Serum vitamin C concentration is influenced by haptoglobin polymorphism and iron status in Chinese

BACKGROUND

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant (free radical scavenger). Apart from the diet, other factors regulating its catabolism may affect its serum concentration. Haptoglobin (Hp) is a plasma protein participating in iron metabolism. It shows a genetic polymorphism which shows marked geographical differences. We investigated the relationship between vitamin C, iron status and haptoglobin polymorphism in Chinese men and women.

METHODS

Iron status markers were compared according to Hp phenotypes determined by chemiluminescence detection in 110 healthy Chinese subjects. The concentration of haptoglobin was determined using an immunoturbidimetric method. Serum vitamin C was tested by a 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine based method.

RESULTS

In Chinese, the haptoglobin phenotype distribution was 10.0% Hp 1-1, 33.6% Hp 2-1, and 56.4% Hp 2-2. In the study group, serum vitamin C concentration was associated with haptoglobin type, showing lowest values in serum from Hp 2-2 subjects in males (p=0.028, ANOVA). In contrast to Hp phenotype, Hp concentration did not affect vitamin C concentration. Hp 2-2 shows higher haptoglobin (p=0.002 (ANOVA)) than individuals with the other types. Furthermore, vitamin C was influenced by (log)ferritin levels. In Chinese, vitamin C is influenced by haptoglobin polymorphism and iron status.

CONCLUSION

The present findings support the role of non-nutritional factors in vitamin C status.

[Rapid and non-destructive identification of calligraphies by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy]

A rapid and non-destructive method was used to discriminate between calligraphies by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and FT-Raman spectroscopy in this paper. In order to discriminate two real calligraphies of Ouyang Zhong-shi from two counterfeit ones, the authors investigated the inkpad and the rice paper of the calligraphies by means of FT-Raman spectroscopy and tested the inkpad and the ink mark of the calligraphies by means of FTIR spectroscopy. It could be seen that the tiny, delicated varied chemical components of the real and the counterfeit calligraphies lead to different characters in vibration frequencies of IR and Raman functional groups and also the real calligraphies have the perfect reiteration. So the authors can discriminate between the real and the counterfeit calligraphies. It is proved that FTIR and FT-Raman are useful in the non-destructive identification of calligraphies and more precise and quicker than traditional approaches.