Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology
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J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. · Jun 2007
Effects of alfacalcidol on cancellous and cortical bone mass in rats treated with glucocorticoid: a bone histomorphometry study.
The beneficial effects of alfacalcidol (ALF) on bone mass, bone formation, and bone resorption have been established in ovariectomized rats. Our previous studies showed that high-dose glucocorticoid (GC) administration (methylprednisolone sodium succinate, 5.0 mg/kg, s.c., 3 times a week) for 4 wk induced cancellous osteopenia without significantly affecting cortical bone mass in Sprague-Dawley rats, and that high-dose GC administration for 8 wk also resulted in cortical osteopenia. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of ALF on cancellous and cortical bone mass in GC-treated rats. ⋯ Both low- and high-dose ALF prevented the GC-induced reduction of the percent Ct Ar by increasing periosteal bone formation and suppressing endocortical bone resorption. The effects of ALF on cancellous bone mass, bone formation, and bone resorption were all dose-dependent. The present study showed the beneficial effects of ALF on cancellous and cortical bone mass in GC-treated rats.
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J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. · Feb 2006
Ascorbic acid deficiency stimulates hepatic expression of inflammatory chemokine, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1, in scurvy-prone ODS rats.
ODS rat has a hereditary defect in ascorbic acid biosynthesis and is a useful animal model for elucidating the physiological role of ascorbic acid. We previously demonstrated by using ODS rats that ascorbic acid deficiency changes the hepatic gene expression of acute phase proteins, as seen in acute inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effects of ascorbic acid deficiency on the production of inflammatory chemokine, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (CINC-1), in ODS rats. ⋯ However, the lung concentration of CINC-1 was not affected by ascorbic acid deficiency. Ascorbic acid deficiency significantly elevated the hepatic mRNA level of CINC-1 (to 480% of the value in the control rats), but not the lung mRNA level. These results demonstrate that ascorbic acid deficiency elevates the serum, liver and spleen concentrations of CINC-1 as seen in acute inflammation, and suggest that ascorbic acid deficiency stimulate the hepatic CINC-1 gene expression.
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J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. · Feb 2006
Effects of different grape formulations on antioxidative capacity, lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage in aged rats.
In this study, the freeze-dried powders from whole grapes, pomace and juice of Campbell Early (Vitis labruscana Bailey) were prepared to determine the amount of total flavonoids, vitamins A, C, and E, and dietary fiber. Effects of whole grape, pomace, or juice intakes on their antioxidative capacity and DNA damage were investigated in Sprague-Dawley male rats. A total of 120 rats at 13 mo old and weighing 549 +/- 4 g were blocked into 8 groups according to body weight and raised for 3, 5, or 7 mo with diets containing 2% (w/w) dry powder of three different parts of grapes and 0.02% (w/w) CdCl2. ⋯ Grape intake increased these three antioxidative enzyme activities while Cd administration decreased catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities except superoxide dismutase activity. The concentration in the kidney of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in the 18- and 20-mo-old rats was higher than that in the 16-mo-old groups, and grape intake showed a protecting effect on DNA from age-related or Cd-induced oxidative damage. In conclusion, grape intakes, especially grape pomace with the highest content of flavonoids, beta-carotene, tocopherols and dietary fiber among the three parts, showed the prominent antioxidative capacity of inhibiting age-related or Cd-induced increase of lipid peroxidation and DNA damage effectively, promoting liver and red blood cell antioxidant enzyme activities.
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J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. · Jun 2004
Nutritional intakes in community-dwelling older Japanese adults: high intakes of energy and protein based on high consumption of fish, vegetables and fruits provide sufficient micronutrients.
The purpose of this study was to obtain detailed data on the dietary intake of energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients, especially minerals and vitamins, of healthy free-living people over the age of 70 in Japan and to clarify the correlations among nutrient intakes. The survey was conducted in November 2001 for 57 persons (men: 31, women: 26) aged 74 y (born in 1927) living in Niigata City, Japan. A precise weighing method was used to record food intake for three consecutive days. ⋯ Furthermore, strong relationships were observed between potassium and folic acid, potassium and pantothenic acid, potassium and dietary fiber, phosphorus and vitamin B2, phosphorus and pantothenic acid, iron and folic acid, zinc and vitamin B12, and copper and vitamin B12. From these results, it is evident that age is not an important determinant of dietary intake among apparently healthy elderly Japanese people aged 74 y. In addition, the high intake of energy and protein in the Japanese dietary pattern, based upon high consumption of fish and/or shellfish, vegetables, and fruits, provide sufficient minerals and vitamins.
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J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. · Jun 2002
Synthesis of pyridine nucleotide analogs consisting of nicotinoylamino acids by means of transglycosidation reactions catalyzed by mammalian pyridine nucleotide transglycosidases.
Besides isonicotinic acid analogs of pyridine nucleotides, 24 novel pyridine nucleotide cofactors that have an amino acid residue at the carbonyl carbon of the nicotinamide moiety have been prepared by means of transglycosidation reactions catalyzed by rabbit spleen and guinea pig spleen pyridine nucleotide transglycosidases. Their chemical properties were characterized by means of proton NMR, Fab-mass, and UV spectral measurement and phosphodiesterase digestion. Except for the isonicotinic acid ones, these nicotinoylamino acid analogs were shown to function as substrates for both the hydrolysis and the transglycosidation reactions catalyzed by the mammalian NAD glycohydrolases, though their substrate activities were lower than those with the original pyridine nucleotides (NMN, NAD, and NADP). They were inactive in regard to yeast alcohol dehydrogenase- and Thermoanaerobium brockii alcohol dehydrogenase (NADP dependent)-oxidation.