Beta-thalassemia minor (BTM) patients usually experience fatigue, bone pain complaint, and muscle weakness. Carnitine is an essential protein for transportation of long-chain fatty acids to the matrix for beta-oxidation. BTM patients have abnormally low plasma carnitine concentrations, which results in deficient ATP production. Carnitine and folic acid together may have a role in preventing bone pain complaint and fatigue in these patients. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of carnitine and folic acid supplementation in subjects with BTM. Seventy three BTM (mean age 11.06 ± 5.46 years) and 23 healthy controls (mean age 8.48 ± 3.78 years) were enrolled in the study. Fasting blood was drawn to determine baseline free and total carnitine levels, red blood cell folate concentration, and hemoglobin level. BTM were divided into three groups and received different types of supplementation for 3 months: Group 1, 50 mg/kg/day carnitine; Group 2, 50 mg/kg/day carnitine plus 1 mg/day folic acid; and Group 3, 1 mg/day folic acid. Controls did not receive supplementation. Laboratory parameters were again evaluated after 3 months' supplementation. A detailed quality of life questionnaire was designed to investigate muscle symptoms before and after supplementation. Free and total plasma carnitine concentration and hemoglobin levels in BTM subjects increased significantly after carnitine supplementation (P < .0001). Bone pain complaint and muscle weakness decreased with carnitine. Red blood cell folate level increased after folic acid supplementation. Carnitine and folic acid supplementation resulted in a decrease in bone pain complaint and muscle weakness in cases with β-thalassemia minor.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/08880018.2013.771388 | DOI Listing |
Food Sci Nutr
January 2025
Department of Nutrition and Institute for Global Nutrition University of California, Davis Davis California USA.
Recognizing the broader accessibility of iodized salt compared to wheat flour, the Ethiopian government is considering fortification of iodized salt with folic acid, and possibly vitamin B, to address the high incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in Ethiopia. To prepare for this program, we assessed practices related to edible salt procurement and consumption, and the acceptability of novel salts fortified with iodine and folic acid (double-fortified salt, DFS) or iodine, folic acid, and vitamin B (triple-fortified salt, TFS) compared to iodized salt (IS). We surveyed 840 women of reproductive age in urban (Addis Ababa) and rural (Gimbichu Woreda) areas to describe their salt preferences and practices and used a three-point hedonic scale to evaluate the sensory acceptability of fine and coarse forms of DFS, TFS, and IS for color, taste, aroma, texture and overall acceptability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRSC Adv
January 2025
State Key Laboratory for New Textile Materials & Advanced Processing Technology, Wuhan Textile University Wuhan 430200 P. R. China
Thermodynamic therapy (TDT) is a promising alternative to photodynamic therapy (PDT) by absorbing heat through thermosensitive agents (TSAs) to generate oxygen-irrelevant highly toxic free radicals. Therefore, TDT can be a perfect partner for photothermal therapy (PTT) to achieve efficient synergistic treatment of anoxic tumors using a single laser, greatly simplifying the treatment process and overcoming hypoxia limitations. However, the issues of how to improve the stability and delivery efficiency of TSAs still need to be addressed urgently.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochem Biophys Res Commun
January 2025
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Yonsei University MIRAE Campus, Wonju, 26493, South Korea. Electronic address:
Renal fibrosis is a common pathological feature of chronic kidney diseases (CKDs), driven by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. Despite its prevalence, therapeutic candidates specifically targeting fibrosis are limited, and the role of renal tubular epithelial cells in fibrosis pathogenesis remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the anti-fibrotic effects of Plumbagin, a plant-derived natural compound, using a folic acid-induced renal fibrosis model that simulates proximal tubular injury-driven fibrosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJCO Glob Oncol
January 2025
Adults Solid Tumors Chemotherapy Department, Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center, Yerevan, Armenia.
Purpose: Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the world. In Armenia, it is 12th by incidence. The aim of this study is to evaluate treatment and outcomes of pancreatic cancer in Armenia during the past 12 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Appl Mater Interfaces
January 2025
Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are known to be good MRI contrasts, but they have a high tendency to aggregate and their biocompatibility is limited. Hyaluronic acid is highly biocompatible, can provide SPION with colloidal stability, and interacts specifically with tumor cells through the CD44 receptor; therefore, it was used as a stabilizing layer. We successfully obtained SPION coated with hyaluronic acid and further functionalized it with folic acid to construct a dual-targeted system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!