Influence of sex and age on vitamin A and E status.

Vitamins A and E were determined in the serum of 80 free-living healthy elderly subjects and in 80 healthy younger adults. Mean values and normal ranges were established for both groups and the influence of sex and age studied. We found a significantly lower level of vitamin A in the elderly men and women and a higher level of vitamin E in elderly women, relative to their younger counterparts. These differences may be related to life-style and age-associated physiological changes and justify the use of age-corrected standard values.

[Adaptation of a diazoreaction method for determining total and conjugated bilirubins on a parallel analyser]. / Adaptation d'une méthode de dosage par diazoréaction des bilirubines totale et conjuguée sur un analyseur parallèle.

A diazoreaction method of estimation of bilirubin has been adapted on a FP9 parallel analyzer. Biotrol's kit could be used only after modifications of the protocol. The critical study of this adaptation included trials of within run precision (CV 1.93 to 4.42%), total precision (CV 2.59 to 6.66%) as also evaluation of analytical range: the limit of linearity is 340 mumol/l. The evaluation of inaccuracy performed with patient specimens leads to establishment of follow-up norms and interpretation norms of allometry line. Our whole results are in conformity with the performance standards of the protocol for the validation of methods published by the Société Française de Biologie Clinique. Finally the described method is quick acting, reliable and very inexpensive.

[Serum-ferritin assay in patients over seventy. A study on fifty-eight non anemic subjects and thirty-five anemic patients (author's transl)]. / Le dosage de la ferritine sérique chez le sujet agé de soixante-dix ans et plus. Etude portant sur cinquante-huit personnes non anémiques et trente-cinq anémiques.

An immuno-enzymatic assay of serum ferritin was performed in subjects over 70 years of age. Wide variations in serum ferritin levels were demonstrated in the non-anemic group (17-510 ng/ml). This makes interpretation of results very difficult. In anemic patients a negative correlation was found between serum ferritin levels and TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity). When TIBC is under 42 mumol/l or above 63 mumol/l the two values are so closely correlated that serum ferritin assay does not provide any additional information for the diagnosis of anemia. On the contrary when TIBC is between 42 and 63 mumol/l serum ferritin can allow an estimation of tissue iron storage particularly in absolute iron deficiencies.