• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.545-551
• /
• 2005

A feeding trial was conducted to determine whether dietary vitamin C (200 mg/kg) and vitamin E (250 mg/kg) prevent any drops in egg shell quality under heat stress in broiler breeder hens. One hundred and sixty molted Ross broiler breeders were housed randomly in an individual cage at 83 weeks of age. Four dietary treatments with forty hens and four replications per treatment were control (no additional vitamins), vitamin C-, or vitamin E-supplemented and combined supplementation of the two vitamins. After a tenday-adaptation period at 25$^{\circ}C$, the ambient temperature was kept at 32$^{\circ}C$ for a three-week-testing period. Egg production dropped dramatically over week but it did not show a significant change among treatments (p<0.05). However, egg quality parameters such as egg weight, specific gravity, shell thickness, SWUSA, puncture force and shell breaking strength from the birds fed the diet with the combined vitamins C and E were significantly improved over those of the control group during the heat stress period (p<0.05). The hens fed the vitamin C diet improved tibia breaking strength (37.16 kg), statistically higher than the birds fed the control and the vitamin E diets (p<0.05). The hens fed the control diet showed higher serum corticosterone levels, a mean of 5.97 ng/ml, than those of the other treatments (p<0.05). The heat stress resulted in elevated heterophils and decreased lymphocytes in serum, increasing the H/L ratios for all the treatments. However, the increases in H/L ratios were alleviated by feeding the diets containing vitamin C alone or together with vitamin E, although there were no significant differences in the ratio between the two groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, vitamins C (200 mg/kg) and/or E (250 mg/kg) supplemented to the diets for broiler breeder hens could prevent drops in egg shell quality and tibia bone strength under highly stressful environmental temperatures.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.276-287
• /
• 2008

Diabetic mellitus in an older population is associated with increased basal oxidative stress and free radical accentuated by hyperglycemic challenge. Enhanced free radical in diabetic elderly can cause the oxidative damage and such damage can be protected by antioxidant defense system. It is believed that vitamin C, A and E are the most abundant and effective antioxidants in human plasma. The purpose of this study was to determine the antioxidant status in Korean diabetic elderly using the case-control study. The antioxidant status was examined by determining plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins (vitamin C, A, E, ${\beta}$-carotene), total antioxidant status (TAS) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and intakes of vitamin C, A, ${\beta}$-carotene and retiol. Fasting glucose and HbA1c levels and serum lipid profiles (triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol) were also determined. Diabetic subjects were 122 elderly persons over 60 years old, visiting public health center, and control subjects were 96 healthy elderly persons living in Ulsan, Korea and they were matched by age, gender, smoking and drinking status. The diabetic and control subjects were divided into sub-groups according to the status of using diet therapy and vitamin supplement. The subjects were interviewed to collect data on their general characteristics, disease history, vitamin supplement, diet therapy and health-related habits by questionnaires. Their dietary intakes were obtained by means of semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (SQFFQ). Fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels were significantly higher in diabetes than in control subjects, and plasma total cholesterol level of diabetes was not significantly different from that of control subjects. However serum HDL cholesterol level of diabetes was significantly lower and serum TG level of diabetes was significantly higher than those of control group. The average vitamin A and ${\beta}$-carotene intakes of diabetes were significantly higher than those of control subjects. There was no significant difference in plasma vitamin C, ${\beta}$-carotene, and TBARS levels between two groups, but plasma vitamin A, E and TAS levels were significantly higher in diabetes than those in control group. Plasma vitamin A and TAS levels of diabetic subjects using diet therapy were higher than those of control using diet therapy, and plasma vitamin E, ${\beta}$-carotene and TAS levels of diabetic subjects using vitamin supplements were significantly higher than those of controls using vitamin supplements. These results suggested that diabetic mellitus could enhance antioxidant defences against reactive oxygen species and interest in healthy eating such as consumption of more antioxidant nutrients.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the MTHFR variants, folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ deficiencies increase the risk of hyperhomocysteinaemia and adverse pregnancy outcome such as short gestational age or reduced birth weight. Healthy pregnant women (n=136; 24-28 gestational weeks; 20-40 years old), who visited Ewha Womans University Hospital for prenatal care, participated in this study. At the time of delivery, trained nurses recorded the pregnancy outcome from medical chart. We determined maternal MTHFR polymorphisms (C to T subsitution at nucleotide 677) and measured serum homocyteine, vitamin $B_{12}$, and folate concentrations. We compared serum homocysteine level by MTHFR genotype, serum folate and serum vitamin B12 levels using ANOVA. To evaluate the association between serum homocysteine level and pregnancy outcome, we compared the gestational age and birth weight by serum homocysteine levels using multiple regression analysis, adjusting for other potential predictors. Mean level of serum homocysteine was highest among pregnant women of the MTHFR variants with low levels of serum folate and vitamin $B_{12}$. Regarding association with birth outcome, we found the relationship between homocysteine levels and increased gestational age (p=0.03) and reduced birth outcome (p>0.05). Our data demonstrates that serum level of folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ among pregnant women affects significantly serum homocysteine levels, and the genetic polymorphism of MTHFR modulates the relationship between them. However, we did not have conclusive evidence of association between high homocysteine level and adverse pregnancy outcome such as preterm or low birth weight.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.35 no.10
• /
• pp.1045-1052
• /
• 2002

Hyperhomocysteinemia, resulted from an interaction between the mutation of MTHFR gene and B vitamin deficiency, is suggested as a possible cause for complications and adverse outcomes of pregnancy. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the intakes of B vitamins and serum homocysteine concentrations with the C677T mutation in the MTHFR genotypes in 135 normal pregnant women of 24-28 weeks of gestation. Dietary intake of B vitamins did not differ among the three genotypes, but the negative correlation between dietary folate intake and the serum homocysteine level was the strongest in the T/T type (r ＝ -0.249) than in other genotypes (C/T: r＝ -0.040, C/C:r＝ 0.126, p＜0.05). Among the subject with the T/T type, the pregnant women who consumed folate less than 50% of the RDA had higher serum homocysteine levels than those who consumed folate greater than 125% of the RDA (10.4$\pm$5.9 vs 7.0$\pm$1.5 $\mu$mol/L, p＜0.05). Serum homocysteine levels were higher in the women with micronutrient supplements than those with no supplements in the T/T type, but such relation was not present in the C/C or the C/T type. In conclusion, serum homocysteine concentrations were influenced by the interrelationship between the MTHFR polymorphisms and dietary folate intake or micronutrient supplementation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.211-218
• /
• 2005

Elevated homocysteine concentration is known to be related to placental abruption, spontaneous abortion, and many adverse pregnancy outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of folic acid supplementation ($1000{\cal}ug$ per day) and 5, 10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism genotype on serum homocysteine and B vitamin levels in 50 infertile women ($31.2{\pm}3.2\;years$). Blood sampling was performed at baseline and at the end of folic acid supplementation period. In infertile women, serum folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ concentrations were significantly higher in post-supplementation than those in pre-supplementation. Serum homocysteine concentration was significantly lower in post-supplementation than that in pre-supplementation. However, serum homocysteine levels were still higher in the T/T genotype than those in the C/C or C/T even after folic acid supplementation. Serum homo-cysteine was inversely related to serum folate in T/T homozygotes at baseline and at the end of folic acid supplementation. These results suggest that folic acid supplementation is needed for infertile women to improve their vitamin status and also to reduce the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia. These effects were different according to their MTHFR C677T genotypes. Therefore, further studies are necessary to determine the optimal level of supplementation of folic acid by MTHFR genotypes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.8
• /
• pp.1179-1189
• /
• 2006

This experiment was designed to examine the effects of supplemental vitamin D on laying performance, metabolic profile and egg quality of hens fed diets containing different fat sources and levels. Lohman strains (n = 480) were assigned to one of 10 diets: basal diet (BD), BD plus 2.5 and 5.0% sunflower oil (SO) or tallow (T) at vitamin D provided $1{\times}$ and $3{\times}$ of the current recommendation. The experiment lasted from week 30 to 44 of age. Each diet was tested in 12 replicate cages of 4 hens. Production, metabolism, and egg quality data were subjected to three-way ANOVA. Both fats decreased feed intake (FI) as compared to BD. Increasing SO and T levels linearly decreased and quadratically increased FI, respectively. The dietary factors did not affect egg production (EP) and egg weight. Vitamin D supplementation increased and decreased EP when diets contained SO and T, respectively. Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) for hens fed SO was lower than for hens fed T. However, increasing T level improved FCE, whereas increasing SO level worsened FCR. Vitamin D supplementation increased serum vitamin D and glucose concentrations. Vitamin D supplementation also caused a decrease and an increase in serum vitamin D concentration when diets contained SO and T, respectively. Serum glucose concentration for hens fed SO was lower than hens fed T. Increasing fat level linearly increased serum triglyceride and VLDL concentrations, regardless of the fat type. Increasing SO level linearly decreased serum cholesterol concentration. Vitamin D supplementation did not alter lipid metabolites. The dietary factors did not affect serum total protein, Ca, and P concentrations. As compared with BD, feeding SO decreased dry tibia and ash weights more than feeding T. Vitamin D supplementation tended to increase dry tibia weight and decrease tibia ash weight. Eggshell strength and thickness, yolk and albumen indexes, and Haugh unit were not responsive to the dietary factors. Eggshell strength quadratically increased with increasing T level. Yolk color for hens fed SO was lower than for hens fed T. The dietary factors did not affect most of yolk fatty acids. Increasing SO level quadratically decreased yolk $C_{18:2}$ concentration. Vitamin D supplementation increased and decreased yolk $C_{18:2}$ concentration when diets contained SO and T, respectively. In conclusion, increasing fat level improved laying performance without altering metabolic profile and egg quality. Vitamin D supplementation had minor alteration effects on laying performance, metabolic profile, and egg quality in response to fat feeding.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.14-19
• /
• 2010

In this study, the anti-oxidative effects and components of sprout serum were investigated. In the buds, high levels of zinc, iron and manganese were analyzed in addition to copper, magnesium, and potassium. The free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activity of sprout serum was evaluated with $IC_{50}$. $IC_{50}$ of sprout serum was $58.0\;mgmL^{-1}$, and that of vitamin C was $3.7\;mgmL^{-1}$. In the test of superoxide scavenging activity of sprout serum, the activity was dependent on the concentration of serum. In this case, the $IC_{50}$ was 2.0 wt%. Cell viability was detected by using the MTT method. Cultured human fibroblast was treated with 15 mM $H_2O_2$ and cell viability was 70% in case of control. However, the effect of treating 0.5% of sprout serum was similar to that of 0.0001% of vitamin C.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.500-506
• /
• 2006

An experiment was conducted with twenty crossbred male calves (7-15 days old) divided into 4 different experimental groups on the basis of body weights to study the effect of vitamin E supplementation on the serum ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration and immune response of the calves. All the calves were fed on milk and calf starter up to 13 weeks and afterwards, they were fed on concentrate mixture and oat hay up to 32 weeks of age. In addition, the calves in groups I, II, III and IV were supplemented with 0, 125, 250 and 500 IU feed grade DL-${\alpha}$-tocopheryl acetate, respectively. Blood samples were collected at 0 day and subsequently at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 months of age to monitor the serum ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration in crossbred calves. After 24 weeks of experimental feeding, 4 animals from each group were intramuscularly inoculated with single dose (3 ml) of Haemorrhagic septiceaemia (Pasteurella multocida P52 strain) oil adjuvant vaccine. The cumulative group mean serum ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration (${\mu}g/100ml$) was 88.12, 210.11, 235.21 and 294.02 in-groups I, II, III and IV, respectively and differed significantly (p<0.001) among the four groups. Lymphocyte stimulation indices (LSI) did not differ among the groups significantly. The pooled mean ELISA antibody titer against Pasteurella multocida (P52 strain) was 788.02, 926.85, 1,214.00 and 1,109.51 for group I, II, III and IV, respectively, which indicated higher antibody titer in groups supplemented with vitamin E as compared to the control group. It may be concluded that vitamin E supplementation increased the ${\alpha}$-tocopherol concentration in serum and dietary supplementation of vitamin E at higher level has a humoral immune enhancing effect against killed bacterial antigen.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.80-86
• /
• 1996

Parathyroid hormone(PTH) is known to stimulate bone resorption and to inhibit bone collagen synthesis. In contrast, as the evidence of stimulation of bone formation by PTH has recently been observed, the study on the role of PTH involved in osteoporosis draws remarkable attention. This study has dealt with the role of alkaline phoshatase(AP), a marker enzyme for bone formation and osteoblast action, Animals(BALS/cmice) were divided into three dietary groups(high and medium Ca and Ca-free) and hormones including PTH, calcitonin(CT), cholecalciferol(citamin D) were i.p. injected. AP in the serum and liver was measured using Sigma 221 alkaline buffer solutions containing 9mM of p-nitrophenyl phoshate. Enzume was reacted at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 10 minutes and the reaction was stopped by 1.8ml of 0.1N NaOH and measured at 410nm. We found that serum and liver AP activity was increased by low dietary Ac. Compared to the control, and serum Ap activity was enhanced by PTH and vitamin D regardless of the dietary Ca. On the other hand, liver AP activity was inhibited by OTH and vitamin D at all levels of dietary Ca. CT inhibited the action of PTH and vitamin D in the serum. But, the inhibition of PTH and vitamin D action by CT was not observed in the liver, unlike in the case of serum.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.302-314
• /
• 1999

This study was conducted to evaluate nutrient intake, indices of anemia, serum lipids, and their correlations in 40 Korean female college students aged 21 to 25 years. Fasting blood samples were collected in October. 1997 Nutrient intake was investigated by 24-hour recall method for three days. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, iron status and serum lipids of the subjects were determined. The mean values for age. height, weight, BMI and blood pressure of the subjects were 22.1 years, 160.6cm, 54.4kg and 109.1/66.9mmHg, respectively. According to the body composition analysis, total body water, % body fat, lean body mass and WHR were 26.7L. 29.5%, 36.5kg and 0.8, respectively. Average daily intake of energy was 1,858.4kcal. Protein, phosphorus, vitamin B$_1$, vitamin B$_2$, niacin and vitamin C intakes were higher than the Korean recommended dietary allowence(RDA), whereas calcium, iron, vitamin A intakes were tower than that. Hemoglobin(Hb), hematocrit(Hct), serum iron(SI) and total iron binding capacity(TIBC) were measured and transferrin saturation (TS%) was calculated from serum. The mean values for Hb, Hct, SI, TIBC and TS were 13.6$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎗, 41.6%,97.8$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎗, 319.6$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎗ and 31.9%, respectively. The Prevalence rates of iron deficiency assessed by Hb and Hct were found to be 10% and 2.5%, respectively. However, when assessed with TIBC, the prevalence rate of iron deficiency was increased to 32.5%. The mean values for serum triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), HDL-Chol, LDL-Chol concentrations and atherogenic index(AI) were 154.7mg/㎗, 80.0mg/㎗, 47.4mg/㎗, 91.3mg/㎗ and 2.6, respectively. Correlations among indices of anemia. there were positive correlations between Hb and Hct, between SI and TS : negative correlations between TIBC and TS or SI. Correlations among serum lipids, there were positive correlations between TC and TG or LDL-cholesterol. Energy intakes were correlated positively with TIBC(p＜0.05), and vitamin C intakes negatively correlated with Hb(P＜0.05). And vitamin A intakes were negatively correlated with TG(p＜0.01). TC(p＜0.05) and LDL-Chol(p＜0.01). Hb negatively correlated with TG(P＜0.05). Body weights(p＜0.05), lean body mass(p＜0.05) and total body water(p＜0.01) werenegatively correlated with Hb. BMI and WHR correlated with TG and TC(p＜0.01). These results indicated that subjects with higher energy intake and overweight had a tendency to have iron deficiency. Increases in BMI and WHR were related to increases in serum lipids levels and decreases in TIBC. The results also showed that serum lipids were decreased when vitamin A and iron intakes were sufficient.