Effects of vitamin D in lung, stomach, esophagus and testis tissues following administration of urethane in balb/c mice

To elucidate the role of vitamin D in the histopathological alterations process and K-ras gene mutation exon 1 of tissues including lung, stomach, esophagus, and testis, by the administration of urethane. An experimental study in inbred balb/c mice aged 9-11 weeks was designed. This investigation was performed from 2003 to 2005 in the Department of Medical Genetics, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. The samples were classified into 3 groups: the urethane group was characterized by intraperitoneal injection of 3 times urethane 600 mg/kg/day at 48 hour intervals. The second group U+D was given 3.5 mg/kg 6.3 mg/1000 ml vitamin D in the drinking water for 4 weeks following the same intake of urethane as the first group, and the third one was the control group. All mice were sacrificed after 20 weeks, tissues were removed and examined for histopathological changes and mutations in the exon 1 of the K-ras gene. Thirty mice were studied. The formation of lung tumor was, significantly, increased in the urethane group as compared with the control group p<0.005, however, such a difference was not found in the U+D and control groups. In addition, there was no significant difference between all groups in other examined tissues. There was no mutation in the exon 1 of K-ras gene of the lung adenomas, adenocarcinomas, and stomach metaplasia. Our results showed the anti-tumorigenic effect of vitamin D3 in lung tumors induced by urethane. Vitamin D may reduce the risks of a tumorigenic diet that includes high fermented foods and beverages that produce urethane in their process

Vitamin A supplementary effect on immunologic profiles in tuberculosis patients

The effects of vitamins on human immune system have been well studied. Vitamin A deficiency and its effects on immune system in pulmonary tuberculosis [TB] patients have been established. This study was carried out to evaluate vitamin A supplementary effect on immunologic profile of tuberculosis patients. In a double-blind clinical trial, thirty-five patients with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis were included. The case group received vitamin A injection, 50000 lU, every 10 days for two months along with standard treatment of TB; the control group received only anti-TB drugs. Immunologic profiles including CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, CD19+, HLA-DR, CD16+56+, and plasma vitamin A as well as nutritional status were assessed in both groups primarily and two months after above-mentioned treatments. Data were analysed using SPSS software version 10. The study showed that there were not significant differences in mean[ +/- SD] of age, body weight, height, body mass index [BMI], fat thickness and vitamin A plasma level between the vit A-receiving and control groups. The mean of peripheral blood CD3+ showed significant increase in patient-control group [71.8 +/- 7.9% lymphocytes [after supplementation] compared with 68.3 +/- 10.7% [before supplementation]; p= 0.014.]. This was also true about CD4+ [p= 0.001]. CD4+ to CD8+ ratio and the mean of CD19+ showed significant decrease in the patient control group and the vit A-receiving group, respectively [p= 0.002 and p= 0.04, respectively]. In contrast, there was an increased significant difference for CD+16+56+ mean in the above-mentioned groups which was more prominent in the vit A- receiving group [p=0.038]. The means of HLA-DR and CD8+ did not show significant differences in both groups before and after supplementation. It seems that vitamin A supplementary effects on the quality of lymphocytic markers are remarkable. However, further studies should be performed regarding immunologic response quality