Provision of workers and employees of Kuzbass industrial enterprises with vitamins C, E, A and beta-carotene

The content of vitamins C, E, A and beta-carotene was studied in the blood serum of 404 workers and employees of the Kuzbass industrial enterprises. Insufficient providing of the body with ascorbic acid, tocopherol and beta-carotene has been revealed. The number of workers and employees with vitamin C deficiency comprises at an average 95%, with vitamin E deficiency--9%, and with beta-carotene deficiency--34%. Industrial enterprises characterized by hard physical labor and occupational health hazard have been found to be most unfavourable with respect to providing with vitamins. The results of the investigations conducted have evidenced the necessity of correcting the vitamin nutrition of the subjects studied.     

Providing with vitamins of different population groups in Sverdlovsk]

The investigation on providing with vitamins of varying population groups: preschool children, schoolchildren, students of trade schools and higher schools, workers and employees was conducted in Sverdlovsk. Low levels of vitamin C were detected in the blood of 40-92%, folic acid--in 10-76%, vitamin A--in 4-28%, carotene--in 8-60%, tocopherol--in 4-50% of the examinees. Vitamin B1 deficiency was noted in 36-68%, vitamin B2--in 17-71%. The highest deficiency of ascorbic acid was recorded in workers and students of trade schools and higher schools, of folic acid--in workers and adolescents of 15-18 years, of vitamins B1, E, A and carotene--in children and adolescents, vitamin B1--in employees. The mass character of vitamin deficiencies and their negative effects on the health of the population have necessitated broad-scale prophylactic measures: production of vitamin-enriched foods, regular use of multivitamins.     

The vitamin status and indices of immunity in workers in the metallurgical industry in Zapoliar'e]

Some parameters of vitamin providing and immune status were studied in 133 workers and employees of metallurgic industry in Zapolyarie. The data obtained have evidenced that the contingent studied was insufficiently provided with ascorbic acid, vitamins B1, B2, B6, had low content of vitamin A and beta-carotene. Combined vitamin deficiency was recorded in 88.6% of 44 workers subjected to investigations. A total of 87.7% of persons with low vitamin levels had shifts in the immunity system. The highest disorders in the cellular immunity parameters were observed in subjects with polyhypovitaminosis. The results of the study have necessitated taking measures for correction of vitamin providing.     

Actual nutrition and biochemical parameters of the food status of workers exposed to chlorobenzene

Workers of two chemical plants exposed to chlorobenzene were examined for actual nutrition and effects of the treatment and prophylactic diet on the food status. Investigation of the actual nutrition has demonstrated that the energy value of the daily diets approaches the magnitudes established for the given occupational and age group whereas the daily distribution of food with respect to the caloric value and alimentary substances does not correspond to the hygienic standards. The treatment and prophylactic diets developed for the workers were also characterized by disproportion between the dietary components. As compared to the control group, the workers exposed to chlorobenzene demonstrated a lower content of total glutathione in blood plasma. The majority of the workers manifested ascorbic acid deficiency. In accordance with the study of the coefficients of the activation of erythrocytic enzymes, it may be concluded that the workers placed on the treatment and prophylactic diet are better provided with vitamins B1, B2 and B6 than the workers of the housing and communal services. Thirty percent of the workers showed vitamin B6 deficiency. This may have an adverse action on the resistance to industrial substances conjugating with glutathione. The rate of vitamin B1 deficiency was also fairly high, whereas in the workers of one of the plants the magnitude of the TDP-effect appeared higher than normal.     

Body vitamin allowance of vegetable growers working on sheltered soil

The providing of hothouse workers with vitamins B1, B2, B6, PP, C and E was comprehensively evaluated basing on the study of their actual nutrition and biochemical parameters of their vitamin status--daily excretion of vitamins and their metabolites with urine, vitamin concentration in the blood serum and activity of erythrocytic vitamin-dependent enzymes with calculation of their activation coefficients. Multiple hypovitaminosis detected in the vegetable growers working in hothouses who received normal amounts of these essential nutrients with food, as well as the relationship noted between the vitamin-providing level and the length of working in the hothouse, evidence a possible influence of the occupational factors--the character of work attended by the action of toxic chemical compounds under conditions of the hothouse microclimate. Further investigations should be conducted to determine the vitamin requirements of hothouse workers.     

Vitamin status of workers in the chromium industry

The content of A, E, C, B2 and PP vitamins and their metabolites in the blood and urine as well as microsigns of vitamin deficiency were studied in workers engaged in chrome industry. Microsigns of vitamin deficiency were observed along with low levels of vitamins. This appears to be associated with increased physiological requirements in vitamins due to specific work of chrome industry personnel.     

Correlation of the actual vitamin B1, B2 and B6 consumption with the biochemical indices of their body allowance

Correlation of actual consumption of vitamins B1, B2 and B6 with biochemical parameters of their utilization has been studied in two groups of workers (one group was engaged in the synthetic leather industry, the second one in the diamond treatment industry). It is shown that the actual utilization of vitamins B1, B2 and B6 correlated well with the stimulation coefficients (SC) of the basal activity of the corresponding erythrocytic enzymes. This correlation can be expressed in an equation of linear regression with a preset SC. Solution of this equation gives the values that can be used in the diagnosis of changes in the vitamins B1, B2 and B6 requirement in certain population groups. The results of the study evidence that vitamin B1 and B6 are especially necessary for workers whose activity is associated with manifest nervous-emotional stress, while the workers engaged in the synthetic leather industry being exposed to dimethyl formamide are in need of vitamin B2.     

Vitamin allowance of workers engaged in the manufacture of phosphorus

The clinical trials of a new treatment and prophylactic diet at the Chimkent phosphorus plant have shown its high efficacy as compared to an old one. This was manifested in the improvement of the workers supply with retinol, tocopherol, ascorbic and nicotinic acids. The treatment and prophylactic diet produced a more efficacious action on the vitamin supply when being a constituent part of the corrected daily nutrition that of the factual nutrition.     

The vitamin allowance and vitamin requirements of the operators of a chemical plant in the city of Rustavi

Excretion of thiamine, riboflavin, N1-methyl nicotinamide and ascorbic acid with urine, TDP-effect, ascorbic acid and vitamin A content in the blood have shown higher vitamin requirements in the operators, as compared to subjects of the control group, this was caused by unfavourable effects of the chemical factors of the production environment. The levels of the biochemical parameters characterizing normal providing of the operators with vitamins could be achieved by additional vitamins administered to the workers (2 dragees of "Hexavitum").     

Providing with vitamins of river transport workers of the Western and Eastern Siberia and oil men of the Tyumen Region]

The investigation of providing with vitamins of river transport workers in Western and Eastern Siberia and of oil men in the Tyumen Region conducted in the summer period of 1984-1986 has revealed significant deficiencies of vitamins C, E, B1, B2, B6, A and carotene in them. Vitamin administration to the workers with "Undevitum" resulted in a significant improvement of their vitamin status that was expressed in elevation of their biochemical parameters and in diminution of the percentage of subjects with vitamin deficiencies.     

Effectiveness of use in preventive nutrition the food ptoducts with contents of pectin and vitamins

Daily inclusion in the diet of Pskov GRES workers the drinks or kissels containing 2 g pectin per daily serving (cup) during 6 months was accompanied by a statistically significant decline of their supply with vitamins C, B2, A and beta-carotene. This is reflected both in reducing the average vitamin concentration in blood serum and in the increase of the quota of people with deficiency of several vitamins. Additional inclusion of 13 vitamins in these drinks and kissels, in a dose about 80% of the RDA, has prevented the deterioration of vitamin status.     

Effect of a therapeutic and prophylactic diet enriched with thiamine and calcium pantothenate on the acetylating capacity of the body of workers engaged in the manufacture of phenol-formaldehyde resins

The present investigation uncovered certain changes in the intensity of the acetylating processes, in the blood and urine levels of the pyruvic acid and in the urinary excretion of thiamine in a number of persons engaged in the production of phenol-formaldehyde resins. An enrichment of medico-prophylactic ration No 4 with thiamine and calcium pantothenate led to normalization of the study characteristics. The results thus made available bear proof to the prophylactic effectiveness of a supplementary vitaminization of the special diet accorded to workers handling phenol-formaldehyde resins.     

Physiological and hygienic basis for the rational nutrition of female workers in branches of light industry

The energy expenditures in the nonproductive period in the women-workers of the boot and shoe industry (group I) and the sewing industry (group II) were almost similar: in group I it was on an average 1372 +/- 35.4 kcal, in group II--1384 +/- 27.6 kcal. In the productive period the energy expenditures in the workers of group I fluctuated from 1.56 to 2.09 kcal/min, in those of group II--from 1.78 to 2.27 kcal/min. Summary energy expenditures in the productive period comprised 877 +/- 91.1 kcal (in group I), and 949 +/- 51.1 kcal (in group II). Daily energy expenditures were 2249 +/- 77.1 kcal and 2333 +/- 63.9 kcal, respectively. The energy value of the rations of their actual nutrition insignificantly exceeded their energy expenditures (on an average by 120-150 kcal) due to excessive fat consumption, animal fat, in particular. Their rations were characterized by protein, and, to a lesser extent, carbohydrate deficiency, by imbalanced mineral composition and vitamin A, B1, B2, PP and C deficiency. Microsymptoms of vitamin deficiency (mainly those of vitamin C deficiency) were detected in 64% of the examined subjects, excessive weight was found in 23-26% and obesity in 11-16% of the women. The women working at the modern boot and shoe and sewing industry should be referred to the first category of the work intensity, with respect to the energy requirements and the energy value of the nutrient components of their food rations.     

Use of the relative dose response (RDR) assay to determine vitamin A status of calves at birth and four weeks of age

An accurate assessment of vitamin A status can be determined by analysis of liver biopsy samples; however, liver biopsies are not always feasible. Plasma concentrations of vitamin A do not provide an accurate indication of vitamin A status. The objective of this study, therefore, was to determine the ability of the relative dose response assay to indicate the vitamin A status of Holstein calves. Calves were obtained at birth and assigned to vitamin A treatments (0, 1700, 34,000, or 68,000 IU/d) added to milk replacer. Liver biopsies and relative dose response assays were performed at birth and 4 wk. Calves supplemented with 1700, 34,000, or 68,000 IU of vitamin A/d had adequate (greater than 20 microg/g) liver concentrations of vitamin A at 4 wk of age. The relative dose response assay at 4 wk was correlated with liver concentrations of vitamin A. Both the relative dose response assay and liver concentrations of vitamin A indicated that calves not supplemented with vitamin A had low vitamin A status, whereas other treatment groups had adequate vitamin A status. Plasma concentrations of retinol increased by 4 wk of age in calves receiving supplemental vitamin A at 34,000 IU and 68,000 IU/d and decreased in unsupplemented calves; however, all calves had concentrations of <20 microg of retinol/dl of plasma. The relative dose response assay agreed with liver biopsies as an indication of vitamin A status, whereas plasma concentrations of retinol incorrectly indicated all treatment groups were deficient in vitamin A.     

Mammary transfer of vitamin A alcohol and ester in lactating dairy cows.

The effect of intravenous injection of vitamin A alcohol and vitamin A ester on the vitamin A concentration of bovine milk was studied. Holstein cows received either an intravenous injection of 1 million international units (IU) of vitamin A alcohol, 1 million international units of vitamin A palmitate, or served as controls. Blood serum and milk were sampled at intervals prior to and following injection. Mean concentrations of vitamin A in milk at time 0 were 59.0, 52.0, and 58.4 mug/100 ml for the control, alcohol, and palmitate treatments. Mean contrations of vitamin A in milk, expressed as mug/100 ml or mug/g fat of cows receiving vitamin A alcohol at +195, +451, and +678 min postinjection, were greater than concentrations for either control cows or cows receiving palmitate. Partition of milk Vitamin A at +195 min postinjection for cows injected with vitamin A alcohol showed 4.1% of the recovered vitamin A in the alcohol and 95.9% in the ester form. Injection of vitamin A palmitate had little effect on milk vitamin A concentration. Vitamin A in serum (mug/100 ml) at 195 min after vitamin A alcohol injection was higher (100.4) than for either control (84.0) or cows injected with vitamin A palmitate (89.0).     

The effect of vitamin concentrates on the flavor of pasteurized fluid milk

Fluid milk consumption in the United States continues to decline. As a result, the level of dietary vitamin D provided by fluid milk in the United States diet has also declined. Undesirable flavor(s)/off flavor(s) in fluid milk can negatively affect milk consumption and consumer product acceptability. The objectives of this study were to identify aroma-active compounds in vitamin concentrates used to fortify fluid milk, and to determine the influence of vitamin A and D fortification on the flavor of milk. The aroma profiles of 14 commercial vitamin concentrates (vitamins A and D), in both oil-soluble and water-dispersible forms, were evaluated by sensory and instrumental volatile compound analyses. Orthonasal thresholds were determined for 8 key aroma-active compounds in skim and whole milk. Six representative vitamin concentrates were selected to fortify skim and 2% fat pasteurized milks (vitamin A at 1,500–3,000 IU/qt, vitamin D at 200–1,200 IU/qt, vitamin A and D at 1,000/200–6,000/1,200 IU/qt). Pasteurized milks were evaluated by sensory and instrumental volatile compound analyses and by consumers. Fat content, vitamin content, and fat globule particle size were also determined. The entire experiment was done in duplicate. Water-dispersible vitamin concentrates had overall higher aroma intensities and more detected aroma-active compounds than oil-soluble vitamin concentrates. Trained panelists and consumers were able to detect flavor differences between skim milks fortified with water-dispersible vitamin A or vitamin A and D, and unfortified skim milks. Consumers were unable to detect flavor differences in oil-soluble fortified milks, but trained panelists documented a faint carrot flavor in oil-soluble fortified skim milks at higher vitamin A concentrations (3,000–6,000 IU). No differences were detected in skim milks fortified with vitamin D, and no differences were detected in any 2% milk. These results demonstrate that vitamin concentrates may contribute to off flavor(s) in fluid milk, especially in skim milk fortified with water-dispersible vitamin concentrates.     

Degradation of Vitamin A Palmitate in Corn Flakes During Storage

ABSTRACT: The amounts of vitamin A palmitate lost and isomers formed in corn flakes fortified with a vitamin A palmitate were determined during storage at ambient (avg. 23 °C) and elevated (45 °C) temperatures. Two vitamin A palmitate isomers, 9-cis and 13-cis, were found. The initial vitamin A palmitate consisted of 5% of 13-cis and less than 1% of 9-cis with the remaining being all-trans. In corn flakes fortified with either a complete vitamin mixture or vitamin A palmitate only, the distribution of these compounds was nearly constant throughout storage irrespective of sample type and storage conditions. The rate constant and reaction kinetics on the degradation of vitamin A palmitate were also obtained. After 6–8 wk storage, more than 90% of vitamin A palmitate was lost in all samples except corn flakes fortified with complete vitamin mixture and kept at ambient temperature. This study showed that the loss of vitamin A palmitate fortified in corn flakes was substantial even at ambient temperature. The presence of other vitamins including vitamin A, B₁, B₆, B₁₂, C, and D reduced the loss of vitamin Abut the loss was still significant.     

Safety and impact of vitamin A supplementation delivered with oral polio vaccine as part of the immunization campaign in Orissa, India

A study was carried out in Orissa, India, to evaluate the impact on vitamin A status of vitamin A supplementation integrated with an immunization campaign. Data were collected from a representative sample of 1,811 children, aged 12 to 48 months, at baseline and then at 4 and 16 weeks following implementation of vitamin A supplementation. The primary outcome indicator was serum retinol. The coverage of vitamin A supplementation was 97%. There was a significant decline in the prevalence of Bitot's spots from 2.9% to 1.9% at 4 weeks, but the prevalence increased to 3.6% by 16 weeks. Serum retinol concentrations increased between baseline and 4 weeks (from 0.62 +/- 0.32 to 0.73 +/- 0.23 mumol/L, p < .001) but then decreased to 0.50 +/- 0.19 mumol/l at 16 weeks, which was significantly lower than at baseline (p < .001). The greatest increase in serum retinol from baseline to 4-week follow-up was among children with lowest baseline serum retinol and children with Bitot's spots at baseline. This study demonstrates the short-term benefits of vitamin A supplementation to be significant, especially for those whose status is most compromised. At the same time, the benefit of vitamin A supplementation in this population was transient. The impact of the vitamin A could not be sustained for the full 16 weeks in the study population. This finding calls for exploration of other means to improve vitamin A status, perhaps by adjusting the vitamin A supplementation schedule with more aggressive measures to improve intake of foods rich in bioavailable vitamin A, such as small amounts of animal foods or fortified foods. The study demonstrates the feasibility of integrating vitamin A supplementation with immunization campaigns.     

Estimation and fortification of vitamin D3 in pasteurized process cheese

The objective of this study was to develop methods for the estimation and fortification of vitamin D3 in pasteurized Process cheese. Vitamin D3 was estimated using alkaline saponification at 70 degrees C for 30 min, followed by extraction with petroleum ether:diethyl ether (90:10 vol/vol) and HPLC. The retention time for vitamin D3 was approximately 9 min. A standard curve with a correlation coefficient of 0.972 was prepared for quantification of vitamin D3 in unknown samples. In the second phase of the study, pasteurized Process cheeses fortified with commercial water- or fat-dispersible forms of vitamin D3 at a level of 100 IU per serving (28 g) were manufactured. There was no loss of vitamin D3 during Process cheese manufacture, and the vitamin was uniformly distributed. No losses of the vitamin occurred during storage of the fortified cheeses over a 9-mo period at 21 to 29 degrees C and 4 to 6 degrees C. There was an approximately 25 to 30% loss of the vitamin when cheeses were heated for 5 min in an oven maintained at 232 degrees C. Added vitamin D3 did not impart any off flavors to the Process cheeses as determined by sensory analysis. There were no differences between the water- and fat-dispersible forms of the vitamin in the parameters measured in fortified cheeses.     

Impact of a multiple-micronutrient food supplement on the nutritional status of schoolchildren

BACKGROUND:. Multiple-micronutrient deficiencies exist in many developing nations. A system to deliver multiple micronutrients effectively would be of value in these countries. OBJECTIVE:. To evaluate the delivery of multiple micronutrients through the food route. The goal was to test the stability of the supplement during cooking and storage and then to test its bioefficacy and bioavailability in residential schoolchildren 5 to 15 years of age. METHODS: A pre- and post-test design was used to study children 5 to 15 years of age, with an experimental and a control group. The experimental group (n=211) consisted of children from two residential schools, and the control group (n=202) consisted of children from three residential schools. The experimental group received a micronutrient supplement containing vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 vitamin B12, folic acid, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, lysine, and calcium daily for 9 months. There was no nutritional intervention in the control group. Children in the experimental and control groups were matched by socioeconomic status, age, and eating habits at baseline. All of the children in the experimental and control schools were dewormed at baseline, after 4 months, and at the endpoint. Biochemical measurements (hemoglobin, serum vitamin A, serum vitamin E, serum vitamin B12, and serum folic acid) were measured at baseline, after 4 months, and at the endpoint (after 9 months). The heights and weights of the children were also measured at baseline and endpoint. Serum vitamins A and E were measured in a subsample of 50% and vitamin B12 and serum folic acid measured in a subsample of 25% of the children. RESULTS: In the experimental group, the mean gains in hemoglobin, serum vitamin A, serum vitamin E, serum vitamin B12, and serum folic acid over 9 months were 0.393 g/dL, 6.0375 microg/dL, 1037.45 microg/dL, 687.604 pg/mL, and 1.864 ng/mL, respectively. In the control group, the mean losses in hemoglobin and serum vitamin A over 9 months were 0.9556 g/dL and 10.0641 microg/dL, respectively, and the mean gains in serum vitamin E, vitamin B12, and folic acid were 903.52 microg/dL, 233.283 pg/mL, and 0.0279 ng/mL. The mean gain in all biochemical measurements was significantly higher (p < .05) in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron are bioavailable from the multiple-micronutrient food supplement used in this study. This method of micronutrient delivery has been beneficial. We believe the study intervention was beneficial because of small doses of the micronutrients added but delivered many times through meals throughout the day, over a period of 9 months.