ascorbic-acid and ferrous-gluconate

We aimed to assess the efficacy of whole cow's milk fortified with ferrous gluconate and zinc oxide, along with ascorbic acid, in reducing the prevalence of anemia and improving iron status of low income children 10-30 mo of age. Healthy children were randomly assigned to drink 400 mL/d of cow's whole milk, either fortified milk (FM) with 5.8 mg/400 mL of iron as ferrous gluconate, 5.28 mg/400 mL of zinc as zinc oxide, and 48 mg/400 mL of ascorbic acid, or nonfortified milk (NFM) with 0.2 mg iron/400 mL, 1.9 mg zinc/400 mL, and 6.8 mg ascorbic acid/400 mL. Hemoglobin, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptors (TfR), and C-reactive protein concentrations were measured at baseline and 6 mo after intervention. The prevalence of anemia declined from 41.4 to 12.1% (P < 0.001), or 29 percentage points, in the FM group; there was no change in the NFM group. Hemoglobin (coefficient = 0.22, P < 0.01) was positively and TfR (coefficient = -0.29, P < 0.001) negatively associated with treatment, controlling for their respective baseline values, age, and gender. Treatment with FM was negatively associated with the likelihood of being anemic (pseudo R(2) = 0.085, P < 0.03) after 6 mo of intervention. Ferrous gluconate added to whole cow's milk as a fortificant along with ascorbic acid is efficacious in reducing the prevalence of anemia and in improving iron status of Mexican toddlers. The results of this study lead to broadening a subsidized FM distribution program to 4.2 million beneficiary children 1-11 y of age in Mexico.

Topics: Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; C-Reactive Protein; Child, Preschool; Female; Ferritins; Ferrous Compounds; Food, Fortified; Hemoglobins; Humans; Infant; Linear Models; Male; Mexico; Milk; Nutritional Status; Receptors, Transferrin; Zinc Oxide

Iron deficiency anemia is a common complication of gastric bypass. The authors assessed the value of taking vitamin C with oral iron in correcting deficiencies in iron stores and anemia postoperatively.. Iron absorption tests were performed on 55 patients 3.2+/-2.0 years after isolated gastric bypass to identify those at higher risk for the late development of anemia. Twenty-nine of this group agreed to a therapeutic trial of iron alone or with vitamin C over a 2-month period. All 55 patients were followed up for 27.1+/-1.0 months following the study.. The iron absorption test identified patients with low iron stores, as indicated by low serum ferritin, and those with sufficient absorption surface to benefit from oral iron. The addition of vitamin C appears to enhance the therapeutic effect of iron by correcting ferritin deficits (P < 0.01) and anemia (P < 0.05). Differences in intestine length bypassed by the operation (10 vs. 100 cm) did not affect late ferritin and hemoglobin values.. This study suggests but does not prove that the addition of vitamin C to iron therapy after gastric bypass is more effective in restoring ferritin and hemoglobin than iron alone. These results are in contrast with the outcome 22.8 months later, when approximately 50% of study patients were again anemic. Closer follow-up of patients is urgently needed.

Topics: Adult; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Ascorbic Acid; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Interactions; Female; Ferrous Compounds; Follow-Up Studies; Gastric Bypass; Humans; Iron; Male; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome

Impaired uteroplacental perfusion has been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of some complicated pregnancies with placenta insufficiency. Apart from this, lower oestrogen, magnesium and zinc are found in many of these conditions in the third trimester with placenta insufficiency. In this study, we examined the effect of a 4 mg intravenous dexamethasone injection on estriol, since maternal cortisol or synthetic corticosteroids cross the placental barrier and inhibit the release of dehydroepiandrostesone sulfate in the fetal adrenals. Dexamathasone was found to suppress estriol levels in all groups but a significant difference in suppression was found between the Chemiron--a new combination hematinic--and the control single iron therapy groups. Our preliminary results showed that Chemiron has a protective effect on the development of placenta insufficiency during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Topics: Adult; Anemia; Ascorbic Acid; Dexamethasone; Drug Combinations; Estriol; Female; Ferrous Compounds; Folic Acid; Hematinics; Humans; Magnesium Sulfate; Placental Insufficiency; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Tests; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Vitamin B 12; Zinc Sulfate

Iron depletion is a well-known side effect of blood donation. Research evidence also suggests an increasing prevalence of vitamin deficiency in apparently healthy subjects, but there is little information regarding the relationship between blood donation and vitamin status. A total of 217 volunteers (80 first-time and 137 repeat blood donors) were consecutively enrolled in the study. All subjects completed self-administered medical history and food intake forms, which included questions regarding alcohol consumption and smoking as well as on vitamin supplement, iron and contraceptive use (females). Vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12 and biotin levels were measured using standard techniques. The mean vitamin levels of first-time and repeat blood donors did not significantly differ. Vitamin deficiencies occurred in both first-time and repeat blood donors but not on vitamin supplements. Vitamin status was affected by alcohol, nicotine and contraceptives. Blood donation does not decrease the level of water-soluble vitamins. Vitamin deficiencies occur in apparently healthy first-time as well as in repeat blood donors and can be prevented by vitamin supplementation.

Topics: Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Ascorbic Acid; Avitaminosis; Biotin; Blood Donors; Contraceptives, Oral; Dietary Supplements; Female; Ferrous Compounds; Folic Acid; Humans; Male; Smoking; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 6; Vitamin B Complex; Vitamins

Construction of vaginal rings to deliver nonhormonal contraceptives and 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) as an anti-HIV agent and determination of their daily release and efficacy in vitro.. Intravaginal rings of 0.5-0.7 cm rim and 5-5.5 cm in diameter were cast in the molds. The rings were composed of biosoluble acacia gum or nonbiodegradable hydrogel of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and sodium methacrylate (SMA) [P(HEMA-co-SMA)]. The rings were impregnated with nonhormonal contraceptives such as ferrous gluconate to cause spermiostasis, l-ascorbic acid to increase the viscosity of the cervical mucus, and pharmalytes of pH 4-5 or AZT.. The daily release rate of nonhormonal contraceptives as well as AZT from the rings was efficacious in vitro. Cumulative effect of nonhormonal contraceptives showed complete spermiostasis within 30 s up to 10 and 28 days, respectively. Daily release of AZT from both rings was also likely to be efficacious to inhibit HIV proliferation in vitro for 10 and 28 days, respectively.. The data indicate that the rings described here can be developed for intravaginal delivery of nonhormonal contraceptives and/or anti-HIV agents.

Topics: Anti-HIV Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Cervix Mucus; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Contraceptive Devices, Female; Drug Delivery Systems; Female; Ferrous Compounds; Gum Arabic; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Methacrylates; Spermatozoa; Zidovudine

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Ascorbic Acid; Blood Donors; Double-Blind Method; Female; Ferritins; Ferrous Compounds; Hematinics; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Receptors, Transferrin; Sex Factors; Solubility; Time Factors

This investigation describes the synthesis of a biodegradable hydrogel composed of a core surrounded by four concentric sheaths containing dextran, copolymers of polylactide and epsilon-caprolactone. The hydrogel was impregnated with iron (II) d-gluconate dihydrate, which causes complete spermiostasis due to lipid peroxidation, ascorbic acid to increase the viscosity of the cervical mucus and mixtures of polyamino and polycarboxylic acids to sustain vaginal pH close to 4.5. The combined effects of the agents in the daily eluates of the hydrogel were efficacious up to 16 days, within 30 s, as shown by sperm penetration tests. For in vivo studies, rabbits were chosen as the experimental model because they are easy to handle and the female is always in estrus. The anterior vagina of estrous female rabbits was instilled with the hydrogel, and then inseminated with the semen from a fertile male. Postinsemination flush from the female rabbits showed that all of the sperm were dead. These observations demonstrate the potential for the development of a biocompatible, nonhormonal, intravaginal contraceptive device.

Topics: Administration, Intravaginal; Ampholyte Mixtures; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Cervix Mucus; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Dextrans; Female; Ferrous Compounds; Humans; Hydrogels; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Polyesters; Rabbits; Sperm Motility; Sperm-Ovum Interactions

Although potassium sorbate (PS), ascorbic acid and ferric or ferrous salts (Fe-salts) are used widely in combination as food additives, the strong reactivity of PS and oxidative potency of ascorbic acid in the presence of Fe-salts might form toxic compounds in food during its deposit and distribution. In the present paper, the reaction mixture of PS, ascorbic acid and Fe-salts was evaluated for mutagenicity and DNA-damaging activity by means of the Ames test and rec-assay. Effective lethality was observed in the rec-assay. No mutagenicity was induced in either Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 (with or without S-9 mix) or TA100 (with S-9 mix). In contrast, a dose-dependent mutagenic effect was obtained when applied to strain TA100 without S-9 mix. The mutagenic activity became stronger increasing with the reaction period. Furthermore, the reaction products obtained in a nitrogen atmosphere did not show any mutagenic and DNA-damaging activity. PS, ascorbic acid and Fe-salts were inactive when they were used separately. Omission of one component from the mixture of PS, ascorbic acid and Fe-salt turned the reaction system inactive. These results demonstrate that ascorbic acid and Fe-salt oxidized PS and the oxidative products caused mutagenicity and DNA-damaging activity.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Diphosphates; DNA Damage; Edetic Acid; Ferric Compounds; Ferrous Compounds; Food Preservatives; Iron; Mutagenicity Tests; Ribosomal Proteins; Salmonella typhimurium; Sorbic Acid

A 61-day short-term prospective study comparing the efficacy of Chemiron capsules (Ferrous Fumarate 300 mg, Folic Acid 5 mg, Vitamin B12 10 ug, Vitamin C 25 mg, Magnesium sulphate, 0.3 mg and Zinc Sulphate 0.3 mg) with conventional ferrous gluconate and folic acid administration has shown that both haematinic regimens improve haematological indices in normal pregnant women. A significant rise in haemoglobin was seen in the Chemiron group on days 5 and 19 whereas a significant increase in packed cell volume was observed on days 5, 19 and 61. There were no significant differences between the mean value of platelets during the therapy period in either group. A significant rise in the mean reticulocyte values could be demonstrated in the Chemiron group throughout the study period. This study further shows that Chemiron has a better haematological effect than Ferrous Gluconate at the dosage used.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Drug Combinations; Female; Ferrous Compounds; Folic Acid; Hematocrit; Hemoglobins; Humans; Iron; Magnesium Sulfate; Nigeria; Platelet Count; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Reticulocyte Count; Vitamin B 12; Zinc Sulfate

To determine the ability of the Hemoccult and Gastroccult tests (SmithKline Diagnostics) to detect blood in vitro in whole-bowel irrigation (WBI) solution.. One tablet of ferrous gluconate 324 mg, ferrous sulfate 325 mg, or ascorbic acid 500 mg; or one Materna prenatal vitamin tablet (Lederle Laboratories) was dissolved in 30 mL of Colyte. Colyte alone and each test solution were tested with Hemoccult and Gastroccult slides, then retested at pH values of 3 and 8. Fresh solutions were then spiked with blood and tested with Gastroccult slides. Materna and ascorbic acid solutions were spiked with blood, then tested with Hemoccult slides.. Positive results were difficult to detect on Gastroccult slides. Hemoccult slides were falsely positive for solutions containing only iron and falsely negative for blood-spiked samples containing ascorbic acid.. Both the Hemoccult and Gastroccult tests may be unreliable in detecting GI bleeding in cases of iron overdose treated with WBI.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Overdose; False Negative Reactions; False Positive Reactions; Ferrous Compounds; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Humans; Iron; Occult Blood