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This study evaluated the validity of nutrient and food group intakes estimated by an FFQ against biomarkers. A 71-item semiquantitative FFQ was administered to 210 Brazilian children and adolescents aged 9-13 years. Intakes were correlated with biomarkers in plasma and red blood cells. Correlations between nutrients and their biomarkers were presented for animal protein, myristic acid (C14:0), EPA, DHA, ß-carotene, folate, and vitamins B3, B5 and B6. Food groups and biomarkers were correlated as follows: fish products with EPA and DHA; milk and dairy with C14:0, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate and vitamin B12; total vegetables and dark green and orange vegetables with ß-carotene; 5-methyltetrahydrofolate with green vegetables; and flour products with para-aminobenzoylglutamic acid. This FFQ is a valid tool for ranking Brazilian children and adolescents according to their intake of several nutrients and food groups.

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SCOPE: Micronutrients are in small amounts in foods, act in concert, and require variable amounts of time to see changes in health and risk for disease. These first principles are incorporated into an intervention study designed to develop new experimental strategies for setting target recommendations for food bioactives for populations and individuals. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 6-week multivitamin/mineral intervention is conducted in 9-13 year olds. Participants (136) are (i) their own control (n-of-1); (ii) monitored for compliance; (iii) measured for 36 circulating vitamin forms, 30 clinical, anthropometric, and food intake parameters at baseline, post intervention, and following a 6-week washout; and (iv) had their ancestry accounted for as modifier of vitamin baseline or response. The same intervention is repeated the following year (135 participants). Most vitamins respond positively and many clinical parameters change in directions consistent with improved metabolic health to the intervention. Baseline levels of any metabolite predict its own response to the intervention. Elastic net penalized regression models are identified, and significantly predict response to intervention on the basis of multiple vitamin/clinical baseline measures. CONCLUSIONS: The study design, computational methods, and results are a step toward developing recommendations for optimizing vitamin levels and health parameters for individuals.

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Poco se sabe sobre los cambios en la actividad de las enzimas séricas relacionadas con la función hepática durante la hipervitaminosis E. En el presente trabajo se estudió el efecto de la administración intraperitoneal de 50, 100, 200 y 400 mg de vitamina E/día, durante 20 días sobre la actividad enzimática sérica en 60 ratas Wistar machos, de 12 semanas de edad, con pesos entre 180 y 200 gramos. El grupo control estuvo integrado por 15 ratas Wistar sanas, con edad y peso similares a los animales tratados. Al final del estudio, se tomaron muestras de sangre para la determinación de la vitamina E y la actividad de las enzimas: alanina aminotransferasa (ALT), aspartato aminotransferasa (AST), α-amilasa (AMS), arginasa (ARG), fosfohexosaisomerasa (PHI), fosfatasa alcalina (ALP), γ-glutamiltransferasa (γ-GT) y 5´-nucleotidasa (5´-N). La administración de vitamina E en exceso incrementó de manera significativa (p<0,05) el contenido sérico de la vitamina E y la actividad de todas las enzimas valoradas (p< 0,05); mientras que la α-amilasa disminuyó (p< 0,05) al ser comparada con los controles no tratados. Nuestros resultados proporcionan evidencia que la administración a corto plazo de dosis altas de vitamina E, produce un incremento en la actividad de las enzimas marcadoras de daño hepático (como aminotransferasas, ARG y PHI) y de colestasis (como ALP, 5´-N y γ-GT), que se corresponde con la forma mixta de enfermedad hepática (daño+colestasis).

Little is known about the possible changes in blood enzyme activity related to liver function during hypervitaminosis E. In the present work the effects of intraperitoneal administration of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg of vitamin E (α-tocopherol) daily for 20 days, respectively, on the serum enzyme activity in 60 white male Wistar rats, aged 12 weeks and weighing 180-200 g, were studied. The group control was integrated by 15 healthy rats with similar characteristics (age and weight) to treated animals. Excess of vitamin E produced a significant (p<0.05) increase in the serum content of vitamin E and in the activity (p<0.05) of the following enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), arginase (ARG), phosphohexosaisomerase (PHI), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) and 5´-nucleotidase (5´-N) while α-amylase (AMS) decreased (p<0.05) on comparing with the control group. These changes depend on the doses given of vitamin E. In conclusion, our results provide evidence that short-term administration of high doses of vitamin E produces an increase in the activity of the enzymes marker of liver damage (as aminotransferases, ARG and PHI) and of cholestasis (as ALP, γ-GT and 5´-N) that correspond to the mixed form of liver disease (injury+cholestasis).

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El presente estudio tiene por objetivo comparar los niveles séricos de cobre (Cu), cinc (Zn) y el cociente molar Cu/Zn en 129 pacientes con artritis reumatoide (RA), en 94 individuos sanos como grupo control (GC) y 21 pacientes con enfermedades reumáticas no artríticas (NER), como la fibromialgia, espondilitis anquilosante entre otras. Las concentraciones séricas de Cu y Zn fueron analizadas por espectroscopía de absorción atómica en llama acoplada a un sistema de inyección en flujo continuo (EAA/FIA). Los resultados muestran un incremento significativo (p<0,05), del cobre sérico en los pacientes con AR en comparación con los otros grupos (NER y GC), este aumento fue directamente proporcional a la actividad inflamatoria de la enfermedad. El nivel medio de cinc sérico mostró una disminución progresiva. Asimismo, el detrimento sérico del cinc está relacionado con la evolución de la enfermedad o la pérdida de capacidad funcional del paciente con los niveles alterados de cobre observados en pacientes con AR activo y en etapa temprana de la enfermedad (p<0,05). Los cocientes molares de Cu/Zn fueron de 1,88; 1,14 y 1,18 para la AR, GC, y NER, respectivamente, demostrando que su modificación es más notoria que evaluar cada oligoelemento por separado. Estos hallazgos sugieren que existe una redistribución tanto del cobre como del cinc en muchos compartimientos del cuerpo, como respuesta inflamatoria. Por lo que niveles séricos de Cu, Zn y Cu/Zn molar puede ser un criterio valioso para la evaluación clínica y posiblemente, para el estudio y seguimiento de los pacientes con AR.

The aim of this study was to measure the serum levels of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in 129 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in 94 healthy subjects (HS) and in 21 patients with non-rheumatic diseases (NRD) such as osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and ankylosing spondylitis. Serum concentrations of Cu and Zn were measured by flow injection analysis/flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FIA/FAAS). The Cu/Zn molar ratio in serum also was evaluated in these patients. The result shown that the average concentration of serum copper in patients with RA was significantly increased (p <0.05), on comparing with other patients. This increase was directly proportional to staging or disease progression while zinc concentration was significantly lower in patients with RA, but no differences were found between the stages of the disease. The values of Cu/Zn ratio were 1.88, 1.14 and 1.18, for AR, HS, and NRD patients, respectively. In conclusion, in patients with RA serum copper tend to increase and serum Zn tend to decrease and Cu/Zn molar ratio increases significantly (p<0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that serum Cu, Zn and Cu/Zn molar ratio could be valuable criteria for clinical evaluation and possibly follow-up study of patients with RA.

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INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Chagas disease is the most common cause of myocarditis in Latin America, including Venezuela. Some 25% of patients progress to chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy, which is characterized by heart failure and arrhythmias. The serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have prognostic value in non-chagasic cardiopathy. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between the serum levels of CRP and IL-6 and the developmental stage of Chagas disease. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The study included 64 Chagas disease patients (34 female and 30 male; age 62.2 [1.7] years) and 20 healthy individuals (10 of each sex; age 50.4 [2.7] years). Clinical investigations included echocardiography and measurement of CRP and IL-6 serum levels using ELISAs. Chagas disease patients were graded according to Carrasco et al 1994 classification. Patients with ischemic cardiopathy, liver disease, autoimmune disease, a systemic inflammatory condition, immunosuppression, cancer, pericarditis, or endocarditis were excluded. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis demonstrated an association between Chagas disease developmental stage and the serum IL-6 level. The serum CRP level increased during only the most advanced phase of the disease. In addition, a high left ventricular mass index was associated with a high IL-6 level and male sex. CONCLUSIONS: IL-6 and CRP serum levels could be of prognostic value in assessing Chagas disease progression because there are significant correlations between elevated levels and the deterioration of cardiac function.

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