ascorbic-acid and Substance-Related-Disorders

The article presents the results of studies on potential risks associated with the abuse of vitamin supplements which until recently had been considered not only highly effica- cious, but also completely safe. Particular consideration is given to vitamins A, E, D and C. The necessity to control the intake of vitamin supplements and even to strictly super- vise the supply to high risk patients is highlighted.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Drug Overdose; Humans; Neoplasms; Risk Factors; Substance-Related Disorders; Vitamin A; Vitamin D; Vitamin E; Vitamins

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Child; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Interactions; Folic Acid; Humans; Niacin; Nutritional Requirements; Orthomolecular Therapy; Pantothenic Acid; Pyridoxine; Riboflavin; Solubility; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Vitamin B Complex; Water

The fundamental aim of this study is to establish the role of antioxidant supplementation in alleviating acute amitriptyline induced oxidative stress. The effect of supplementation was compared on treatment of acute amitriptyline intoxication cases for pain management, with alpha lipoic acid (ALA) alone or with vitamin C, with that of healthy individuals (group I), and those receiving only routine standard treatment (RST) as control (group II). A total of 132 human subjects divided into 5 groups were supplemented with either placebo, RST, RST with vitamin C, RST with ALA, or RST with vitamin C, and ALA. Results of this study revealed that the decrease in the level of oxidative stress and enzyme activity was observed among those supplemented with either alpha lipoic acid alone or along with vitamin C, with a slightly more decrease in the latter group. P value of < 0.001 was considered statistically significant. The percentage of benefit of treatment on supplementation with vitamin C and alpha lipoic acid showed a marked increase in group V cases after supplementation with both in combination. The results provided that the oxidative stress induced by acute amitriptyline poisoning is comparatively decreased by supplementation with antioxidants like alpha lipoic acid and vitamin C, than those only on routine standard treatment.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Amitriptyline; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Dietary Supplements; Female; Humans; Male; Oxidative Stress; Pain; Substance-Related Disorders; Thioctic Acid

Scurvy is one of the oldest diseases in human history. Nowadays, although scurvy tends to become a forgotten disease in developed country, rare cases still occur, especially in people undergoing extreme diet, old people or children with poor diet and patients with malabsorption. We describe three cases of scurvy. The first case is a patient diagnosed with Crohn's disease, the second one is in a context of anorexia nervosa and drug addiction, and the third case is in a context of social isolation. Early recognition of scurvy can be difficult because symptoms may appear nonspecific and can mimic more common conditions. In any patient with spontaneous hematoma and purpura, in the context of nutritional disorder, scurvy should be systematically considered. As this disease can lead to severe complications, such as bone pain, heart failure or gastrointestinal symptoms, nothing should delay vitamin C supplementation, which is a simple and rapidly effective treatment.

Topics: Adult; Anorexia Nervosa; Ascorbic Acid; Crohn Disease; Dietary Supplements; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Scurvy; Social Isolation; Substance-Related Disorders; Vitamins

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Bethanechol; Biopsy; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Fluoroquinolones; Humans; Ill-Housed Persons; Kidney; Kidney Function Tests; Malacoplakia; Middle Aged; Muscarinic Agonists; Organ Size; Prognosis; Renal Dialysis; Renal Insufficiency; Substance-Related Disorders; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Urinary Tract Infections

Previous studies have shown that striatum and nucleus accumbens (NAc) are two different structures in mediating addictive drug-induced ascorbic acid (AA) release. In order to further characterize the different effects of drugs-induced AA release in the striatum and NAc, in the present study, we investigated the effect of ethanol, morphine, methamphetamine, nicotine-induced AA release in these two nuclei using microdialysis coupled to high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). All drugs were continuously perfused directly into the striatum or NAc. This study showed that local intrastriatal or intra-accumbensal perfusion of ethanol (500 microM) could increase AA release to 280, 260% in the striatum and NAc, respectively. Intra-striatal infusion of morphine (1 mM), methamphetamine (250 microM) or nicotine (500 microM), reduce striatal AA release to 48, 50, 45%, respectively. While given intra-accumbensally, morphine (1 mM), methamphetamine (250 microM) or nicotine (500 microM) increase AA release to 165, 160, 160%, respectively. These results suggested that different presynaptic or postsynaptic mechanisms might be involved in addictive drug-induced AA release in the striatum and NAc.

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Corpus Striatum; Ethanol; Male; Methamphetamine; Microdialysis; Morphine; Nicotine; Nucleus Accumbens; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Substance-Related Disorders

A 53-year-old woman, known with a schizophrenic disorder and a history of drug addiction, was referred because of progressive hematomas of the lower extremities and fatigue. Her medical history included hyperplastic gums, tooth hypermobility and anaemia. Scurvy was diagnosed as a result of an insufficient diet due to drug addiction and a paranoid psychosis. After suppletion of vitamin C and starting highly nutritious food a rapid amelioration of the scurvy related complaints was observed. While dreaded and often fatal in earlier eras, in the 21st century scurvy is easily treatable if this diagnosis is recognised.

Topics: Anemia; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Schizophrenia; Scurvy; Substance-Related Disorders; Tooth Mobility; Treatment Outcome

To investigate use and awareness of lawful and unlawful substances by amateur footballers in Yaounde, Cameroon.. A total of 1116 amateur footballers (1037 male and 79 female) out of 1500 contacted participated in this study. They were divided into three groups: elite players (n = 314); local players (n = 723); female players (n = 79). They answered a questionnaire of 30 items grouped under six main topics: identification of players; use of lawful substances subject to certain restrictions on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) list; use of IOC banned substances; doping behaviour; awareness of doping; food supplements. The results of the questionnaire were scrutinised using Microstat software, and the level of significance was p<0.05.. (a) Use by our footballers of a banned substance (cocaine) and substances subject to certain restrictions (alcoholic drinks, methylated spirits, and banga (marijuana)). (b) Doping behaviour: use by our footballers of substances with similar effects to some IOC banned substances but not listed as such: tobacco, liboga, wie-wie (narcotic), bilibili (locally made alcohol drink). (c) A large intake of vitamin C (food supplements) in all three groups. In contrast, the footballers' knowledge of doping was vague.. Preventive actions and an epidemiological study of doping among footballers are urgently required.

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Cameroon; Doping in Sports; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Soccer; Substance-Related Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires

Few studies have evaluated the relationship between drugs of abuse consumption and plasma levels of vitamin C. Because of the importance of vitamin C due to its role in prevention of acute and chronic diseases, this study was carried out with the purpose of testing the influence of consumption of drugs of abuse on the plasmatic levels of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) of 56 male chronic users of drugs of abuse with an age range of 16 to 40 years. The following was performed: 1) A survey of consumption to determine the kind, frequency and quantity of drug(s) used and 2) The plasmatic levels of vitamin C in fasting condition, using the Rue and Kuether method. The results obtained showed that 89% of the population under study used drugs for the first time before the age of 18, and 78.4% started with marijuana; 60.7% of them were mixed drug users. The average level of plasmatic ascorbic acid was 0.89 +/- 0.06 mg/dL, nevertheless, according to nutritional category, 76% have values greater than 0.4 mg/dL and 23.2% were at moderated risk (0.35 +/- 0.01 mg/dL) of vitamin C deficiency. Likewise, classifying them in the antioxidant category (according to the suggested values of Gey, 1993) it was obtained that 55.4% had suboptimal or inadequate concentrations to carry out its antioxidant protective function. The length of time of drug's consumption influenced on the ascorbic acid level too. It can be concluded that chronic consumption of drugs of abuse can negatively influence the plasmatic levels of ascorbic acid, leading these patients to a latent condition of vitamin C deficiency. Finally it is necessary to deepen the study of vitamin C levels of users of drugs of abuse.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Chronic Disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Male; Substance-Related Disorders; Venezuela

The study was carried out on the hypothesis that drug addicts would have reduced vitamin E, C and A status which could be influenced by drug habit, sexual practice and lifestyle factors.. Serum concentrations of Vitamin E, C and A of male drug addicts and cohort controls were analysed, and influence of drug habit, sexual practice and lifestyle factors of the addicts on the vitamin status was assessed. The study was conducted among 253 drug addicts who sought detoxification voluntarily during the period of June 1997 to July 1998 at the Central Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital, Dhaka, and 100 cohort control men. Research instruments were questionnaire and blood specimens. HPLC and spectrophotometric methods were used to determine the vitamin levels in sera of drug addicts.. alpha-Tocopherol (12.60+/-3.73 compared with 16.3+/-3.37 micromol/l; t=8.6, P=0.05), ascorbic acid (21.59+/-10.5 compared with 38.3+/-13.62 micromol/l; t=10.93, P=0.003) and retinol (1.15+/-0.39 compared with 1.33+/-0.30 micromol/l; t=5.28, P=0.048) in the drug addicts were significantly low as compared to those in the cohort controls. Use of multiple illicit drugs for a longer period of time did result in reduced levels of these vitamins. A significant reduction in retinol concentration was noted among the multiple drug users (F(2,250)=3.23, P=0.041). Duration of addiction had a significant linear correlation with the level of reduction in retinol (F(2,250)=3.23, P=0.041) and alpha-tocopherol (F(2,250)=3.06, P=0.049). Apart from having a significant negative correlation between number of sexual partners and retinol level (F(3,247)=2.65, P=0.049), sexual practice did not have any influence on the vitamin status of the addicts. Occupation did have a significant effect on the ascorbic acid level (F(4,248)=2.46, P=0.046), but other socioeconomic factors like income, age etc did not influence the vitamin E, C and A levels. Body mass index had a positive linear correlation with the vitamins, but it was significant only with vitamin C (F(2,250)=7.06, P=0.001).. These results could have important implications for providing an antioxidant therapy to drug addicts and thus rehabilitating them into normal life. Risk of HIV infection and transmission (if any) could be reduced or inhibited.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Avitaminosis; Case-Control Studies; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cohort Studies; Humans; Life Style; Male; Middle Aged; Nutritional Status; Sexual Behavior; Substance-Related Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vitamin A; Vitamin E

Findings reported are for a subset of African American subjects, residing in the urban area of Washington, D. C., who participated in a Program Project designed to study nutrition, other factors, and the outcome of pregnancy. Fasting blood samples, drawn during each trimester of pregnancy and at delivery, were screened for concentrations of cocaine, phencyclidine (PCP) and marijuana. Since substance abusers are expected to consume inadequate diets, these samples were also analyzed for serum folate, vitamin B12, ferritin and ascorbic acid. Data for these biochemical variables were compared for subjects whose serum values for drugs were either above or below the drug screening threshold concentrations established by ADAMHA/NIDA. Pearson's correlations were used to determine relationships between pregnancy outcome variables and maternal serum drug concentrations. Blood samples drawn at delivery showed higher maternal: cord ratios (mean +/- SEM) for marijuana (3.3 +/- 2.2) and PCP (2.9 +/- 1.0) than for cocaine (1.0 +/- 0.2). The subjects whose serum values were above the ADAMHA/NIDA ranges for marijuana, PCP and cocaine had concentrations of folate and ferritin that were significantly less than those of subjects with lower serum drug levels (P < or = 0.05). High maternal serum concentrations of illicit drugs were accompanied by a significant increase in leukocyte count (P < or = 0.05). The level of maternal cocaine during the third trimester was inversely correlated with birthweight (r = -0.29; n = 52; P = 0.038) and head circumference (r = -0.28; n = 52; P = 0.047).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Birth Weight; Black or African American; Cannabis; Cocaine; District of Columbia; Female; Ferritins; Fetal Blood; Folic Acid; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Labor, Obstetric; Nutritional Status; Phencyclidine; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Outcome; Substance-Related Disorders; Vitamin B 12

Drug-induced urinary calculi are rarely observed. However, it is useful to know this etiology. A complete anamnesis of drugs and dosages is mandatory if a patient presents with lithiasis, since some pharmacotherapies may carry an enhanced lithogenic risk. The list of lithogenic drugs is discussed. In order to yield preventive data, infrared, spectrophotometry is the best available analytic method.

Topics: Allopurinol; Antacids; Ascorbic Acid; Calcium; Cathartics; Ceftriaxone; Humans; Kidney Calculi; Medical History Taking; Quinolones; Substance-Related Disorders; Sulfonamides

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Cells, Cultured; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Humans; Immune Tolerance; Monocytes; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Adolescent; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Benzene; Child; Humans; Motivation; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Pharyngitis; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Diseases; Orthomolecular Therapy; Scurvy; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders

Homo sapiens' gene pool contains a defective gene for the synthesis of the active enzyme protein, L-gulonolactone oxidase(GLO). The absence of GLO in the human liver blocks the normal mammalian conversion of blood sugar into ascorbate, leading to the potentially-fatal "inborn error of carbohydrate metabolism", the genetic disease, Hypoascorbemia (in the older nomenclature- scurvy). To survive, humans need exogenous sources of daily ascorbate. Most mammals have the intact gene for GLO synthesis and produce generous daily amounts of the liver metabolite, ascorbate; for instance, an unstressed 70 Kg goat is capable of producing over 13 grams of ascorbate daily and much more under stress. The recommended dietary allowance of 45 milligrams of ascorbate a day for human adults, now proposed and used by nutritionists, is grossly inadequate to restore Homo sapiens to a normal mammalian ascorbate physiology. To correct fully this human genetic defect and banish epidemic chronic subclinical scurvy requires daily intakes of ascorbate equivalent to, at least, the amounts synthesized by the other mammals. Humans kept on a long term regime of full correction of this birth defect show great salutary benefits in health maintenance, disease therapy and slowing of the aging process. This can be regarded as the creation of a new and more robust, longer-living, tough human sub-species, Homo sapiens ascorbicus, by the biochemical reversal of a primate mutation occurring some 60 million years ago. Some of the practical benefits and pathways of future clinical research are discussed.

Topics: Aging; Alcohol Oxidoreductases; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Genes; Heart Diseases; Humans; Neoplasms; Substance-Related Disorders; Sudden Infant Death; Virus Diseases

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Common Cold; Cystitis; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders

Following withdrawal from chronic barbital administration, 6-hydroxydopamine pretreated rats show a greater number and an earlier onset of spontaneous convulsive seizures than do rats pretreated with the saline-ascorbic acid vehicle.

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Barbital; Barbiturates; Body Weight; Dopamine; Humans; Hydroxydopamines; Male; Norepinephrine; Rats; Seizures; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Telencephalon

Corticosteroids and ascorbic acid in the adrenal glands of adult cats have been investigated after single or repeated administration of morphine. Also plasma levels and urinary excretion of corticosteroids were determined. A significant increase in the content of corticosteroids in the glands and plasma was found after initial injection of morphine. After 7 days of consecutive morphine treatment a fall of corticosteroids in the glands was observed; after 2 weeks of daily injections the content of adrenal corticosteroids was significantly lower than in the control animals but no change was found in the plasma. Administration of the drug during 1 month led to a highly significant decrease of corticosteroids in the glands as well as in plasma. No significant change in adrenal ascorbic acids was found whether the adrenal corticosteroids were higher or lower than in the control cats. Urinary corticosteroids were high during the first week of morphine treatment but thereafter the excretion declined progressively and was lower than the control level after 13 days of treatment. The significant decrease of corticosteroids observed after repeated administration of morphine and the rise in adrenal corticosteroids found after the injection of nalorphine to the morphinized animals suggest that some kind of morphine dependence had been developed in the cats after repeated administration of the drug.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adrenal Glands; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Blood Glucose; Cats; Depression, Chemical; Female; Humans; Male; Morphine; Nalorphine; Organ Size; Stimulation, Chemical; Substance-Related Disorders; Time Factors

Topics: Aged; Alcoholism; Ascorbic Acid; Avitaminosis; Child; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Folic Acid; Humans; Mental Disorders; NAD; Nicotinic Acids; Psychiatry; Pyridoxine; Schizophrenia; Substance-Related Disorders; Vitamin B 12; Vitamins

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Humans; Male; Methadone; Nicotinic Acids; Pantothenic Acid; Private Practice; Substance-Related Disorders; Vitamin B 12; Vitamins

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Humans; Male; Substance-Related Disorders

Topics: Apnea; Ascorbic Acid; Coma; Diazepam; Drug Combinations; Humans; Psychomotor Disorders; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Thioctic Acid; Vitamin B Complex

Topics: Acetaminophen; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anticoagulants; Ascorbic Acid; Barbiturates; Blood Coagulation; Blood Coagulation Tests; Cardiac Glycosides; Chlordiazepoxide; Chlorothiazide; Contraceptives, Oral; Diazepam; Dogs; Drug Antagonism; Epinephrine; Ethchlorvynol; Glucagon; Haloperidol; Humans; Methylphenidate; Phenethylamines; Phenylbutazone; Phenytoin; Quinolines; Salicylates; Steroids; Substance-Related Disorders; Tetanus Toxoid; Tolbutamide; Xanthines

Topics: Adrenal Glands; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Barbiturates; Corticosterone; Humans; Organ Size; Pituitary Gland; Rats; Stress, Physiological; Substance-Related Disorders

The method of treatment and the results obtained from the treatment of 50 Canadian patients addicted to narcotic drugs who went to England are recorded. These patients were first stabilized on the minimal dose of narcotic drug which permitted them to work, and to acquire security and self-respect. Then, after psychiatric treatment dealing with the basic problem of their personality disorder, complete withdrawal treatment of the narcotic drug was undertaken.Nine of 10 patients aged between 20 and 30, of good social and cultural background, have been relieved of dependence on drugs for over two years.The other 40 patients came from a different background. Nearly all had been imprisoned for drug offences and they had come to England to obtain treatment and to avoid further prison sentences in Canada.The 31 patients whose prison sentences had been directly connected with drug offences are working steadily and leading an apparently normal life.The remaining nine patients had been convicted of criminal acts before becoming addicted to narcotic drugs and, with two exceptions, the results of their treatment compare unfavourably with the other patients, seven having been convicted and imprisoned in London.

Topics: Antisocial Personality Disorder; Ascorbic Acid; Canada; England; Folic Acid; Heroin; Humans; London; Male; Narcotics; Perphenazine; Promethazine; Psychology; Psychotherapy; Self Concept; Substance-Related Disorders; Vitamin B Complex

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging, Premature; Ascorbic Acid; Depression; Depressive Disorder; Procaine; Substance-Related Disorders; Vitamin B Complex