• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.507-516
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation on the iron contents and oxidative stress of the rats. Rats were fed 18g ascorbic acid and 300IU $\alpha$-tocopherol/kg diet, respectively. Rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 5 and 7 month of age. The blood, liver and brain were selected for the quantitation of iron and malondialdehyde(MDA) contents, glutathione peroxidase(GSHPx), superoxided dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT) activity. Iron and MDA contents and GSHPx activities were increased with aging. Vitamin C and Vitamin E supplementation increased iron contents of the plasma. Vitamin C raised iron contents, but vitamin E decreased iron contents of the liver. In the brain vitamin C and vitamin E did not affect the iron level. MDA levels were decreased with vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation in the erythrocyte and liver, and vitamin C supplementation elevated MDA levels in the brain. GSHPx activity was increased with vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation. SOD activities of erythroucyte and brain were not affected with age, but in the liver, SOD activity was raised with age and vitamin C supplementation. Vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation promoted CAT activity of erythroucyte and liver, and CAT activity of brain was eleveated with vitamin addition but was decreaed with vitamin E addition. Vitamin C and vitamin E decreased iron contents of blood plasma, MDA contents of plasma and liver, and CAT activity of erythrocyte. Above results indicated that iron contents and biomarkers of oxidative stress were more affected by age than antioxidant action of vitamin C and vitamin E.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 1997

Secrum lipid and vitamin E levels were determined and smoking, alcohol drinking and exercise habits were asked in 357 healthy male subjects aged 49.4$\pm$6.7 years in Taegu. Average serum levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride(TG) were 189$\pm$43mg/이, 42$\pm$13mg/dl and 136$\pm$73mg/이, respectively. Serum level of lipid peroxide measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) of the subjects was 2.01$\pm$0.73MDA nmoles/ml and that of $\alpha$-tocopherol was 9.53$\pm$3.14ug/ml. The correlation coefficients between $\alpha$-tocopherol and serum lipids were 0.3631 for triglyceride, 0.2993 for cholesterol, and 0.3025 for total lipid. Heavy smokers who smoked more than 20 cigarettes a day had higher levels of TG and TBARS than those who smoke less. Alcohol drinkers had higher levels of TG and TBARS than nondrinkers. Vitamin E level(per ml serum)was significantly higher in the heavy smokers and drinkers, which was reflected by the higher level of serum lipid. When the level of $\alpha$-tocopherol was expressed as $\alpha$-tocopherol/triglyceride, it was negatively correlated with serum TBARS level and was lower in the heavy smokers than in the moderate smokers. It is concluded that vitamin E level as $\alpha$-tocopherol/triglyceride would be better compared to $\alpha$-tocopherol/total cholesterol or $\alpha$-tocopherol/total lipid for the evaluation of vitamin E status in Korean men.

• Asian Spine Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1127-1145
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• 2018

Several theories have been proposed to explain the etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) until present. However, limited data are available regarding the impact of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency on scoliosis. Previous studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent in adolescents, including AIS patients. A series of studies conducted in Hong Kong have shown that as many as 30% of these patients have osteopenia. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level has been found to positively correlate with bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy adolescents and negatively with Cobb angle in AIS patients; therefore, vitamin D deficiency is believed to play a role in AIS pathogenesis. This study attempts to review the relevant literature on AIS etiology to examine the association of vitamin D and various current theories. Our review suggested that vitamin D deficiency is associated with several current etiological theories of AIS. We postulate that vitamin D deficiency and/or insufficiency affects AIS development by its effect on the regulation of fibrosis, postural control, and BMD. Subclinical deficiency of vitamin K2, a fat-soluble vitamin, is also prevalent in adolescents; therefore, it is possible that the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is related to decreased fat intake. Further studies are required to elucidate the possible role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis and clinical management of AIS.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.239-249
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• 2013

Subclinical vitamin $B_{12}$ deficiency is common in the elderly worldwide. We investigated the change of serum vitamin $B_{12}$ concentration with aging and compared anthropometric data and clinical health indicators between normal (${\geq}$ 340 pg/mL) and low (< 340 pg/mL) serum vitamin $B_{12}$ groups in 470 Korean women aged 65 years and over living in a rural area. Serum vitamin $B_{12}$ concentration showed inverse correlation with age (r = -0.0992, p < 0.05). The normal $B_{12}$ group showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit compared to the low $B_{12}$ group, however, no difference in mean corpuscular volume was observed between the two groups. The normal $B_{12}$ group showed significantly lower serum homocysteine concentration (p < 0.01) and prevalence of vitamin D (p < 0.01) or folate deficiency (p < 0.001). Bone mineral density (T-score) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the normal $B_{12}$ group, compared with that in the low $B_{12}$ group, and showed positive correlation (r = 0.1490, p < 0.01) with serum vitamin $B_{12}$ concentration after adjusting for age, body weight, and body mass index. No differences in anthropometric data, physical activity, and smoking and drinking habits were observed between the two groups. In conclusion, it could be suggested that older female adults with normal serum vitamin $B_{12}$ level would be less anemic and osteoporotic and more resistant to hyperhomocysteinemia associated chronic diseases than those with low serum vitamin $B_{12}$ level.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.167-178
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• 2000

The effect of oral vitamin e (800IU/day) and C (500mg/day) supplementation for 10 days and/or smoking cessation for 5 days on oxidative damage to the red blood cells (RBC) of male smokers (22.2$\pm$0.2 years old) was studied. RBC were tested for their ability to protect against smoking-induced oxidative damage by measuring heme proteins (carboxyhemoglobin, hemoglobin, methemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin), hemolysis and thiobarbiturinc acid reactive substances (TBARS). Plasma levels of vitamin c, A, E, $\beta$-catotene, total cholesterol, glutamic pyruvic transaminase(GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) were also analyzed. In experiment one, a comparison was made of heme proteins and lipid damage to RBC, plasma antioxidant status (indexed by plasma levels of vitamin C, E, A and $\beta$-carotene) between smokers(n=56) and non-smokers (n=16). No differences were found in plasma antioxidant status, heme protein damage and TBARS concentration of RBC. In experiment two, 46 fasting male smokers from experiment one were divided into 4 groups. The groups were smoking with placebo group(SP, n=14), smoking cessation with vitamins supplementatin group (SV, n=13), smoking cessation with placebo group (NSP, n=9) and smoking cessation with vitamins supplementation group (NSV, n=10). After supplementing antioxidant vitamins, significant increases were seen in plasma vitamins supplementation group (NSV, n=10). After supplementing antioxidant vitamins, significant increases were seen plasma vitamin C (p<0.05) and vitamin E levels (p<0.05). The plasma vitamin E level was highest in the NSV group. Vitmain E and C supplementation provided some protection against heme proteins and lipid damage by lowering methemoglobin, hemolysis and TBARS concentration of RBC. Smoking cessation significantly decreased TBARS of RBC and plasma total cholesterol concentration. Supplementing vitamin E and C with smoking cessation considerably lowered plasma total cholesterol. These results point to a special association among smoking, oxidative damage and plasma antioxidant vitamin status. They indicate that increases in plasma antioxidant status can be detected after the supplementation of vitamin C and E and that smoking cessation had an additional effect on plasma vitamin E level. The present data suggest that improved antioxidant status induced by antioxidant supplementation or smoking cessation may help prevent oxidative damage in smokers.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.71-79
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• 2019

Purpose : Several studies suggest that smoking and vitamin D level is a risk factor of metabolic syndrome. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between smoking status, vitamin D levels and the Korean adult male and female metabolic syndrome. Methods : We assessed 3796 participants aged 19 years and older from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2013, 2014. Smoking statuses were collected from self-reported questionnaires. Subjects were divided into three categories: non-smokers, former smokers, and current smokers. Vitamin D was tested by Radioimmunoassay method and the value of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which is an index of vitamin D status in the body, was used. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was made using criteria modified NCEP-ATP III. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios between smoking status, vitamin D levels, and metabolic syndrome. Results : The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 23.0 % in men and 15.4 % in women. After adjusting for smoking, the odds ratio for men's metabolic syndrome in current smokers was 1.77 (95 % CI, 1.30~2.41), while for former smokers OR was 1.63 (95 % CI, 1.15~2.31) compared with nonsmokers. After adjustment vitamin D, the odds ratio for women's metabolic syndrome in vitamin D deficiency was 1.44 (95 % CI, 1.11~1.87) compared with normal. Conclusion : Smoking status was associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome in Korean adult males and decreased vitamin D level was associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome in Korean adult females.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 2021

Purpose: A steady increase in Clostridioides difficile enteritis (CDE) has been reported recently. CDE is associated with intestinal dysbiosis, and vitamin D receptors are known to play an important role in this microbial imbalance as immunological regulators. We investigated the difference in vitamin D levels between children with CDE and those with other acute infectious enteritis. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on children below 18 years of age who visited the Gil hospital, underwent investigation to assess vitamin D levels, and had confirmed gastrointestinal infection between January 2015 and December 2018. Patients were divided into two groups: the "CDE group" (n=18) and the "other infectious enteritis group" (n=88); their clinical characteristics, other laboratory results, and vitamin D levels were analyzed. Results: There was no difference in gender, age, and seasonal distributions between the CDE and other infectious enteritis groups. Other laboratory results were not significantly different between two groups, excluding serum albumin level (4.52±0.45 g/dL vs. 4.31±0.28 g/dL, p=0.011). The mean 25-hydroxy vitamin D level in the CDE group was higher than that in the control group (18.75±8.11 ng/mL vs. 14.50±6.79 ng/mL, p=0.021). Conclusion: Vitamin D levels in the CDE group were lower than normal but higher than the other infectious enteritis group. These results suggested that CDE has a different mechanism or susceptibility associated with vitamin D in children, and even marginal changes in vitamin D levels can act as a risk factor for infection.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.120-131
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Low early pregnancy serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) levels can increase gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk, although inconsistent findings related to that association have been reported. This study examined the association of serum vitamin D with GDM and the possible influencers on this association. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study included 259 pregnant women within the Seremban Cohort Study (SECOST). Blood samples at < 14 weeks of gestation were drawn to determine serum 25(OH)D levels. GDM diagnosis was made at 24 to 32 weeks of gestation using a standard procedure. Association between serum vitamin D and GDM was tested using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Nearly all women (90%) had mild (68.3%) or severe (32.2%) vitamin D deficiency (VDD). Non-GDM women with mild VDD had a significantly higher mean vitamin D intake than GDM women with mild VDD (t = 2.04, p < 0.05). Women with higher early pregnancy serum vitamin D levels had a greater risk of GDM. However, this significant association was only identified among those with a family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and in women with a body mass index indicating overweight or obese status. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of VDD in this sample of pregnant women underscores the need for effective preventive public health strategies. Further investigation of this unexpected association between serum vitamin D level and GDM risk in predominantly VDD pregnant women and the potential effects of adiposity and family history of T2DM on that association is warranted.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2003

This study was done to evaluate the antioxidant status of female college students by determining their intakes and plasma levels of antioxidnt vitamins (vitamin C, A and E) and total antioxidant status (TAS). Subjects were 46 healthy female college students aged 20 - 29 years. Body composition was determined by a multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Dietary intakes were examined by 24hr record method and nutrients intakes were analyzed by the Computer Aided Nutritional analysis program for professional (CAN-pro). Plasma vitamin C level were measured by spectrophotometric method and retinol, ${\beta}$-carotene, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol were measured by HPLC. Plasma TAS was measured with a Randox kit using the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) method. Daily energy and protein intakes of the female college students were 1670.5㎉ (83% of RDA) and 63.3g (115.1% of RDA), respectively. However their intakes of Ca and Fe were below 75% of RDA. Their intakes of vitamin A and C were 596.6 ${\mu}$ gRE (85.2% of RDA) and 71.0mg (101.4% of RDA), respectively. Plasma levels of vitamin C, retinol, ${\beta}$-carotene and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol were 14.7mg/L, 0.7mg/L, 0.2mg/L and 9.1mg/L, respectively which were within normal range. There was no subject with deficiency or marginal level in plasma vitamin A and C. However 1.6% of the subjects had below adequate level in vitamin E. Plasma TAS level was 1.2mmol/L. Correlation data showed that all plasma antioxidant vitamins were positively correlated with plasma TAS. Overall data indicate that the antioxidant status of female college students were pretty good. However it might be necessary to educate them to eat more fruits and vegetables for preventing many chronic diseases in a later life. (J Community Nutrition 5(1) : 13∼20, 2003)

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.409-417
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• 2013

This study was performed to determine the effects of dietary calcium (Ca) intake, milk and dairy product intake, and serum vitamin D level on bone mineral density. The survey data from the 2008-2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) for adults (3,819 males, 5,625 females) aged > 20 years were examined; osteoporosis was defined according to the standards for Asian populations (T-score < -2.5). The risk for osteoporosis significantly decreased as Ca intake increased; this effect persisted (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1 of Ca intake: odds ratio [OR] 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50-0.87) even after adjustment for gender, age, and other factors (body mass index, serum vitamin D, menstruation, female hormone intake, menopausal status, and the number of days per week of muscular strength exercise). Additionally, the risk for osteoporosis significantly decreased as the Ca/P ratio increased (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1: OR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.58-0.98). The degree of risk was 0.96 (0.66-1.38) in those who consumed < 1 portion of milk or dairy products daily, and 0.71 (0.53-0.96) in those who consumed > 1 portion per day, compared with those who had zero intake. The risk for osteoporosis significantly decreased as the serum 25(OH) vitamin D level increased. From these results, we advocate an increase in Ca, milk, and dairy product intake, and that serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels be maintained within the normal range, for the maintenance of bone health and the prevention of osteoporosis in adults.