VITAMINS

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The possible usefulness of vitamin C (AsA ; Ascorbic acid) in cerebro and cardiovascular disease has been demonstrated in many studies. Through a series of epidemiological, experimental, clinical and ecological studies, we have investigated the roles of AsA in the prevention of arteriosclerosis. The results of our studies indicate that AsA status in one of most important nutritional factors in the prevention of cerebrovascular disease. The concept that AsA deficiency promote arteriosclerotic lesion are supported by the following observations. 1. Serum AsA is associated inversely with blood pressure or rate of hypertention in general people. 2. The supplement of AsA decrease blood pressure in elderly hypertensive subjects. 3. The supplement of AsA decrease serum total cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic subjects with relatively, well controlled diabetes mellitus (DM.) and in elderly hypercholesterolemic subjects with, perhaps, latent DM.. 4. Reference works show that high serum AsA concentration may inhibit the formaition of angiotoxic oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL.) s an antioxidant in normocholesterolemic subjects. 5. Fruit, especially citrus fruit, intake is the most inportant index which discriminate between the low and high areas of death from cerebral hemorrhage in Kagoshima district.

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Vitamin deficiencies are often induced by alcohol intake presumably due to disturbance of utilization and increased requirements of vitamins. In this study, disturbances of B_1 utilization and changes in the B_1 requirement were evaluated in humans by B_1 tolerance test and alcohol tolerance test. Utilization of B_1 was reduced in patients with liver disorders, and alcohol was suspected to increase the B_1 requirement even in those without liver disorders. Alcohol is often a factor in beriberi and Wernicke's encephalopathy. It is also known to be involved in pellagra, of which only 8 cases were presented since pellagra is uncommon in Japan. Moreover, anemia was observed in 34.9% of alcohol-dependent individuals, and folic acid deficiency was suspected to be a cause of macrocytic anemia. A lipid tolerance test using retinyl palmitate (A-pal) showed reduced ability of A-pal metabolism in patients with hyperlipidemia (type IV) after alcohol administration. These results suggest that the ability of chylomicron deposition is reduced, and drinking increases the risk of hypervitaminosis A in hyperlipidemic patients.

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Daily vitamin E intake in healthy children aged 3 to 6 years was examined based on data of annual nutrition survey in Tokyo Metropolitan area. 1. Daily vitamin E intake increased with age ; 7.3 mg in male and 7.0 mg in female at 3 years old, 7.7 mg in male and 7.4 mg in female at 4 years, 7.9 mg in male and 7.7 mg in female at 5 years, and 8.2 mg in male and 8.0 mg in female at 6 years, respectively. It was 3 % higher in male than in female, in each age group. 2. No annual differences were documented during the period examined. 3. The contribution of fats and oils to daily vitamin E intake was the highest in all food groups regardless of age and sexes, and next highest was confectioneries and cereals. The contributions of the above three food groups to the daily intake was 55%.

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