Zone II flexor tendon repair: effects of vitamins A, E, beta-carotene

Ninety-six adult Leghorn chickens each had the flexor profundus tendon in each middle toe sharply divided in Zone II with immediate repair (pentobarbital, ketamine anesthesia). Animals were then randomly assigned to receive unsupplemented standard chick chow or the chow supplemented with vitamin A (150,000 IU/kg chow), Vitamin E (1000 IU/kg chow), or beta-carotene (90 mg/kg chow). Eight animals from each of the four groups were examined at 7, 30, or 45 days post repair. After sacrifice, in situ composite wound breaking strength was measured in the amputated toe by constant speed tensiometry. Vitamin A-supplemented animals demonstrated breaking strength more than double that of control at each postoperative test day, while those animals receiving supplemental Vitamin E had breaking strength less than half that of control at Day 7 and Day 45. These results are statistically significant. Tensiometry curves differed markedly at all time points among the groups: Vitamin A curves being broader, higher, and having more spikes. These differences in the tensiometry curves, both qualitative and quantitative, may be due to differences in intrinsic tendon healing or to differences in adhesion formation or a combination of both. beta-Carotene supplementation had modest effect. We conclude that supplemental dietary vitamin A increases the breaking strength of composite tendon wounds and that supplemental dietary vitamin E decreases it.     

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of supplementary vitamins E, C and their combination for treatment of haemodialysis cramps.

BACKGROUND: Muscle cramps that improve after carnitine or vitamin E therapies are common in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Because vitamin C participates in carnitine biosynthesis, and its levels are reduced in uraemia, subclinical vitamin C depletion may contribute to HD cramps. Our aim was to determine the effects of vitamins C, E and their combination on the frequency and intensity of HD cramps. METHODS: In this placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 60 HD-patients were randomized into four therapeutic groups. Each group (n=15) received six identical capsules daily for 8 weeks, containing one of the following: vitamin E (400 mg), vitamin C (250 mg), their combination, or placebo. RESULTS: The frequency and intensity of HD cramps decreased significantly in all three vitamin groups compared with the placebo group at the end of the trial, and compared with the pre-treatment values. At the end of the trial, vitamins E, C, their combination, and placebo produced cramp reductions of 54, 61, 97 and 7%, respectively. The percentage cramp reduction had no significant correlation with age, sex, aetiology of end-stage renal disease, serum electrolytes or HD duration, but showed a positive correlation (r=0.33, P=0.01) with the type of therapy. No vitamin-related adverse effects were encountered during the trial. CONCLUSION: Short-term treatment with the combination of vitamins E and C is safe and effective in reducing HD cramps; however, its safety for prolonged therapy has yet to be evaluated in HD patients.     

The pathogenesis of pulmonary contusion: an open chest model in the rat

BACKGROUND: Chemokines direct leukocytes to areas of inflammation or injury. In general, CC chemokines (MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, RANTES) are chemoattractants for mononuclear cells and CXC (CINC-1, MIP-2alpha) for polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). Herein we describe an open chest model of pulmonary contusion (PC) in a rodent (rat) and have identified a possible role for CC and CXC chemokines in the pathogenesis of PC. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats (350 g) underwent thoracotomy. The exposed lung was struck with a piston at 5.2 m/s (150 J/M2). Blood, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and lung tissue were collected at 3 hours and 24 hours after injury. PaO2/FiO2 (P/F) ratio was calculated at 15-minute intervals for 3 hours after contusion. Serum was evaluated for cytokine and chemokine expression using ELISA. Cell count/differential was performed on BAL, and lung tissue was obtained for histologic analysis, protein expression and wet to dry weights. Data are reported as pg/mL +/- SE. Data were analyzed using Student's t test to identify significant differences (p < or = 0.05 significant) between sham and injured animals. RESULTS: Piston impact caused PC based upon morphologic and histologic criteria. BAL cell count and lung wet to dry weights were increased and P/F ratio was decreased after PC. Systemic levels of IL-ra, MCP-1, and the CXC chemokines MIP-2alpha and CINC-1 were significantly elevated at 3 hours when sham and injured animals were compared. All chemokines were found to be significantly elevated at 24 hours, consistent with the early PMN and subsequent mononuclear infiltration observed in the contused lung. Pulmonary expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, CINC-1, MIP-2alpha, ICAM-1, and elastase were increased and activated systemic neutrophils showed increased CD-11b. CONCLUSION: A model of PC is described in which innate inflammation is activated locally and systemically. Systemic levels of CC and CXC chemokines are increased after PC. This correlates with elevated PMN CD-11b expression, enhanced pulmonary ICAM-1 expression, and mononuclear and PMN infiltration into the lung and alveolar space. Elevated levels of CC and CXC chemokines are seen after PC and may be involved in the lung's inflammatory response to injury.     

Effects of immunostimulation with OK432, coenzyme Q10, or levamisole on dimethylhydrazine-induced colonic carcinogenesis in rats

Effects of immunostimulation with OK432, Coenzyme Q₁₀ (Co-Q₁₀), or levamisole on dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colonic carcinogenesis were investigated in 45 Donryu-rats. The manipulation with one of these immunopotentiators did not prevent DMH-induced colonic carcinogenesis in these rats. However, the number of tumors was significantly reduced and the incidence of invasive carcinomas decreased by immunostimulation. The treatment also reduced the number of lesions with epithelial dysplasia within the flat colonic mucosa.     

Clinical trial of the effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on glycemic control and markers of lipid profiles in diabetic hemodialysis patients

Purpose

The current study was conducted to determine the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on glycemic control and markers of lipid profiles risk in diabetic hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods

This randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed among 60 diabetic HD patients. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to take either 120 mg/day of CoQ10 supplements or placebo (n?=?30 each group) for 12 weeks.

Results

After 12 weeks of intervention, CoQ10 supplementation, compared with the placebo, resulted in a significant decrease in serum insulin concentrations (??2.5?±?4.0 vs. +?2.8?±?5.3 µIU/mL, P?<?0.001), homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance (??0.9?±?2.1 vs. +?1.2?±?3.0, P?=?0.002), and significant increase in the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+?0.009?±?0.01 vs. ??0.02?±?0.05, P?=?0.003). In addition, a trend toward a greater decrease in serum triglycerides (??5?±?53 vs. +?17?±?44, P?=?0.078) and VLDL-cholesterol levels (??0.9?±?10 vs. +?3?±?9, P?=?0.078) was observed in the CoQ10 group compared to the placebo group. We did not observe any significant effect of CoQ10 supplementation on fasting glucose, HbA1c and other lipid profiles compared with the placebo.

Conclusions

Overall, our study supported that CoQ10 supplementation to diabetic HD patients for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on markers of insulin metabolism, but did not affect fasting glucose, HbA1c, and lipid profiles. Clinical registration http://www.irct.ir: IRCT2016081811763N30.

     

The involvement of vitamins C and E in changing the immune response

Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is just one of mechanisms through which activated polymorphonuclear neutrophiles contribute to the myocardium injury in ischemia and infarct. In the employed experimental model, the physical effort through swimming has determined the suppression of neutrophile activity and activation of serum complement. The vitamins E and C have stimulated the phagocytosis capacity of neutrophiles in the peripheral blood but they did not influence the serum complement. Our results suggest that these vitamins with their known antioxidant properties may be used together with other immunomodulators for the adapting defence of organism.     

Effects of immunostimulation with OK432, coenzyme Q10, or levamisole on dimethylhydrazine-induced colonic carcinogenesis in rats

Effects of immunostimulation with OK432, Coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10), or levamisole on dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colonic carcinogenesis were investigated in 45 Donryu-rats. The manipulation with one of these immunopotentiators did not prevent DMH-induced colonic carcinogenesis in these rats. However, the number of tumors was significantly reduced and the incidence of invasive carcinomas decreased by immunostimulation. The treatment also reduced the number of lesions with epithelial dysplasia within the flat colonic mucosa.     

Differential effects of coenzyme Q10 and α-lipoic acid on two models of in vitro oxidative damage to the rabbit urinary bladder

Purpose  

Partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO) in rabbits causes free radical production through ischemia and reperfusion within the bladder smooth muscle and mucosa. We had previously shown that pretreatment of rabbits with a combination of α-lipoic acid (αLA) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) protected the bladder from contractile and metabolic dysfunctions mediated by PBOO. In this study, we examined the ability of pretreatment with αLA and CoQ combination in rabbits to protect the bladder from contractile damage mediated by either hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) or in vitro ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) which represents two in vitro models of oxidative damage.     

Effect of a nutritional supplement containing vitamin E, selenium, vitamin c and coenzyme Q10 on serum PSA in patients with hormonally untreated carcinoma of the prostate: a randomised placebo-controlled study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of a nutritional supplement containing vitamin E, selenium, vitamin C and coenzyme Q10 on changes in serum levels of PSA in patients with hormonally untreated carcinoma of the prostate and rising serum PSA levels. METHODS: Eighty patients were randomised to receive a daily supplement with either vitamin E, selenium, vitamin C, coenzyme Q10 (intervention group) or placebo over 21 weeks. Serum levels of PSA were assessed at baseline (-2, -1, 0 weeks) and after 6, 13, 19, 20 and 21 weeks. Mean changes in log serum level of PSA, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, luteinizing hormone and sex hormone binding globulin over 21 weeks between the verum and the placebo group were compared by analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Seventy patients completed the study (36 verum; 34 placebo). Compliance was >90% in all patients. In the intervention group, plasma levels of vitamin E, selenium and coenzyme Q10 increased significantly over the 21 weeks study period. No significant differences in serum levels of PSA, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, luteinizing hormone or sex hormone binding globulin (p>0.2) were observed between the intervention and control group. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that supplementation of a combination of vitamin E, selenium, vitamin C and coenzyme-Q10 does not affect serum level of PSA or hormone levels in patients with hormonally untreated carcinoma of the prostate.     

An in vitro study of osteoblast vitality influenced by the vitamins C and E

Vitamin C and vitamin E are known as important cellular antioxidants and are involved in several other non-antioxidant processes. Generally vitamin C and vitamin E are not synthesized by humans and therefore have to be applied by nutrition. The absence or deficiency of the vitamins can lead to several dysfunctions and even diseases (e.g. scurvy). The main interest in this study is that vitamin C and E are known to influence bone formation, e.g. vitamin C plays the key role in the synthesis of collagen, the major component of the extracellular bone matrix. In the present study we evaluate the effect of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and ??-tocopherol (vitamin E) on the proliferation and differentiation of primary bovine osteoblasts in vitro. Starting from standard growth medium we minimized the foetal calf serum to reduce their stimulatory effect on proliferation. An improved growth and an increased synthesis of the extracellular matrix proteins collagen type I, osteonectin and osteocalcin was observed while increasing the ascorbic acid concentration up to 200 ??g/ml. Furthermore the effects of ??-tocopherol on cell growth and cell differentiation were examined, whereby neither improved growth nor increased synthesis of the extracellular matrix proteins collagen type I, osteonectin and osteocalcin were detected. Further investigations are necessary to target at better supportive effect of vitamins on bone regeneration, and healing.