.

CONCLUSIONVitamins E may up-regulate the expression of HSP70, increase the contents of SOD and NO, and enhance an ability of clear free radicals, which may contributes to decreasing renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in young and aged rats.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; blood supply ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Vitamin E ; pharmacology