Preliminary Evidence for Cell Membrane Amelioration in Children with Cystic Fibrosis by 5-MTHF and Vitamin B12 Supplementation: A Single Arm Trial

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common fatal autosomal recessive disorders in the Caucasian population caused by mutations of gene for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). New experimental therapeutic strategies for CF propose a diet supplementation to affect the plasma membrane fluidity and to modulate amplified inflammatory response. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) and vitamin B12 supplementation for ameliorating cell plasma membrane features in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis.A single arm trial was conducted from April 2004 to March 2006 in an Italian CF care centre. 31 children with CF aged from 3 to 8 years old were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were diabetes, chronic infections of the airways and regular antibiotics intake. Children with CF were supplemented for 24 weeks with 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF, 7.5 mg /day) and vitamin B12 (0.5 mg/day). Red blood cells (RBCs) were used to investigate plasma membrane, since RBCs share lipid, protein composition and organization with other cell types. We evaluated RBCs membrane lipid composition, membrane protein oxidative damage, cation content, cation transport pathways, plasma and RBCs folate levels and plasma homocysteine levels at baseline and after 24 weeks of 5-MTHF and vitamin B12 supplementation. In CF children, 5-MTHF and vitamin B12 supplementation (i) increased plasma and RBC folate levels; (ii) decreased plasma homocysteine levels; (iii) modified RBC membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition; (iv) increased RBC K(+) content; (v) reduced RBC membrane oxidative damage and HSP70 membrane association.5-MTHF and vitamin B12 supplementation might ameliorate RBC membrane features of children with CF.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00730509

Poziom miedzi i aktywnosc dyzmutazy ponadtlenkowej w surowicy krwi szczurow karmionych dietami niskobialkowymi i niskokalorycznymi

Superoxide dismutase activity and the copper level in serum of rats treated with protein deficient or energy restricted diet were measured. Decrease in the copper concentration after 3 months of experiments was found. No influence on enzyme activity was observed in limited nutritional conditions.Celem pracy było zbadanie wpływu diety niskobiałkowej i niskokalorycznej na zawartość miedzi i aktywność dyzmutazy ponadtlenkowej w surowicy krwi szczura. Badano również wpływ uzupełniania diet witaminami z grupy В (B2, B6, kwas foliowy) na powyższe parametry. Po 90 dniach trwania doświadczenia wykazano znaczny, bo aż 73% spadek zawartości miedzi w surowicy szczurów karmionych dietą ubogobiałkową (Tabela 2). Jedynie suplementacja witaminą B6 lub mieszaniną: B6, B2 i kwasem foliowym powodowały podwyższenie zawartości miedzi w surowicy. Nie zaobserwowano natomiast wpływu diety ubogokalorycznej na zawartość miedzi w surowicy (Tabela 3). Uważa się, że miedź obok cynku będąca kofaktorem dyzmutazy ponadtlenkowej jest ważnym czynnikiem ryzyka w inicjacji i rozwoju chorób sercowo-naczyniowych. W ciągu 90 dni trwania eksperymentu nie zaobserwowano zmian w aktywności dyzmutazy ponadtlenkowej biorącej udział w wymiataniu wolnych rodników tlenowych (Tabela 4 i 5). Z danych literaturowych wiadomo, że w przypadku stosowania diet restrykcyjnych obniżał się poziom wolnych rodniów tlenowych mierzonych metodą peroksyzacji lipidów. Zmniejszona dostępność substratów jakimi są wolne rodniki tlenowe powoduje, że aktywność dyzmutazy ponadtlenkowej nie zmienia się w przypadku stosowania diet niskobiałkowych i niskokalorycznych

Supplementation with vitamins C, E, beta-carotene and selenium has no effect on anti-oxidant status and immune responses in allergic adults: a randomized controlled trial

The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.comBackground Anti-oxidants are of growing interest in early treatment and prevention of allergic diseases in early life, but the effects on allergen-specific immune responses need to be documented further before intervention studies in infants are undertaken. The aim of this study in adults was to determine the effects of dietary anti-oxidants on allergen-specific immune responses in sensitized individuals. Methods In a randomized controlled trial, 54 allergic adults received an anti-oxidant supplement (n=36) comprising β-carotene (9 mg/day), vitamin C (1500 mg/day), vitamin E (130 mg/day), zinc (45 mg/day), selenium (76 μg/day) and garlic (150 mg/day) or a placebo (n=18) for 4 weeks. Anti-oxidant capacity (AC), serum levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, β-carotene and selenium, peripheral blood responses, exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), as a marker of airway inflammation, and plasma F2 isoprostanes, as a measure of oxidative stress, were measured before and after supplementation. Results Anti-oxidant supplementation resulted in significant increases in serum levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, β-carotene and selenium levels, compared with the placebo group (P<0.001). There was no change in serum AC, plasma F2-isoprostanes, eNO or immune responses following supplementation with anti-oxidants compared with placebo. Conclusion Supplementation with anti-oxidants resulted in significantly increased levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, β-carotene and selenium but no change in immune responses, serum AC or plasma F2-isoprostanes.J. A. Dunstan, L. Breckler, J. Hale, H. Lehmann, P. Franklin, G. Lyons, S. Y. L. Ching, T. A. Mori, A. Barden and S. L. Prescot