Serum Retinol, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin E, and Selenium As Related to Subsequent Cancer of Specific Sites

The effects of the vitamins dl-alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and beta-carotene, free radical scavengers and lipid peroxidation inhibitors, were analyzed in male Wistar rats made goitrous by feeding a low iodine diet (< 20 micrograms iodine/kg) and perchlorate (1% in drinking water) for 4, 8, 16, and 32 days. Groups of control or goitrous rats received for at least 16 days before killing a diet containing 0.6% vitamin E (as dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate), 1.2% vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and 0.48% beta-carotene, either simultaneously (vitamin cocktail) or separately. This treatment led to a 5-fold increase of vitamin E in the thyroid gland, a 24-fold increase in the liver and a 3-fold increase in the plasma. In control rats, vitamin cocktail administration increased slightly the thyroid weight with little changes in thyroid function parameters. During iodine deficiency, administration of the vitamin cocktail or vitamin E alone reduced significantly the rate of increase in thyroid weight, and DNA and protein contents, as well as the proportion of [3H]thymidine labeled thyroid follicular cells, but not that of labeled endothelial cells. Plasma tri-iodothyronine, thyroxine, TSH levels, thyroid iodine content and concentration as well as relative volumes of glandular compartments were not modified. The proportion of necrotic cells rose from 0.5% in normal animals to about 2% after 16 days of goiter development. No significant protective effect of the vitamins was observed. These results suggest that these vitamins, particularly vitamin E, modulate one of the regulatory cascades involved in the control of thyroid follicular cell growth, without interfering with the proliferation of endothelial cells.

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Inhibition and Regression of Experimental Oral Cancer by Beta Carotene and Vitamin E: Emerging Concepts

Nutrients in Cancer Prevention and Treatment ◽

10.1007/978-1-4612-0237-0_19 ◽

1995 ◽

pp. 317-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gerald Shklar

Keyword(s):

Vitamin E ◽

Oral Cancer ◽

Beta Carotene

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Changes in Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, beta-carotene, Vitamins C, A, D and E Status of French Elderly Subjects during the First Year of Institutionalization

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831.70.2.54 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 70 (2) ◽

pp. 54-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jeanne Chantal Essama-Tjani ◽

Jean-Claude Guilland ◽

Françoise Fuchs ◽

Marie Lombard ◽

Dominique Richard

Keyword(s):

Vitamin A ◽

Vitamin C ◽

Activity Coefficient ◽

Reductase Activity ◽

Population Sample ◽

Serum Vitamin ◽

Beta Carotene ◽

Alpha Tocopherol ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Serum Retinol

Vitamin status was assessed in 26 recently institutionalized elderly subjects by combining dietary and biochemical measurements of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, beta-carotene, vitamins C, A, D and E at admission (P1), and 1.5 (P2), 3.0 (P3), 4.5 (P4), 6.0 (P5), 12 (P6) months later. At admission, except for vitamin A, mean vitamin intakes were lower than the 1992 French Recommended Dietary Allowance. Thiamin, vitamins C, A and E status seemed nearly satisfactory as less than one-fourth of the population sample had blood values lower than the cut-off point for thiamin (erythrocyte thiamin pyrophosphate < 0.17 mumol/l), vitamin A (serum retinol < 1.05 mumol/l), vitamin C (serum vitamin C < 11.3 mumol/l) and vitamin E (serum alpha-tocopherol < 9.3 mumol/l) or higher than the cut-off point for thiamin (erythrocyte transketolase activity coefficient > 1.19). Almost half of the subjects for riboflavin, and almost all non supplemented subjects for vitamin D were in risk of vitamin deficiency (46% had an erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient > 1.19 and 72% had a plasma 25(OH)D3 < 25 nmol/l). During the study, vitamins status remained unchanged for riboflavin, niacin, vitamins A, D and E, improved for vitamin C (P = 0.004) or impaired for thiamin (P = 0.008). Thus, institutionalization seemed to have no effect on riboflavin, niacin, vitamins A, D and E status and a slight effect on thiamin and vitamin C status.

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Serum Retinol of Chadian Nomadic Pastoralist Women in Relation to their Livestocks’ Milk Retinol and beta-Carotene Content

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831.72.4.221 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 72 (4) ◽

pp. 221-228 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Jakob Zinsstag ◽

Esther Schelling ◽

Saada Daoud ◽

Josef Schierle ◽

Peter Hofmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin A ◽

Human Serum ◽

Beta Carotene ◽

Leafy Vegetables ◽

Cow Milk ◽

Serum Retinol ◽

Carotene Content ◽

Nomadic Pastoralists ◽

Fresh Vegetables ◽

Nomadic Pastoralist

Human serum retinol and livestock milk retinol levels were assessed as part of a study on the health status of Chadian nomadic pastoralists and their livestock in close partnership between Chadian public health and livestock institutions. Of the examined women (n = 99), 43% were moderately retinol-deficient (0.35 mol/L < × < 0.7 mol/L 95% CI; 33–54%), and 17% severely retinol-deficient (< 0.35 mol/L 95% CI; 10–26 %). None of the interviewed women (n = 87) reported the consumption of fruit, and only two of fresh vegetables were reported consumed in the past 24 hours. Milk is the almost exclusive source of vitamin A for these populations. Goats (n = 6) had the highest average milk retinol level (329 ± 84 mug/kg [mean ± SEM]), followed by cattle (n = 25; 247 ± 32 mug/kg), and camels (n = 12; 120 ± 18 mug/kg). Milk retinol levels did not differ between the rainy and dry seasons. Human serum retinol depends significantly on livestock milk retinol levels (partial slope 0.23; 95% CI: 0.008–0.47). Our study supports the use of goat and cow milk as an important source of vitamin A in pastoral nomadic settings. However, the levels still require to be complemented further by promoting green leafy vegetables, fruits, and supplements.

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