Evaluation of Heat-sensitive Micronutrients in Fresh, Sun-dried and Solar-dried Capsicum Varieties Grown in Peru

In this study, the vitamin and carotenoid content of three local varieties and six accessions of a gene bank in Peru were identified. It was observed that drying in the traditional way was almost impossible under Peruvian winter conditions (coast) and resulted in microbiological degradation, whereas almost all solar dryer samples reached the aimed moisture content. Dried capsicum with higher carotenoid and vitamin content provides products of better nutritional and economic value, which will contribute to food security

Vitamin A Supplementation by Endotracheal Application of a Nano-encapsulated Preparation Is Feasible in Ventilated Preterm Lambs

Background: Vitamin A (VA) is crucial for lung growth and development. In premature infants, inadequate VA levels are associated with an increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Intramuscular VA supplementation has been shown to decrease the incidence of BPD, but is not widely used in the clinical setting due to concerns about feasibility and pain. We studied VA kinetics, distribution, and the induction of early genetic expression of retinoid homeostatic genes in the lung after endotracheal and intravenous application in a preterm lamb model. Methods: Lambs were delivered prematurely after 85% of gestation, intubated, and ventilated for 3 hours. The animals were randomized to receive no VA (control), a bolus of VA intravenously (i.v.), or VA endotracheally directly after administration of surfactant (e.t.). Results: Animals treated with VA endotracheally directly after administration of surfactant showed significant increases of VA in serum and lung compared to controls. Animals treated with a bolus of VA intravenously showed significant increases of VA in serum, lung, and liver; however, peak serum concentrations and mRNA levels of homeostatic genes raised concerns about toxicity in this group. Conclusions: Endotracheal VA supplementation in preterm lambs is feasible and might offer advantages in comparison to i.v. Further studies are warranted to explore biological effects in the context of BPD

Vitamin A Supplementation by Endotracheal Application of a Nano-encapsulated Preparation Is Feasible in Ventilated Preterm Lambs

Background: Vitamin A (VA) is crucial for lung growth and development. In premature infants, inadequate VA levels are associated with an increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Intramuscular VA supplementation has been shown to decrease the incidence of BPD, but is not widely used in the clinical setting due to concerns about feasibility and pain. We studied VA kinetics, distribution, and the induction of early genetic expression of retinoid homeostatic genes in the lung after endotracheal and intravenous application in a preterm lamb model. Methods: Lambs were delivered prematurely after 85% of gestation, intubated, and ventilated for 3 hours. The animals were randomized to receive no VA (control), a bolus of VA intravenously (i.v.), or VA endotracheally directly after administration of surfactant (e.t.). Results: Animals treated with VA endotracheally directly after administration of surfactant showed significant increases of VA in serum and lung compared to controls. Animals treated with a bolus of VA intravenously showed significant increases of VA in serum, lung, and liver; however, peak serum concentrations and mRNA levels of homeostatic genes raised concerns about toxicity in this group. Conclusions: Endotracheal VA supplementation in preterm lambs is feasible and might offer advantages in comparison to i.v. Further studies are warranted to explore biological effects in the context of BPD

Vitamin C Deficiency in Blood Samples of COVID-19 Patients

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the most notable pandemic of the modern era. A relationship between ascorbate (vitamin C) and COVID-19 severity is well known, whereas the role of other vitamins is less understood. The present study compared the blood levels of four vitamins in a cohort of COVID-19 patients with different severities and uninfected individuals. Serum concentrations of ascorbate, calcidiol, retinol, and α-tocopherol were measured in a cohort of 74 COVID-19 patients and 8 uninfected volunteers. The blood levels were statistically compared and additional co-morbidity factors were considered. COVID-19 patients had significantly lower plasma ascorbate levels than the controls (p-value < 0.001), and further stratification revealed that the controls had higher levels than fatal, critical, and severe COVID-19 cases (p-values < 0.001). However, no such trend was observed for calcidiol, retinol, or α-tocopherol (p-value ≥ 0.093). Survival analysis showed that plasma ascorbate below 11.4 µM was associated with a lengthy hospitalization and a high risk of death. The results indicated that COVID-19 cases had depleted blood ascorbate associated with poor medical conditions, confirming the role of this vitamin in the outcome of COVID-19 infection