Prevalence Study of Vitamin D Deficiency and to Evaluate the Efficacy of Vitamin D3 Granules 60,000 IU Supplementation in Vitamin D Deficient Apparently Healthy Adults.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in apparently healthy urban adults and to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D3 granules 60,000 IU supplementation in increasing serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels. Material and methods: Healthy adults in an urban hospital were screened for 25(OH)D (radioimmunoassay method). Those found to be deficient or insufficient in vitamin D (defined as 25(OH)D <30 ng/ml) were supplemented with oral cholecalciferol granules 60,000 IU/week for eight weeks. Serum 25(OH)D level was estimated at the end of 60 days. Results: A total of 510 subjects (age 19-66 years) were enrolled for the study. Baseline data was available for 474 subjects and 178 subjects consumed a total of eight sachets as per the study protocol. Of these 178 subjects, 94.94% subjects were found to be vitamin D deficient (<20 ng/ml) and the mean plasma vitamin D3 25(OH)D level was 9.36 ng/ml (±5.19) at baseline. At the end of the study, the mean 25(OH)D plasma level was noted to be 29.28 ng/ml (±13.57). The mean change from baseline was 19.92 ng/ml (±13.25). Among these 178 participants only 5.06% had 25(OH)D >20 ng/ml at baseline, which increased to 78.09% at the end of the study following vitamin D3 supplementation for eight weeks. Conclusion: This study showed that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in the urban healthy adult population. Eight weeks of vitamin D3 60,000 IU/week oral granules supplementation increased serum 25(OH)D to optimal levels.

Optimization of cultural conditions for exopolysaccharides production by Frateuria aurentia.

The exopolysaccharides (EPS) producing ability was evaluated by nutritional defined media by the Frateuria aurentia was the highest yield EPS-producing strain, which was isolated from elephant dung in Srivilliputhur, Tamilnadu, India. It was identified as Frateuria aurentia with carbohydrate assimilation process and 16S rDNA gene sequencing. The favourable conditions for EPS yield by the microorganism growth in a chemically defined medium were tested with carbon, nitrogen, cultivation time, temperature, pH, hydrocarbon, surfactants, sodium chloride, metal ions and inoculums concentration in static and shaking conditions had the most significant influences. Among the various nutritional sources of interactive effects the maximum EPS production was recorded at pH 7.00 (1.431 ± 0.0096 OD); 30 C (1.661 ± 0.028 OD); Jaggery (1.185 ± 0.003 OD); ⁰ Tryptone (1.248 ± 0.011 OD); Ferric chloride (1.682 ± 0.022 OD); Glutamine (2.136 ± 0.067 OD); polyethyleneglycol (0.873 ± 0.041 OD); 2.5% NaCl (1.138 ± 0.023 OD); Neem oil (1.699 ± 0.176 OD); inoculum concentration 2.00% (1.625 ± 0.007 OD); The maximum EPS production was viewed at the 72hrs of incubation at static condition (1.58 ± 0.122 OD).