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LIVER CIRRHOSIS AND “LIVER” DIABETES
MELLITUS ARE LINKED TO ZINC DEFICIENCY (IN PROCESS
CITATION).
Grungreiff K; Reinhold D.
Med Hypotheses 2005;64(2):316-317.
There is extensive documentation concerning the
association between liver cirrhosis and variations of
glucose
tolerance. Zinc is an essential trace element that is needed
for more than 200 zinc metalloenzymes, normal protein
metabolism, and many other physiologic functions. It is
common to find poor zinc status in liver cirrhosis and
diabetes
mellitus. Zinc deficiency has been linked to many of the
clinical features of liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus.
The
neurological symptoms and signs of liver cirrhosis and
hepatic encephalopathy have shown improvement from zinc
supplementation (with and without diabetes mellitus), as
well as better glucose utilization. The authors use these
findings to hypothesize that zinc deficiency is a link
between liver cirrhosis and “liver” diabetes mellitus.
MULTIVITAMIN-MINERAL
SUPPLEMENTATION IS NOT AS EFFICACIOUS AS IS IRON
SUPPLEMENTATION
IN IMPROVING HEMOGLOBIN CONENTRATIONS IN NONPREGNANT ANEMIC
WOMEN LIVING IN MEXICO.
Moriarty-Craige SE, et al.
Am J Clin Nutr 2004;80:1308-1311.
The use of iron supplementation is known to improve
hemoglobin status and reduce the anemia of iron deficiency,
but
it is not known whether the use of a multivitamin-mineral
(MM) is as effective for this purpose as the use of iron
supplements alone. This study was conducted in Mexico. It
was a randomized double-blind community trial
comparing the use of MM with iron alone to improve
hemoglobin in non pregnant women. The women received either
an iron supplement alone (60 mg of elemental iron, as
sulfate) or a MM (containing the same iron form and content)
6
days per week for 12 weeks. Hemoglobin concentrations were
measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. In general
there were no significant differences found between the two
groups, at the outset of the study. The significant finding
at studies end involved the women who were anemic at the
start of the study. The anemic women had a significantly
greater improvement when on the iron supplementation alone.
There was no difference in hemoglobin change between
the two groups in the non anemic women. The use of MM
supplements in the treatment of anemia may not be as
effective as iron alone in the improvement of hemoglobin
status. This may be due to a difference in the
bioavailability
of the iron from the two supplement forms, possibly due to
the presence of other minerals in the MM (magnesium and
zinc).
DIETARY
COPPER DEFICIENCY REDUCES IRON ABSORPTION AND DUODENAL
ENTEROCYTE
HEPHAESTIN PROTEIN IN MALE AND FEMALE RATS.
Reeves PG, et al.
J Nutr 135:92-98, 2005.
The mechanism by which copper deficiency causes reduction in
iron absorption is not known. Hephaestin (Hp), an
intestinal copper dependant ferroxidase could be involved.
This study included copper deficient (CuD) and copper
adequate (CuA) male and female rats. Weanling rats of both
sexes were randomly assigned into two groups and fed a
diet with either low or adequate copper for 19 days. They
were then fed 1.0 grams of their respective diet labeled
with
59Fe. Retained 59Fe was monitored by whole body count for 12
days. The 59Fe and Fe levels were measure in blood
and other organs. Western blot analysis of Hp was performed
on duodenal enterocytes. Both sexes showed evidence
of copper and iron deficiency. Male CuD rats absorbed 60% as
much iron as the CuA male rats, while the female CuD
rats absorbed 70% as much as CuA female rats. There was no
significant difference between the sexes. The
enterocyte Hp in CuD rats of both sexes was 35% of that in
the CuA rats. The half life of the 59Fe for the CuD rats was
50% of that seen in the CuA rats, which implies that iron
turnover is faster in the copper deficient rats. Serum and
organ levels for iron were lower in the CuD rats, with the
exception of the duodenal mucosa and liver Fe in the CuD
male rats vs. CuA male rats, and the duodenal Fe of CuD
female rats vs. CuA female rats. The researchers concluded
that copper deficiency reduces iron absorption in rats
through the reduced expression of duodenal Hp protein.
MINERAL WATER INTAKE REDUCES
BLOOD PRESSURE AMONG SUBJECTS WITH LOW URINARY
MAGNESIUM AND CALCIUM LEVELS.
Rylander R: Arnaud MJ.
BMC Public Health 2004 Nov 30;4(1):56.
There have been mixed findings in epidemiological studies
examining the relationship between drinking water and
death from cardiovascular disease. This study was done in
random, double-blinded fashion. In the study 70 subjects
with borderline hypertension were placed into one of three
groups consuming one of the following, 1) water low in
minerals, 2) magnesium enriched water, 3) a natural mineral
water (containing magnesium) for a period of 4 weeks.
Subjects with a low urinary magnesium or calcium who
consumed the waters containing magnesium had urinary
excretion of magnesium increased. The group receiving the
mineral water (with magnesium) had a significant
decrease in blood pressure at 2 and 4 weeks. The researchers
concluded that minerals consumed in water will impact
the body mineral balance, and that mineral water intake in
people with low urinary excretion of magnesium or calcium
may decrease blood pressure.
PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF HIGH DIETARY POTASSIUM:
NUTRITIONAL AND METABOLIC ASPECTS.
Demigne C, et al.
J Nutr 134:2903-2906, 2004.
The presence of potassium is so prevalent in foods that
severe deficiencies are not common. It has been observed
that
the changeover to the modern diet has led to a substantial
decrease in potassium intake, when compared to traditional
diets. This has resulted in a large fraction of the
population receiving suboptimal potassium in their diet.
High
potassium intake has a protective effect against a variety
of pathologies which affect the cardiovascular system,
kidney, and bones. Organic potassium (potassium malate and
citrate) are found in fruits and vegetables, and these
organic potassium compounds cause alkalinizing effects that
neutralizes the fixed acidity of the urine. Catabolic
processes (decreasing bone mass and muscle mass) are
exacerbated by low grade metabolic acidosis, especially in
the
elderly. The nutrition scientists state from this that there
is a need to ensure the intake of 2.5 – 3.5 grams of
potassium
(as organic anion salts) per day. Since fruits and
vegetables are a good source of this, there is good
rationale to
recommend 5-10 servings of these substances per day.
FERROUS SULFATE IS MORE
BIOAVAILABLE AMONG PRESCHOOLERS THAN OTHER FORMS OF IRON IN
A
MILK-BASED WEANING FOOD DISTRIBUTED BY PROGRESSA, A NATIONAL
PROGRAM IN MEXICO.
Perez-Exposito AB, et al.
J Nutr 135:64-69, 2005.
The distribution of a milk-based fortified weaning food for
a year by the Mexican social program, PROGRESSA,
positively impacted physical growth, prevalence of anemia,
and several vitamin deficiencies. This food had no benefit
to iron status, which the researchers suggested to be
related to the poor bioavailability of the iron form
(reduced iron)
used in the food by PROGRESSA. This study evaluates the iron
bioavailability of several forms of iron added to this
weaning food. In the study, children ages 2-4 were randomly
assigned to receive 44 grams of the weaning food with
one of the following iron forms: ferrous sulfate, ferrous
fumarate, or reduced iron plus Disodium EDTA. Iron
absorption was measured through the double-tracer isotopic
methodology. The iron absorption from ferrous sulfate
(7.9 ± 9.8%) was greater than that from ferrous fumarate
(2.43 ± 2.3%) and reduced iron plus Disodium EDTA (1.4 ±
1.3%). Ferrous sulfate was determined to be the most
bioavailable of the three forms tested in the milk-based
weaning
food, and more readily provides the average daily iron needs
for the children.END
For additional information please contact Max R. Motyka,
Director of Human Products Division
Phone: (800) 222-0733 Fax: (586) 774-9055 E-Mail: mmotyka@albion-an.com
© Albion Advanced Nutrition 2005
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