Proximate Composition and Sensory Evaluation Between Artificially Ripened and Naturally Ripened Pineapples (Ananas comosus)

The number of artificially ripened pineapples is outnumbered than the naturally ripened pineapples. However, there is a lack of understanding between artificially ripened and naturally ripened pineapples. Thus the inquiry was anticipated to explore the physicochemical changes and organoleptic acceptability of the naturally ripened and artificially ripened pineapples. Farmers used different chemicals such as calcium carbide, ethylene, besides growth hormones to reduce production loss. Here we evaluated the content of moisture, ash, protein, fat, crude fiber, reducing sugar, total sugar, titratable acidity, sucrose, and vitamin C in both naturally ripened and artificially ripened pineapples. Artificially ripened pineapples showed a significantly lower vitamin C than naturally ripened ones, but arsenic content was nil in both samples. In the case of color and appearance, there was no significant difference between the two samples, but in case of the other organoleptic properties, such as flavor, sweetness, sourness, the natural one was more acceptable. Thus naturally ripened pineapples are more beneficial to consumers than artificially ripened ones.

Association Between Serum Vitamins and the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in Chinese Population

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic and fatal neurodegenerative disease; accumulating evidence suggests that vitamin deficiency is associated with the risk of AD. However, studies attempting to elucidate the relationship between vitamins and AD varied widely. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin levels and AD in a cohort of the Chinese population. Methods: A total of 368 AD patients and 574 healthy controls were recruited in this study; serum vitamin A, B1, B6, B9, B12, C, D, and E were measured in all participants. Results: Compared with the controls, vitamin B2, B9, B12, D, and E were significantly reduced in AD patients. Lower levels of vitamin B2, B9, B12, D, and E were associated with the risk of AD. After adjusting for age and gender, low levels of vitamin B2, B9, and B12 were still related to the risk of AD. In addition, a negative correlation was determined between vitamin E concentration and Activity of Daily Living Scale score while no significant association was found between serum vitamins and age at onset, disease duration, Mini-Mental State Examination, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire score. Conclusion: We conclude that lower vitamin B2, B9, B12, D, and E might be associated with the risk of AD, especially vitamin B2, B9, and B12. And lower vitamin E might be related to severe ability impairment of daily activities.

Association Between Migraine Complicated With Restless Legs Syndrome and Vitamin D

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients with migraine and explore its association with vitamin D deficiency, aiming to provide biological support for the comorbidity of migraine with RLS, and shed new lights into clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods: A case-control study was performed on 175 migraine patients and 151 non-headache controls. The information of all subjects concerning headache severity [visual analog scale (VAS) score], RLS, RLS severity [International Restless Legs Scale (IRLS) score], sleep quality [Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)], anxiety and depression symptoms [hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS)], and demographic data were collected. At the same time, serum 25-(OH) D levels were also measured (concentration <20 ng/ml was defined deficiency). Afterward, the logistic regression model was adopted to explore the risk factors for RLS in patients with migraines.Results: Compared with control group, migraine group had lower vitamin D levels [(21.10 ± 6.58) vs. (16.42 ± 5.6) ng/ml, P < 0.001], a higher rate of vitamin D deficiency (45.03 vs. 72%, P <0001), higher prevalence of RLS (6.62 vs. 22.29%, P < 0.001). Compared with the pure RLS group, RLS with the migraine group had lower vitamin D levels and higher IRLS score (P < 0.05). Compared with pure migraine group, migraine with RLS group had lower vitamin D levels [(17.36 ± 5.56) vs. (13.15 ± 4.42) ng/ml, P < 0.001], higher incidence of vitamin D deficiency (66.18 vs. 92.31%, P = 0.001), higher frequency of headache attacks (P = 0.004). Thereafter, the multivariate logistic regression model was employed to adjust confounding factors such as age, gender, season, frequency of headache attacks, PSQI score, and HADS scores. According to the results vitamin D deficiency in patients with migraines was an independent risk factor for RLS (OR = 5.03, 95%CI: 1.2–21.16, P = 0.027).Conclusions: The prevalence of RLS in migraine patients was significantly higher than that in the non-headache population. Besides, vitamin D levels decreased, while the incidence of vitamin D deficiency increased in the migraine patients complicated with RLS. Finally, the occurrence of RLS in migraine patients was significantly related to vitamin D deficiency.

Evaluation of vitamin D levels in patients with primary hypothyroidism: A cross-sectional study

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and hypothyroidism have been linked in research with inconsistent outcomes. Because of the controversy surrounding these two disorders and their relatively high incidence, we undertook a case-control research comparing the prevalence of VDD in hypothyroid patients (both TPO-Ab positive and negative) to euthyroid controls. This is a cross-sectional study with a single centre. Adults (aged 18 and above) of both sexes with primary hypothyroidism (TSH >5.1 mIU/L) were included (n = 165), as were age and sex matched euthyroid (TSH 5 mIU/ml) controls (n = 165) from the outpatients' department. Biochemical parameters like Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4 (fT4), 25 hydroxy vitamin D (Vit D) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) were tested in both the groups.The study involved 330 patients, with 165 (mean age 46± 15 years) having primary hypothyroidism (3 having subclinical hypothyroidism) and 165 (mean age 45± 17 years) being euthyroid controls. VDD was seen in 96 percent of hypothyroid patients compared to 90 percent in the control group. The hypothyroid group had a significantly lower mean Vitamin D level than the euthyroid group (12.03± 8.6 SD vs. 17.49± 11.89 SD [ng/ml]; P= 0.001). TPO-Ab was found in two-thirds of the hypothyroid group (110/165). The mean Vitamin D level in the TPO-Ab positive hypothyroid group was 10.4± 7.2 ng/ml, compared to 15.3± 10.3 ng/ml in the TPO-Ab negative group (P = 0.004). With increased TPO-Ab titers, there was a downward trend in Vitamin D levels. A direct association between Vitamin D levels and TPO-Ab, on the other hand, did not reveal any relevance. Patients with hypothyroidism had considerably lower vitamin D levels than euthyroid controls. TPO-Ab positive individuals had lower vitamin D levels than TPO-Ab negative patients.

Comparison of Biochemical and Pathological Parameters and Parenteral Nutrition of ICU Patients Under Supervision of Dietitians and Surgeons

Background: Nutrient imbalance can frequently occur in patients with indications for parenteral nutrition (PN) after gastrointestinal surgery. This study aimed to compare the recommendations of a surgeon to those of a dietitian in the field of parenteral nutrition.Methods: This study was performed on 256 patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery who received PN, which included 120 patients who received PN based on recommendations of the surgeons and 136 patients who were referred to receive PN under the supervision of a dietitian in Razi Hospital in Rasht, Iran. Data on PN and clinical outcomes of the patients were collected.Results: Patients under the supervision of dietitians received higher vitamin B complex and lipids and lower vitamin A and vitamin E than the surgeon-supervised patients (all P < 0.001). In the group receiving PN under the supervision of a surgeon, the level of blood glucose (207 vs. 182, P < 0.01), sodium (138 vs. 136, P = 0.01), potassium (3.97 vs. 3.53, P < 0.01), and white blood cell count (9.83 vs. 9.28, P < 0.01) increased significantly at the end of the PN compared to baseline. In the group receiving PN under the supervision of a dietician, the level of serum Cr (1.23 vs. 1.32, P = 0.04), Mg (2.07 vs. 1.84, P < 0.01), and pH (7.45 vs. 7.5, P = 0.03) significantly improved after receiving parenteral nutrition compared to baseline.Conclusion: The amounts of nutrients recommended for PN by the surgeon and dietitian were different. Implementation of dietitian recommendations in critically ill patients under PN can improve patients' clinical parameters.

Inadequate vitamin D status is associated with lower food plus supplemental intake of vitamin D in children of South Asian ethnicity living in the National Capital Region of Canada

Vitamin D status, measured in a Vitamin D Standardization Program certified laboratory, was assessed among children of South Asian and European ethnicity living in the national capital region of Canada to explore factors that may account for inadequate status. Demographic information, dietary and supplemental vitamin D over 30 d prior to measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), and anthropometry were measured (age 6.0-18.9 y; n=58/group; Feb-Mar 2015). No group related differences in age, height and BMI Z-scores or in food vitamin D intakes were observed. Standardized serum 25OHD was lower in South Asian children (mean ± SD: 39.0 ± 16.8 nmol/L vs European: 58.4 ± 15.8 nmol/L). A greater proportion of South Asian children had serum 25OHD < 40 nmol/L (56.9 vs 8.6%, P < 0.0001) and fewer took supplements (31 vs 50%, P = 0.0389). In a multi-factorial model (r2 = 0.54), lower vitamin D status was associated with overweight/obese BMI and older age (14-18 y); no interaction with ethnicity was observed. Lower vitamin D status was associated with lower total vitamin D intake only in South Asian children. This study reinforces the importance of public health actions towards meeting vitamin D intake recommendations among those of high-risk deficiency. Novelty: • A higher proportion of South Asian vs. European children had inadequate vitamin D status. • Lower vitamin D status was associated with a BMI in the overweight/obese range. • Lower vitamin D status was associated with lower total vitamin D intake in South Asian but not European children.

Impact of vitamin D level at diagnosis and transplantation on the prognosis of hematological malignancy: a meta-analysis

Vitamin D deficiency impairs prognosis in many types of cancer; however, its significance in each subtype of hematological malignancies is unclear. In addition, data on the association between pre-transplant vitamin D levels and outcomes of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to elucidate the impact of vitamin D levels at diagnosis or pre-HSCT on the prognosis of hematological malignancies. A total of 30 articles and abstracts were extracted from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library databases, and conference proceedings. Fixed and random-effect models were used to analyze primary outcomes: overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Lower vitamin D level was significantly associated with poorer OS and PFS in myeloid (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.82; HR: 2.03, 95%CI 1.23-3.32, respectively) and lymphoid malignancies (HR: 2.07, 95%CI 1.79-2.40; HR:1.91, 95%CI 1.61-2.25, respectively), as well as outcomes of several lymphoma subtypes individually. Furthermore, pre-transplant lower vitamin D level was associated with poorer OS in both autologous and allogeneic HSCT (HR: 1.65, 95%CI 1.04-2.61; HR: 1.50, 95%CI 1.03-2.18, respectively). Despite the relatively small number of studies evaluated, these data suggest the importance of vitamin D status in outcomes of hematological malignancies (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020205821).

Impact of vitamin D level in diabetic people with peripheral neuropathy

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease which is complicated by occurrence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Vitamin D deficiency contributes to the etiology and progression of type 2 DM and development of micro-vascular complications so in this study we assessed vitamin D level in diabetic patients to evaluate the association between vitamin D level and occurrence of diabetic neuropathy and to assess if there is relationship with certain subtypes of diabetic neuropathy. This case–control study was conducted on 80 type 2 diabetic patients divided into four groups equally. (A): Diabetic patients with painful diabetic neuropathy. (B): Diabetic patients with painless diabetic neuropathy. (C): Diabetic patients with painless neuropathy, but have neuropathic ulcer. (D): Diabetic patients without neuropathy. All patients underwent clinical, neurological examination and nerve conduction study. Then CBC and vitamin D were estimated in the studied groups. Results Vitamin D level among the studied painful diabetic neuropathy group (A) ranged from 5.3 to 40.5 ng/dl with mean 17.4 ± 10.9. 70% of them had deficient vitamin D level. In the painless diabetic neuropathy group (B), vitamin D level ranged from 6.5 to 35.5 ng/dl with mean 18.9 ± 8.49. 60% of them had deficient vitamin D level, while only 5% of the diabetic patients without neuropathy had deficient vitamin D level. There is significant negative correlation between vitamin D level and score of neuropathy where the lower vitamin D level the higher neuropathy score. Conclusion Lower vitamin D levels were found in diabetic patients with neuropathy especially those with painful neuropathy.

Effects of vitamin D on motor symptoms and cognitive functions in people with Parkinson’s disease

Aim of the study: Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. The present study investigates the role of vitamin D deficiency thought to be one of the etiopathological and modifying factors in Parkinson’s disease that is known to be multifactorial. Materials and Methods: Designed as a retrospective review of medical records, this study compares the serum vitamin D levels of the idiopathic Parkinson’s disease patients with and without dementia to those of the healthy individuals with no metabolic/degenerative disorders. It also investigates the relationship between the patients’ Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) and the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores and serum vitamin D levels to show the effects of vitamin D on motor symptoms and cognitive functions. Results: In this study, we compared the serum vitamin D levels of 40 Parkinson’s disease patients and 15 Parkinson’s disease patients with dementia to those of the control group comprising 30 healthy individuals. Vitamin D levels were 21,4±15,9 ng/mL in the control group; 16,5±6,4 ng/mL in Parkinson’s disease patients and 13,8±4,5 ng/mL in Parkinson’s disease patients with dementia. All the patient groups had significantly lower vitamin D levels than the control group (p<0,005). Within the Parkinson’s disease group, furthermore, the dementia group had lower vitamin D levels than the non-dementia group. Having examined the relationship between the SMMSE scores and serum vitamin D levels, we found a significant difference in the Parkinson’s disease dementia group (p: 0,020), as well as a relationship of 59,4% in the same direction. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in either patient group in the scores of UPDRS evaluating clinical disability. Conclusion: Consistent with the literature, the present study found that people with Parkinson’s disease had lower mean values of serum vitamin D levels than the control group and showed that serum vitamin D levels were correlated with the cognitive performance. However, the study could not find a relationship between the serum vitamin D levels and the motor performance.