Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern is associated with greater anti-oxidant capacity and improved glycemic control in Iraqi patients with Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND: Healthy dietary patterns are typically associated with improved metabolic and cardiovascular health in population-based cohorts. This study aims to investigate whether a healthy dietary score, derived from UK Diabetes and Diet Questionnaire (UKDDQ), is significantly associated with measures of metabolic health and nutritional status in patients with T2DM. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 85 patients with T2DM (age: 51.7±9.4, BMI: 30.6±5.3) and 20 healthy volunteers (age: 48.4±8.6, BMI: 29.5±5) recruited from the Al-Hassan Diabetes and Endocrinology Specialized Center, Karbala, Iraq. Body weight, height and body mass index (BMI) and resting clinic blood pressure were measured. All participants completed the UKDDQ to assess the quality of the diet. Metabolic and nutritional biomarkers were measured in fasting blood samples. A composite nutritional heathy index score (CNHI-score) based on the sum of z-scores for plasma vitamin A, C and E concentrations was derived. RESULTS: In patients with T2DM the UKDDQ score was associated with lower fasting blood glucose (FBG) (r = –0.33; P < 0.01), hemoglobin A1C (r = –0.49; P < 0.001), total cholesterol (TC) (r = –0.26; P = 0.02) concentrations. In patients with T2DM, the CNHI-score significantly associated with UKDDQ (r = 0.43; P < 0.001). In addition, a higher CNHI-score was associated with FBG (r = –0.61; P < 0.001), HbA1C (r = –0.83; P < 0.001), TC (r = –0.30; P < 0.01) and triglyceride (r = –0.30; P < 0.01) concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: A healthy diet is associated with a higher concentration of anti-oxidant vitamins and better glycemic and lipid profile in healthy subjects and in patients with T2DM.

Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis Identifies Vitamin D-Associated Gene Modules in Adult Normal Rectal Epithelium Following Supplementation

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common, multifactorial disease. While observational studies have identified an association between lower vitamin D and higher CRC risk, supplementation trials have been inconclusive and the mechanisms by which vitamin D may modulate CRC risk are not well understood. We sought to perform a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify modules present after vitamin D supplementation (when plasma vitamin D level was sufficient) which were absent before supplementation, and then to identify influential genes in those modules. The transcriptome from normal rectal mucosa biopsies of 49 individuals free from CRC were assessed before and after 12 weeks of 3200IU/day vitamin D (Fultium-D3) supplementation using paired-end total RNAseq. While the effects on expression patterns following vitamin D supplementation were subtle, WGCNA identified highly correlated genes forming gene modules. Four of the 17 modules identified in the post-vitamin D network were not preserved in the pre-vitamin D network, shedding new light on the biochemical impact of supplementation. These modules were enriched for GO terms related to the immune system, hormone metabolism, cell growth and RNA metabolism. Across the four treatment-associated modules, 51 hub genes were identified, with enrichment of 40 different transcription factor motifs in promoter regions of those genes, including VDR:RXR. Six of the hub genes were nominally differentially expressed in studies of vitamin D effects on adult normal mucosa organoids: LCN2, HLA-C, AIF1L, PTPRU, PDE4B and IFI6. By taking a gene-correlation network approach, we have described vitamin D induced changes to gene modules in normal human rectal epithelium in vivo, the target tissue from which CRC develops.

Vitamin D Status & Latitude Predict Brain Lesions in Adrenoleukodystrophy

A subset of boys with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) develop inflammatory demyelinating brain lesions. Risk factors are largely undefined. We used two independent cohorts to assess whether low vitamin D status predicts lesion development. In our first cohort, we measured 25-hydroxyvitamin D in 53 plasma samples from 20 pre-lesional ALD boys followed at two centers; half subsequently developed lesions. In our second cohort, we measured latitude (using home ZIP code) among 230 ALD boys in a database of 51 US pediatric hospitals; over half developed lesions. In regression models, low plasma vitamin D and northerly latitudes independently predicted ALD brain lesions.

Laboratory Parameters of Bone Metabolism in Premature Infants and Children Born Using In Vitro Fertilization

Aim. To study the indicators of bone metabolism in premature babies born naturally and children born with IVF. Material and methods. The premature babies’ study was conducted, they were divided into 4 groups: depending on the method of birth and weight: 1st-children born with IVF, with very low weight; the second group – similar to the first, but children with extremely low weight; the third – children with very low weight, born naturally, with ; the fourth – similar to the 3rd, but with extremely low weight. The level of calcium, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen was determined. Results and discussion. Diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency is possible only by measuring certain biochemical parameters, primarily the levels of its metabolites in the blood. Clinical symptoms of vitamin D deficiency in the form of rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis and extra-skeletal manifestations as a result of this vitamin deficiency occur over a long period of time. The most informative indicator of the body’s vitamin D supply is the content of calcidiol [25 (OH)D] in both serum and blood plasma. Vitamin D deficiency was detected in more than half (67.7±4.8%) of premature newborns in the first year of life. It seemed that in premature babies born in different ways, vitamin D deficiency was noted in 8 %, insufficiency – in 67.7 %, and the normal content in 27.5 %. In children at an early age, there is a violation of bone metabolism (an increase in the level of calcium, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, on the one hand, and a decrease in the C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen, on the other). These changes were associated with the weight of children, while aggressive disorders were noted in children with extremely low weight. In premature infants (with a body weight of less than 1500 g), monitoring of the level of vitamin D in the blood and C-terminal telopeptides of type 1 collagen should be recommended. Conclusion. Bone modeling has a great advantage due to the analysis of the blood serum biomarkers levels in premature infants, it enables to establish the features of osteogenesis.

Association between a SLC23A2 Gene Variation, Plasma Vitamin C Levels, and Risk of Different Diseases

Background: Vitamin C is an important plasma water-soluble antioxidant that plays an essential role in the absorption of iron, detoxification of exogenous compounds, and remaking vitamin E for the protection of lipid membranes. In addition, vitamin C is essential in the synthesis of collagen. Vitamin C concentrations of plasma are determined by dietary intake and genetic factors. Ascorbic acid is the functional form of vitamin C, which is transported into the cell through sodium vitamin C transporters (SVCTs). There are two forms of SVCTs which are SVCT1 encoded by the SLC23A1 gene and SVCT2 encoded by the SLC23A2. The SLC23A2 gene locus on human chromosome 20P12. It expresses in most human tissues, except lung and skeletal muscle that it is important in regulating the intracellular concentration of ascorbic acid to protect the cell from oxidative stress and promote type 1 collagen maturation. Maintaining proper concentrations of plasma and cellular vitamin C concentration is important for the normal metabolic function of the body and preventing several diseases. In the contrast, a low concentration of vitamin C caused by SLC23A2 variation can cause several chronic diseases. Our systematic review discusses four diseases related to the variation of SLC23A2 gene and plasma vitamin C levels which are glaucoma, acute coronary syndrome among women, gastric cancer, and HPV16-associated head and neck cancer. Methods: By using NCBI databases, specifically GenBank to analyze DNA sequence and mRNA sequence of SLC23A2 gene. GenBank file format was helpful to extract an accession number of the gene, number of amino acids, number of exons and introns, and length of nucleotides. FASTA format was also useful to retrieve the nucleotide sequence and get the function of the protein. BLAST was used to compare the protein product of the SLC23A2 gene between humans and Macaca mulatta (Rhesus monkey). Results: the accession number of the SLC23A2 gene was NC_000020.11, the number of exons found was 18, and the gene was located in chromosome 20. This gene encodes one of the two required transporters, and the encoded protein accounts for tissue-specific uptake of vitamin C. This gene had an official symbol of SLC23A1. And they found a significant association between the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1279683 (A > G) in SLC23A2 and an increased risk of POAG in homozygous G allele (GG) carriers. Also, POAG patients with this SNP appear to have a significantly lower level of plasma vitamin C compared to other genotypes. Finally, many organisms have the same gene, such as dogs, mice, rats, and chickens. Conclusion: there is a significant association between SLC23A2 gene mutation, increased risk for vitamin C deficiency, and several diseases. SNP in the SLC23A2 gene was significantly associated with a higher risk of POAG in GG allele carriers as well as lower plasma vitamin C concentration.

Plasma vitamin B12 concentration is positively associated with cognitive development in healthy Danish 3-year-old children; the SKOT cohort studies

Adequate vitamin B12 and folate concentrations are essential for neural development in early childhood but studies in well-nourished children are lacking. We investigated the relation between plasma vitamin B12 and folate at 9 and 36 months and psychomotor development at 36 months in well-nourished Danish children. Subjects from the SKOT cohorts with vitamin B12 measurement and completed Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) at 36 months were included (n=280). Dietary intake, vitamin B12- and folate concentrations were collected at 9 and 36 months, and ASQ-3 was assessed at 36 months. Associations between vitamin B12 and folate at 9 and 36 months and ASQ-3 were analyzed using regression models. Associations between diet and vitamin B12 were also investigated. No children had insufficient vitamin B12(<148pmol/L) at 36 months. Vitamin B12 at 36 month was positively associated with total ASQ-3 corresponding to an increase of 100 pmol/L vitamin B12 per 1.5 increase in total ASQ-3 score; p=0.019) which remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders including 9 months values. Vitamin B12 at 9 months or folate at any time point was not associated with total ASQ-3. Intake of milk products was associated with vitamin B12 at 36 months (p=0.003) and showed a trend at 9 months (p=0.069). Intake of meat products was not associated with vitamin B12. In conclusion, vitamin B12 was positively related to psychomotor development at 3 years in well-nourished children, indicating that the impact of having marginally low vitamin B12 status on psychomotor development in well-nourished children should be examined further.

Association of Plasma Vitamin B6 With Coronary Heart Disease in Patients Undergoing Diagnostic Coronary Angiography: New Insight on Sex Differences

Aim: To date, findings on the overall and sex-specific effects of plasma pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP, active coenzyme form of vitamin B6) on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) have been inconsistent. This study sought to advance our understanding on the association of plasma PLP with risk of CHD, with particular attention paid to sex differences and effect modifiers.Methods: We conducted a hospital-based, case-control study on suspected CHD patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. A total of 429 CHD cases and 429 controls matched by age, sex, and operation time were included in the final analysis. Plasma PLP was assessed using LC-MS. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between plasma PLP and a first CHD event.Results: The mean (SD) plasma PLP levels were 8.4 (6.3) in male cases and 9.0 (11.0) in female cases, and 9.5 (8.5) in male controls and 12.5 (12.9) in female controls. Each 1 ng/mL increment in log2PLP was associated with a 28% lower risk of CHD in overall population. When stratified by sex, plasma PLP was significantly and independently associated with CHD in women (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.50–0.80), but not in men (OR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.67–1.09). The association of plasma PLP with CHD risk was modified by sex (adjusted Pinteraction = 0.022).Conclusions: We found a significant, inverse linear association between plasma PLP and CHD in Chinese women, but not in men. Our findings warrant additional investigation.

Plasma Vitamin E and the Risk of First Stroke in Hypertensive Patients: A Nested Case-Control Study

Background: The association between plasma vitamin E levels and first stroke risk in men and women remains unclear.Objective: We aimed to examine the prospective association between plasma vitamin E and first stroke, and evaluate the effect modifiers for the association, among hypertensive patients.Design: The study sample was drawn from the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT), which randomized a total of 20,702 hypertensive patients to a double-blind, daily treatment with either 10 mg enalapril and 0.8 mg folic acid or 10 mg enalapril alone. This nested case-control study, including 618 first stroke cases and 618 controls matched for age, sex, treatment group, and study site, was conducted after the completion of the CSPPT.Results: The median follow-up duration was 4.5 years. Among men, a significantly higher risk of first stroke (adjusted OR, 1.67; 95%CI: 1.01, 2.77) was found for those with plasma vitamin E ≥7.1 μg/mL (≥quartile 1) compared with those with plasma vitamin E &lt; 7.1 μg/mL. Subgroup analyses further showed that the association between vitamin E (≥7.1 vs. &lt;7.1 μg/mL) and first stroke in men was significantly stronger in non-drinkers (adjusted OR, 2.64; 95%CI: 1.41, 4.96), compared to current drinkers (adjusted OR, 0.84; 95% CI: 0.43, 1.66, P-interaction = 0.008). However, there was no significant association between plasma vitamin E and first stroke in women (P-interaction between sex and plasma vitamin E = 0.048).Conclusions: Among Chinese hypertensive patients, there was a statistically significant positive association between baseline plasma vitamin E and the risk of first stroke in men, but not in women.Clinical Trial Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00794885, Identifier: NCT00794885.