Iron deficiency is common in the developing world; consequently, programmes of presumptive therapy and mass supplementation have been introduced in several countries. In this article Stephen Oppenheimer suggests caution, as recent evidence suggests that these practices may actually increase the likelihood of the subject developing patent malaria in endemic areas. This may be especially significant in infants, who are less likely to be immune to malaria, and in pregnant women, who are often routinely given iron supplements and in whom malaria may damage the foetus.
The effects of long-term administration of tocotrienol on hepatocarcinogenesis in rats induced by diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) were investigated by the determination of plasma and liver gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), cytosolic glutathione reductase (GSSG-Rx), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione S-transferase (GST). Twenty-eight male Rattus norwegicus rats (120-160g) were divided according to treatments into four groups: control group, tocotrienol - supplemented diet group (30mg/kg food), DEN/AAF-treated group and DEN/AAF treated plus tocotrienol-supplemented-diet group (30mg/kg food). The rats were sacrificed after nine months. The results obtained indicated no difference in the morphology and histology of the livers of control and tocotrienol-treated rats. Greyish-white neoplastic nodules (two per liver) were found in all the DEN/ AAF treated rats (n-10) whereas only one nodule was found in one of the carcinogen treated rats receiving tocotrienol supplementation (n-6). Histological examination showed obvious cellular damage for both the DEN/AAF-treated rats and the tocotrienol-supplemented rats but were less severe in the latter. Treatment with DEN/AAF caused increases in GGT, GSH-Px, GST and GSSG-Rx activities when compared to controls. These increases were also observed when tocotrienol was supplemented with DEN/AAF but the increases were less when compared to the rats receiving DEN/AAF only.
We report here a case of severe iron deficiency anaemia resulting from prolonged exclusive milk diet without any iron supplementation. The patient was a 1112 year old boy, the only child of a factory worker, who was breasffed until 4 months of age followed by exclusive feeding by non-fortifiedformula. He presented with severe iron deficiency anaemia with haemoglobin of4 .0g% and required blood trans-fusion. Iron and.vitamin supplements were given and cereals were slowly introduced. He responded very well to the treatment with satis-factory weight gain and improvement of anaemia. (Copied from article).
Regeneration of plantlets from shoot apex-derived callus and "calloid" cultures of a local taro [Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum cv. Keladi Birah] cultivar, was expedited by treatment with high levels of spermine. The total time taken, from culture of primary shoot apices on modified Linsmaier and Skoog medium supplemented with trichlorophenoxyacetic acid and kinetin, to complete plantlet regeneration, was reduced by 2-16 weeks, when the callus and "calloid" cultures were treated with 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mM spermine. Furthermore, the number of plantlets produced per gram callus increased from 25 to 55. On media supplemented with arginine and ornithine, no callus was initiated from expiants and no plantlets differentiated from pre-established callus.
Syrian Golden hamsters have been widely used as a experimental model for the investigation of the aetiology and development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The responses of the hamster to dietary fat manipulations are in many ways similar to that observed in humans. The lipidaemic effect of a tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) from palm oil on human trials has not been consistent. In this study, the cholesterolaemic effect of tocotrienols and tocopherols were differentiated by using pure tocotrienols (that were isolated from palm oil fatty acid distillate) and pure commercial tocopherols and squalene. A palm oil triacylglycerol fraction (POTG), free of all unsaponifiable matter, was used as the dietary fat in different feeding experiments. Tocotrienols added at 162 ppm to POTG (POTG-T3L) significantly (p<0.05) lowered serum total cholesterol (TC) level as compared to that of the POTG group; but the serum LDL-C , HDL-C and TG levels of the POTG-T3L group were not significantly lower than that of the POTG group (P>0.05). Increasing the level of tocotrienol supplementation to the diet (POTG-T3H) appeared to raise rather then reduce the serum TC, LDL-C and HDL-C levels as compared to that of POTG-T3L group. This observation that lower level of tocotrienol supplementation appeared to exhibit stronger hypocholesterolaemic effect than a higher level of tocotrienol supplementation is interesting; but its explanation is not yet forthcoming. When tocopherols were supplemented at 72 ppm to the POTG diet it was observed that the serum TC, LDL-C and HDL-C levels were all somewhat increased when compared to that of the POTG group. These results suggest that tocotrienols and tocopherols may have opposite cholesterolaemic effects in the hamster, and further experiments need to clarify the mode of action of these vitamin E isomers. In our second series of experiments the cholesterolaemic effects of tocotrienols and tocopherols were studied in the presence of squalene, a key intermediate in the cholesterol synthesis pathway and a controversial cholesterol lowering agent. Squalene added to the diet at 0.1% level significantly lowered (p<0.05) serum TC level when compared to that of the POTG group. The LDL-C, HDL-C and TG levels appeared to be lowered by the squalene supplementation also but the differences between the POTG-SQ and POTG groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). When tocotrienols or tocopherols were added to the squalene-containing POTG diets, the serum TC and LDL-C levels were further reduced (p<0.01) when compared to that of the POTG and POTG-SQ groups. The HDL-C and TG levels were not affected by tocotrienol or tocopherol supplementation in the presence of squalene. These results indicate that in the presence of tocotrienols and squalene POTG exhibit hypocholesterolaemic action whereas tocopherols may have a hypercholesterolaemic effect in the hamster.
In September 1997, plants of Hibiscus manihot (locally called nambele) were observed on Vaitupu Island, Tuvalu, exhibiting an angular leaf mosaic and chlorosis that was not always clearly discernible. Electron microscopy of negatively stained sap from affected leaves revealed the presence of numerous isometric virus particles 28 nm in diameter. Poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified virus gave a single protein band of Mr 38,000 similar to that of the carmoviruses. Immunosorbent electron microscopy tests with antisera kindly provided by N. Spence showed the virus to be hibiscus chlorotic ringspot carmovirus (HCRSV) (1). This virus is also reported from El Salvador, the U.S., Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. It is not known how the virus reached Tuvalu but we suspect it was via infected cuttings, which were imported for the production of food supplements to combat acute deficiencies of vitamins A and C in the population. The virus is most likely to have been disseminated throughout the islands and atolls of Tuvalu through infected cuttings. Local spread within fields could occur through contaminated hands and cutting implements because of the ease with which the virus is mechanically transmitted. Reference: (1) H. E.Waterworth et al. Phytopathology 66:570, 1976.
The protection against ethanol-induced lipid peroxidation is rendered by antioxidants such as vitamin E and glutathione (GSH) interacting with each other and also functioning independently. A study of the levels of GSH and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GP), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione transferase (GST) in the cerebral cortex (CC), cerebellum (CB) and brain stem (BS) of vitamin E-supplemented and -deficient rats subjected to ethanol administration for 30 days was carried out. Chronic ethanol administration to vitamin E-supplemented rats elevated GP, GR and GST activities in the three regions and GSH levels in the CB. Chronic ethanol administration to vitamin E-deficient rats elevated GR activity in the three regions and GP activity in the CC and CB, decreased GST activity in the CC and CB, but did not alter GSH levels compared with normal rats subjected to chronic ethanol administration. The results indicate that vitamin E helps to maintain GSH levels to combat increased peroxidation while its absence has a deleterious effect.
To date, fluorides has remained to be the best means of controlling dental caries. Fluoride is given either systematically via fluoridated water or topically through other supplements including toothpastes. In recent years increasing prevalence of enamel defects or fluorosis is observed in both populations receiving or not receiving water fluoridation. It is suspected that excessive ingestion of a "standard" 1000 to 1500 ppm fluoride from toothpastes might be a contributing factor to the presence of such defects. In Malaysia, reports of enamel defects occurring amongst 12 to 16 year-old schoolchildren ranged between 67 to 88 percent. Where water fluoridation is available, the amount of fluorides received from the home is between 0.3 to 0.5 ppm F. However, almost all toothpastes sold locally contains fluoride, the content of which is unknown to the consumers. This study reports on the analysis of fluoride levels carried out on 20 toothpaste samples sold locally. Results showed that fluoride levels in all 20 samples ranged between 20 to 1970 ppm F. Only two of the 20 samples analyzed, however, indicated having a level anywhere near the "standard" level. In addition, only two type~ of children's toothpaste with a fluoride concentration of 20 and 450 ppm F were commonly available as compared to adult toothpastes in all the samples studied.
The main focus of the study was to examine the effect of palm vitamin E (a tocotrienol-enriched fraction of palm oil) on the healing of ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions. The study was divided into three sections.Study 1 determined the gastric content of vitamin E after dietary supplementation with palm vitamin E for 3 weeks. Seven rats were fed a normal diet and another 7 were fed a palm vitamin E-enriched diet (150 mg/kg food). The gastric content of vitamin E levels were higher in rats fed with a palm vitamin E-enriched diet (p<0.01). Study 2 determined the time-dependent effects of palm vitamin E on gastric lesions and gastric acidity postethanol administration. Two groups of rats were fed either a normal rat diet or a palm vitamin E-enriched diet (150 mg/kg food). After 3 weeks, the control and a treated group received a single intragastric dose of 100% ethanol. Assessment of gastric lesions after 1 week showed a lower gastric lesion index in the palm vitamin E group compared with the controls (p<0.05) but there was no difference in the gastric acid content after 1 week between the two groups. Study 3 determined the effects of palm vitamin E on the gastric tissue content of malondialdehyde (MDA), PGE2 and gastric acidity without ethanol administration. The MDA content was lower in the palm vitamin E-treated group (p<0.05). However, the gastric acid and PGE2 content in both groups did not differ. The findings suggest that feeding with a palm vitamin E-enriched diet (150 mg/kg food) for 3 weeks resulted in a significant concentration of vitamin E in the gastric tissue. It was concluded that palm vitamin E may promote the healing of ethanol-induced gastric lesions through minimizing the lipid preoccupation process in the gastric mucous.
This study was carried out to determine the nutritional status of 16 elite netball players of the Commonwealth Games 1998, during centralised training at Bukit Jalil. The mean age of the subjects was 21.1 ± 3.1 year. The physical characteristics were assessed through antropometric measurements. The dietary intake was estimated as a mean of 3-days weighed food record while the physical activity pattern was determined by time and motion study which was carried out simultaneously. A biochemical analysis test was carried out to evaluate the haemoglobin status of the athletes. The results indicated that the mean body weight and height were 62.5 ± 7.9 kg and 1.69 ± 0.06 meter, respectively. The percentage average body fat of the subjects was 23.7 ± 2.8. Mean energy intake was recorded as 2726 ± 507 kcal/day while energy expenditure was 3225 ± 409 kcal/d with a negative energy balance of 499 kcal. The contribution of calories from carbohydrate, protein and fat were 59%, 16% and 26%, respectively. Intake of most micronutrients was sufficient and met the Malaysian RDA. The percentage average of the daily physical activity pattern revealed that 74% was spent for light activities, 12% for moderate while 14% for heavy activities. 94% of the athletes took supplements which vitamin C was the most popular (64%).
The population in Malaysia use various types of health and food supplements. These products are considered safe and are used without any concern for their toxicity. Among the products used as health supplements are products that contain lactic acid bacteria. This project studied the acute and subacute toxicity of a product containing minerals, herbs, vitamins and live lactic acid bacteria, on Sprague- Dawley rats. Acute toxicity was tested 24 hours after a single dose and subacute toxicity was studied 24 hours after 7 days of daily dosing. The parameters that were studied were alanine aminotransferase (AL T,SGPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, SGOT), serum urea, ratios of weight of kidney and liver weight to body weight and percentage changes in body weights. The contents of capsules of the product (6, 8 or lO capsules for acute studies and 6, 10 and 12 for subacute studies) were mixed with corn oil and fed orally to rats. Control rats were fed with corn oil alone. In the acute studies, the level of ALT in the rats treated with the contents of the capsule was lower than controls. There were no significant changes in the other parameters of the rats in the treatment groups as compared to controls. There were no significant differences in all the parameters between rats in the treatment groups as compared to controls in the subacute studies. Sprague-Dawley rats fed with high doses of the product did not show signs of toxicity in the parameters that were studied.
1. Hubbard x Hubbard (HH) and Shaver x Shaver (SS) chicks given a dietary supplement of either 50 mg/kg oxytetracycline (OTC) or 1 g/kg Lactobacillus culture (LC) were exposed to 36 +/- 1 degrees C for 3 h daily from day (d) 21 to 42. 2. Prior to heat treatment, body weight (d 21) and weight gain (d 1 to d 21) of OTC and LC birds were greater than those fed the control diet. Chicks given LC had the best food efficiency followed by OTC and control birds during d 1 to d 21. Body weight (d 1 and d 21) and weight gain (d 1 to d 21) were greater for HH tlhan SS chicks. 3. After 3 weeks of heat exposure, birds receiving the LC diet had greater body weight and weight gain, higher food intake and lower food efficiency than OTC and control chicks. 4. Antibody production against Newcastle discase vaccine on d 21 was not affected by strain or diet. On d 42, while diet had negligible effect on this variable among the SS broilers, HH birds fed LC had higher antibody production than those on the control diet. 5. Neither strain nor diet had a significant effect on mortality.
An attempt was made to clarify the association between zinc (Zn) and antioxidants due to Zn supplementation on lipid peroxidation occurring during Brachiaria decumbens intoxication. The concentration of Zn, copper, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and gluthathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined in tissues. There was a gradual increment in the concentration of Zn and MDA in serum and hepatocytic SOD in groups given Zn + B decumbens. A decline in erythrocytic GSH-Px and SOD, and lower concentration of reduced glutathione in hepatocyte cytosols were also detected in these sheep. It is highly suggestive that Zn supplementation may depress antioxidant status and enhance lipid peroxidation during B decumbens intoxication.
This was a prospective survey using a standard questionnaire to determine the prevalence of use of oral traditional medicine and food supplements among patients with rheumatic diseases. Among the 141 patients surveyed, we found that 69% of the patients were consuming food supplements, 35% were using traditional medicine and 45% had used traditional medicine at some time or other. Females were more likely to use food supplements (P < 0017); especially among those with higher education (p < 0.036). There was no statistical difference between those who had ever consumed compared to those who never used traditional medicines. The Chinese were more likely than others to be using traditional medicine (p < 0.007). Vitamin C and B were the most commonly used food supplements. More than two thirds of the patients obtained their traditional medicine from non-medical personnel. More than half of them used 2 or more types of traditional medicine for more than two months. Spending on traditional medicine was noted to be modest with 73% spending less than one hundred ringgit a month for their traditional treatment. Doctors need to be aware of the possible interactions between these 'self-medications' and the conventionally prescribed medication.
We evaluated the efficacy of supplementation of active Mitsuokella jalaludinii culture (AMJC) on the growth performance, nutrient use, and mineral concentrations in tibia bone and plasma of broiler chickens fed corn-soybean meal diets. Dietary treatments included low-nonphytate P (NPP) feed (containing 0.24% and 0.232% NPP for chicks from 1 to 21 and 22 to 42 d of age, respectively), low-NPP feed added with different levels of AMJC (equivalent to 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 U phytase/kg of feed), and normal-NPP feed (containing 0.46 and 0.354% NPP for chicks from 1 to 21 and 22 to 42 d of age, respectively). Supplementation of AMJC to low-NPP feed increased (P < 0.05) weight gain and feed intake and decreased (P < 0.05) feed:gain ratio of chickens during the whole experiment (Days 1 to 42). Supplementation of AMJC increased (P < 0.05) the AME value, digestibility of DM and CP, and retention of P, Ca, and Cu. Mn retention in broilers was only increased (P < 0.05) by AMJC supplementation from 18 to 20 d of age, and Zn retention was improved (P < 0.05) only at a high level of AMJC (equivalent to 1,000 U phytase/kg of feed) supplementation. Chicks fed low-NPP feed added with AMJC had similar tibia ash percentages as those fed the normal-NPP diet. Generally, supplementing AMJC to low-NPP feed increased (P < 0.05) Ca, decreased significantly (P < 0.05) Mn and Cu, but did not affect Zn and P concentrations in tibia ash. Supplementing AMJC also increased (P < 0.05) plasma P but had no effect on plasma Ca or Mn. Plasma Zn concentration was increased only when a high level of AMJC (equivalent to 1,000 U phytase/kg of feed) was used. In conclusion, AMJC supplementation to low-NPP feed improved growth performance; AME value; digestibility of CP and DM; use of Ca, P, and Cu; and bone mineralization.
Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) from Malvaceae family is an annual crop with potential for use by many industries including food, animal feed, neutraceutical, cosmeticeutical and pharmaceutical industries. Its origin is not fully known but it is believed to be from West Africa, although the plant is found native from India to Southeast Asia. The calyxes, stems and leaves are acid in flavour. The juice is produced from the calyces, and it is claimed to be a prohealth drink due to its high contents of ascorbic acid, anthocyanins and other antioxidants.
This paper examines the results of a section on recent illness of the health survey among 799 foreign workers from three selected study locations. The main objective was to study illness/injury patterns and the utilisation of available health care services. It also attempts to examine the use of health supplements as an indicator of self-care. Findings indicate that the illness/injury rate was 46.6%. The illness/injury rate increased with age and was highest in the 45-54 age group (65.0%) and among the Thai workers (69.6%). The main illnesses reported were injuries and accidents (19.6%), musculoskeletal problems (18.0%) and gastrointestinal complaints (16.7%), and it varied with gender, age and nationality. Almost 90 percent of the foreign workers sought treatment at modern health care facilities, with a third utilising government health care services. The employers contributed towards 60% of all the treatment costs. Nearly a third of the foreign workers took health supplements, and the rates were higher among the younger age group (40.0%) and among the Indonesian workers (52.0%). Majority had obtained the health supplements from the pharmacies or retail shops (43.4%) and private health care facilities (35.4%), and about 70 percent paid out of their own pocket. Some of the implications and limitations of these findings are discussed.