Search results for "Vitamin"
showing 10 items of 931 documents
Role of Vitamin A in Mammary Gland Development and Lactation
2019
Vitamin A (all-trans-retinol), its active derivatives retinal and retinoic acid, and their synthetic analogues constitute the group of retinoids. It is obtained from diet either as preformed vitamin A or as carotenoids. Retinal plays a biological role in vision, but most of the effects of vitamin A are exerted by retinoic acid, which binds to nuclear receptors and regulates gene transcription. Vitamin A deficiency is an important nutritional problem, particularly in the developing world. Retinol and carotenoids from diet during pregnancy and lactation influence their concentration in breast milk, which is important in the long term, not only for the offspring, but also for maternal health. …
Multi-approach metabolomics analysis and artificial simplified phytocomplexes reveal cultivar-dependent synergy between polyphenols and ascorbic acid…
2017
Fruits of the sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) accumulate a range of antioxidants that can help to prevent cardiovascular disease, inflammation and cancer. We tested the in vitro antioxidant activity of 18 sweet cherry cultivars collected from 12 farms in the protected geographical indication region of Marostica (Vicenza, Italy) during two growing seasons. Multiple targeted and untargeted metabolomics approaches (NMR, LC-MS, HPLC-DAD, HPLC-UV) as well as artificial simplified phytocomplexes representing the cultivars Sandra Tardiva, Sandra and Grace Star were then used to determine whether the total antioxidant activity reflected the additive effects of each compound or resulted from synergis…
Supplementary medication in multiple sclerosis: Real-world experience and potential interference with neurofilament light chain measurement
2020
Background As vitamins and dietary supplements are obtainable without prescription, treating physicians often ignore their intake by patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and may therefore miss potential adverse effects and interactions. Objective We aimed to assess the spectrum and intake frequency of supplementary medication in a cohort of MS patients and to analyse the effect of biotin intake on measurement of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), an emerging marker of disease activity. Methods MS patients visiting our neurology outpatient clinic completed a questionnaire on their past or present use of vitamins or dietary supplements. In addition, the impact of two different doses of …
Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis: An Open-Ended Story
2019
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors interact together, contributing to the complex pathogenesis of the disease. In the last decades, the role of hypovitaminosis D on MS risk was hypothesised. Several factors drive the regulation of vitamin D status, including genetics. The current review summarises the literature evidence on the association between vitamin D and MS, with a focus on the genetic polymorphisms in vitamin D-related genes. The variants of the genes codifying Vitamin D Receptor (VDR), Vitamin D Binding Protein (VDBP) and CYP enzymes have been investigated, but the f…
Effect of processing on the bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds – A review focusing on carotenoids, minerals, ascorbic acid, tocopherols and poly…
2018
Health benefits of bioactive compounds depend not only on the intake levels but also on their bioavailability (BAv). In vitro methods to simulate gastro-intestinal digestion allow to determine the bioaccessibility (BAcs) of these compounds, as a first step of BAv, and can be used to evaluate the effect of processing on them to design functional foods with increased health-promoting effects. The impact of traditional processing technologies such as thermal treatment and novel emerging non-thermal technologies such as high pressure processing, high-intensity pulsed electric fields and ultrasound on BAcs of bioactive compounds as carotenoids, minerals, ascorbic acid, tocopherols, polyphenols a…
Vitamin D and the nervous system
2019
Objective: to summarise the activities that Vitamin D (VD) carries out in the brain and to clarify the potential role of VD in neurological diseases. Methods: a literature research has been performed in Pubmed using the following keywords: 'Vitamin D', 'nervous system', 'brain'. Results: the studies reviewed show that VD contributes to cerebral activity in both embryonic and adult brain, helping the connectivity of neural circuits responsible for locomotor, emotional and reward-dependent behavior. Low VD serum levels have been found in patients affected by Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sleep Disorders and Schizophrenia. Discussion: find…
A novel rationale for targeting FXI: Insights from the hemostatic microRNA targetome for emerging anticoagulant strategies
2021
Therapeutic targeting of blood coagulation is a challenging task as it interferes with the delicate balance of pro- and anticoagulant activities. Anticoagulants are employed in millions of thrombophilic patients worldwide each year. The treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism has changed drastically. Traditional vitamin K antagonists are being replaced by direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), which selectively target coagulation factors Xa or IIa. However for a growing population with comorbidities satisfying therapeutic options are still lacking and the quest for novel therapeutics continues. Recently, targeting factors XI or XII have emerged as new therapeutic strategies. As thes…
Serum vitamin D and functional impairment in octogenarian women.
2016
Abstract Purpose Serum vitamin D deficiency has been associated with frailty in people aged 65 and over, however its relationship with functional impairment has not been investigated in octogenerian (aged 80–90 years) institutionalized women. Methods We assessed functional impairment in this latter group by measuring frailty syndrome and other geriatric and psychological assessment scales: the Tinetti gait and balance index to determine the risk for falls, the Barthel index to measure the basic activities of daily living, the Lawton index for instrumental activities, the mini-mental score examination test for cognitive impairment, the Yesavage scale for geriatric depression, and the Norton …
Factors influencing serum 25-hydroxivitamin D levels and other bone metabolism parameters in healthy older women
2016
Objective: Older women have frequently low serum 25-hydroxivitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations, high parathormone (PTH) levels and low bone mineral density (BMD) values. Endogenous synthesis, dietary habits, sunlight exposure and fat-mass-mediated storage may influence 25(OH)D levels and bone metabolism, but the relevance of these factors in the elderly has yet to be fully elucidated. We aimed to investigate the influence of dietary vitamin D intake and fat mass on serum 25(OH)D levels and bone metabolism in older women. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Community. Participants: 218 fit older women attending a biweekly mild fitness program. Measurements: Dietary habits was investigated throu…
Alzheimer's disease: Only prevention makes sense
2018
Alzheimer's disease therapeutics is one of the most important endeavours in today's clinical investigation. Over more than 30 years of research, no disease-modifying treatment has been approved by either the FDA or the EMA to treat Alzheimer's disease. Recently, the evidence of pathological alterations in the brain tissue has been gathered showing that the signs of brain damage appear more than 20 years before the onset of Alzheimer's dementia. The major aim of this review is to underpin the idea that in Alzheimer's therapeutics, only prevention makes sense. It is difficult to visualise that would-be patients may be treated with endovenous administration of antibodies for several years to d…