The plasma concentrations and the dietary intakes of vitamin E were determined in 20 elderly and ten young subjects. Five subjects in the older group were known to take supplements of vitamin E. The mean concentration of tocopherols (determined chemically) in the plasma of all unsupplemented subjects was 1.12 ± 0.33 mg/100 ml. No significant difference in plasma tocopherols due to age or sex was found. However, the mean concentration in the plasma of the supplemented subjects (1.39 ± 0.26 mg/100 ml) was significantly higher than that of the unsupplemented subjects. The mean alphatocopherol activity in the diets (estimated from a three-day diet study) of all subjects was 8.51 ± 3.74 mg. The young group had a significantly greater intake than the elderly group. No significant difference between the sexes was observed. The mean ratio of alpha-tocopherol activity to polyunsaturated fatty acids (E:PUFA) in the diets of all subjects was 1.47 ± 1.17 mg/gm. The significant difference between the age groups or sexes was observed. A significant linear relationship between plasma tocopherols and dietary alpha-tocopherol activity or the E:PUFA ratio was not found. Neither age, sex nor dietary intake was related to a significant change in plasma tocopherols. However, subjects using supplements of vitamin E had a significantly higher mean plasma concentration of tocopherols. / Graduation date: 1975

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Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 43 p. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 34-36).

The purpose of this study was to determine the riboflavin intake in food and the excretion in the urine and feces of young college women living in the home management house and eating a self selected diet from a common food supply.

This dissertation examines the emergence of nutrition science in the 20th century and the first cohort of experts who practiced nutrition as a form of medical diplomacy. Unpacking pivotal case studies in Scotland, Iraq, Vienna, Geneva, and Oxford, the project shows how scientific knowledge was produced on a local scale. I argue that knowledge about food developed in Britain from the late 19th century to World War II in a contingent path that involved much more than “discoveries” in labs. It was the unique formation of this discipline across national, international, and imperial political spheres that produced scientific standards and methods. Nutrition enabled a powerful language of exchange, metamorphosis, and commensurability that were vital for British political world systems. My research, therefore, investigates nutrition not just as medical innovation, but as a revolution in ecology and politics: food science was a way to reimagine the earth and Britain’s place within it. Scientific nutrition began as a marginal sub-field of agricultural science and came to acquire a central place in the definition of human needs. I show how critical terms of human nutrition – productivity, growth, and vitality – emerged from the attempt to improve animal health and from imperial agricultural planning. Even when the science of food moved from farms to pharmacies, through standardized units and products like vitamin supplements, animals and non-human factors continued to shape nutritional concepts, standards, and policies.

A longitudinal feeding study of 154 infants in Southwest Virginia was conducted during 1978-1980. The incidence of vitamin and mineral supplementation among these infants was the focus of the retrospective study discussed here. With the use of the Nutritional Analysis System of Louisiana State University, nutrient adequacy levels were determined. Vitamin D, vitamin E, folacin, vitamin B-6, and iron were the problem nutrients identified through this analysis. Inappropriate infant feeding practices such as the use of low iron formulas, the use of cow's milk, and the consumption of inadequate milk volume were blamed for these dietary deficiencies. Routine vitamin supplementation was common among infants of all feeding types. While much of the supplementation was unnecessary, large percentages of infants demonstrated a need for it. The exception was vitamin A. None of the infants who received supplemental vitamin A had inadequate dietary intakes of this nutrient. Supplementation was not shown to have an effect on weight or length gain measurements. Parents should be given specific infant feeding instructions prior to hospital discharge. Included should be a list of the circumstances which would indicate the need for supplementation. / M.S.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Carleton University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 226-235). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

[Truncated abstract] Vitamin E is comprised of a family of tocopherols (TOH) and tocotrienols. The most studied of these is [alpha]-tocopherol ([alpha]-TOH), as this form is retained within the body and any deficiency of vitamin E is corrected with this supplement. [alpha]-TOH is a lipid-soluble antioxidant required for the preservation of cell membranes and potentially acts as a defense against oxidative stress. Individuals who have a primary vitamin E deficiency such as low birth weight infants, secondary vitamin E deficiency due to fat malabsorption such as in abetalipoproteinaemia, or a genetic defect in TOH transport require supplementation. There is debate as to whether vitamin E supplementation in other patient groups is required. Vitamin E supplementation has been recommended for persons with FHBL, a rare disorder of lipoprotein metabolism that leads to low serum [alpha]-TOH and decreased LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations. We examined the effect of truncated apoB variants on vitamin E metabolism and oxidative stress in persons with heterozygous FHBL. We used HPLC with electrochemical detection to measure [alpha]- and [gamma]-TOH in serum, erythrocytes, and platelets, and GC-MS to measure urinary F2-isoprostanes and TOH metabolites as markers of oxidative stress and TOH intake, respectively. Erythrocyte [alpha]-TOH was decreased, but we observed no differences in lipid-adjusted serum TOHs, erythrocyte [gamma]-TOH, platelet [alpha]- or [gamma]-TOH, urinary F2-isoprostanes, or TOH metabolites. Taken together, our findings do not support the recommendation that persons with heterozygous FHBL should receive vitamin E supplementation. ... Sesame lignans are natural components of sesame seed oil and there is evidence that these lignans can inhibit CYP450 enzymes, in particular, those responsible for vitamin E metabolism. We hypothesised that sesame seed ingestion would increase serum [gamma]-TOH, lower plasma lipids and inhibit platelet function in human subjects with at least one cardiovascular risk factor. We used HPLC with electrochemical detection to measure [alpha]- and -TOH in serum and GC-MS to measure F2-isoprostanes and TOH metabolites as markers of oxidative stress and TOH intake, respectively. We used high-sensitive C-reactive protein as a measure of systemic inflammation. Platelet function was assessed using the PFA-100 platelet aggregation assay. Although serum [gamma]-TOH increased by 17%, we observed no effect on lipid metabolism, markers of inflammation, oxidative stress or platelet function following treatment with ~25 g/day sesame seeds for five weeks. Our findings challenge the hypothesis that sesame seed ingestion provides beneficial cardiovascular effects. In summary, we have studied the metabolism and transport of both [alpha]- and [gamma]-TOH in humans to evaluate the requirements for supplementation and the effects of vitamin E on platelet function and CYP3A4 activity. Specialised techniques using HPLC were developed to measure serum and cellular TOH concentrations both in supplemented and un-supplemented individuals. We also used GCMS to provide a sensitive, accurate assessment of TOH metabolites and midazolam pharmacokinetics in humans after vitamin E supplementation. We have examined the role vitamin E has on important biochemical endpoints, with emphasis on the implications for TOH supplementation in subjects at risk of CVD.

Project (B.S.)--James Madison University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction: Micronutrient malnutrition has been identified as a serious health problem globally and is on the rise in South Africa. This is evident from the escalating burden of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in South Africa. Rural infants are the most affected, as their diets often lack micronutrients. Food fortification, vitamin A supplementation and dietary diversity are the strategies that have been employed in South Africa to alleviate VAD. However, these strategies have not been effective, for various reasons. Biofortification is the production of micronutrient dense staple crops to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies. This strategy could complement existing strategies in the alleviation of VAD in South Africa and in other countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where VAD is prevalent. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional composition and acceptance of a complementary food (soft porridge) made with provitamin A-biofortified maize by female infant caregivers from the rural areas of Umgungundlovu District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Objectives: (i) To evaluate the nutritional composition of soft porridge made with provitamin A-biofortified maize compared to non-biofortified white maize porridge; (ii) To assess the sensory acceptability of soft porridge made with the biofortified maize by black African female infant caregivers of varying age; and (iii) To determine the perceptions of the black African infant caregivers about the biofortified maize relative to the non-biofortified white maize. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Grains of two provitamin A-biofortified maize varieties and one white variety (control) were used. Grain and soft porridge of each variety of maize were analysed for their nutritional composition. The sensory acceptability of the porridges were evaluated by black African female infant caregivers, using a five-point facial hedonic scale. Focus group discussions were conducted, using some of the study subjects, to determine their perceptions about the provitamin A-biofortified maize. Results: The results showed that the grains of the provitamin A-biofortified maize varieties and their soft porridges were more nutritious than the control white variety in terms of energy, fibre, fat, protein, iron, zinc and phosphorus content. The results of the sensory evaluation indicated that there was no significant difference in the sensory acceptability of the biofortified soft porridges and the white maize soft porridge, irrespective of the age of the sensory evaluation panellists. The female caregivers perceived the biofortified maize as nutritious and health-beneficial and thought that infants would like its unique yellow colour and taste. However, the black African female caregivers perceived the provitamin A-biofortified maize as an animal feed or food for the poor. Nevertheless, the female caregivers expressed a willingness to give their infants porridge made with provitamin A-biofortified maize if it was cheap, readily available and health-beneficial. Conclusion: This study suggests that provitamin A-biofortified maize has the potential to be used as a complementary food item. Biofortification of maize with provitamin A could be used as a possible complementary strategy to assist in the alleviation of VAD in SSA. Furthermore, the relatively higher energy, fibre, fat, protein, iron, zinc and phosphorus content of the biofortified maize could contribute to the alleviation of protein-energy malnutrition and mineral deficiencies, respectively, which are prevalent in children of SSA. Although the findings of this study, like other previous studies, indicate that there are some negative perceptions about the provitamin A-biofortified maize, this study shows that provitamin A-biofortified maize soft porridge is as acceptable as white maize soft porridge to female infant caregivers from the rural areas of Umgungundlovu District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The female caregivers are thus likely to accept the biofortified maize for use as an infant complementary food in the form of soft porridge. Further research is recommended to expand the study area and consumer sample size in order to increase the confidence of inferring these results for large rural populations. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2014.