Effect of dietary ascorbic acid on the hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase system in liver of chicks treated with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide

Effects of in ovo injection of L-ascorbic acid on growth performance, carcass composition, plasma antioxidant capacity, and meat quality in broiler chickens1,2,3

The current study was designed to investigate the effects of the in ovo injection of different dosages of L-ascorbic acid (AA) on posthatch growth performance, carcass characteristics, plasma antioxidant capacity, and meat quality in broiler chickens. A total of 2,220 Ross 708 broiler hatching eggs containing live embryos at 17 D of incubation were subjected to 1 of 6 treatments (trt): non-injected control, saline-injected control, or saline containing 3, 6, 12 or 36 mg of AA. An Inovoject m semi-automatic multi-egg injector was used to inject a 100 μL volume of sterile saline (0.85%) alone or containing the different AA dosage into each egg. After hatch, 14 male hatchlings from each trt group were randomly selected and placed in each of 10 replicate floor pens for growth performance evaluation through 45 D posthatch. Chicks from the 3 and 6 mg AA trt groups had a higher average daily BW gain and a higher feed intake compared to the saline-injected control group during the grower phase. Chicks in the 12 mg AA trt group exhibited a better feed efficiency in the late finisher phase and the entire growing phase than those in the saline-injected control group. Higher thigh and leg percentages were observed in chicks from the 3 and 6 mg AA trt groups than in the non-injected control group. Compared to the non-injected or saline-injected control groups, birds in the 12 mg AA trt group were observed to have a lower plasma malondialdehyde content during the grower and finisher phases, and breast muscle tenderness was elevated in chicks from the 36 mg AA trt group. Taken together, these results suggest that the in ovo injection of AA (3 to 12 mg per egg) have lasting positive effects on the posthatch growth, leg muscle development, and systemic antioxidant capacity of broilers. Higher injected dosages of AA (36 mg per egg) may also have the potential to improve broiler meat quality.

Effect of Oral Vitamin E and C Therapy on Calcineurin Inhibitor Levels in Heart Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND

A recent prospective trial demonstrated that oral vitamins C and E retard the early progression of transplant-associated coronary arteriosclerosis; as a result, a number of centers have added these agents to their maintenance regimens. This study reviewed the impact of vitamin E and C supplementation on calcineurin inhibitor trough concentrations.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of the first 29 heart transplant patients prescribed anti-oxidant agents was performed. Twenty-two patients taking cyclosporin A (CsA) and 7 patients taking tacrolimus were prescribed vitamin C (500 mg twice a day) and vitamin E (400 IU twice a day). Serum chemistries and drug levels were measured before and after vitamin therapy was initiated.

RESULTS

The baseline CsA trough concentration (mean +/- SD) was 137 +/- 39 ng/ml and it declined to 99 +/- 54 ng/ml (p = 0.007) after anti-oxidant therapy was initiated. The average percentage decrease in the CsA trough concentration was 30%. No significant changes were seen in the patients taking tacrolimus.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that supplementation with the anti-oxidant agents vitamin C and vitamin E decreases CsA concentrations but does not appear to effect tacrolimus concentrations. Although more detailed pharmacokinetic analysis is necessary to clarify the exact mechanism of this interaction, physicians who take care of transplant recipients should be aware that more frequent CsA concentration monitoring is warranted after initiating these anti-oxidant agents.