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ObjectiveThe objective of the present study was to determine if vitamin D intake and status are associated with pre-eclampsia in a country without a vitamin D fortification policy.DesignA case–control study of pregnancies with (case) and without (control) pre-eclampsia was conducted from January to April when UVB is minimal. Maternal and cord blood obtained at delivery were measured for plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3), 3-epimer of 25-OH-D3(3-epi-25-OH-D3) and 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (24,25-(OH)2D3) by LC–MS/MS and maternal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-(OH)2D). Differences between groups were tested with ANOVA and Bonferronipost hoctests (PSettingClinical Center of Serbia.SubjectsPregnant women with and without pre-eclampsia (n60) and their infants.ResultsExogenous vitamin D intake (0·95–16·25 µg/d (38–650 IU/d)) was not significantly different between groups. Women with pre-eclampsia delivered infants at an earlier gestational age and had significantly lower mean total plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D; case: 11·2 (sd5·1); control: 16·1 (sd5·7) ng/ml;P=0·0006), 25-OH-D3(case: 10·0 (sd4·9); control: 14·2 (sd5·8) ng/ml;P=0·002), 3-epi-25-OH-D3(case: 0·5 (sd0·2); control: 0·7 (sd0·2) ng/ml;P=0·0007) and 1,25-(OH)2D (case: 56·5 (sd26·6); control: 81·0 (sd25·7) pg/ml;P=0·018), while 24,25-(OH)2D3was not different between groups. Infants did not differ in total plasma 25-OH-D, 25-OH-D3, 3-epi-25-OH-D3and 24,25-(OH)2D3, but the mean proportion of 3-epi-25-OH-D3was higher in the infant case group (case: 7·9 (sd1·1); control: 7·0 (sd1·4) % of total 25-OH-D3;P=0·005).ConclusionsA high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, as defined by plasma 25-OH-D

BACKGROUND The beneficial effect of fruit- and vegetable-rich diets on cardiovascular health is partly attributed to the effect of their bioactive compounds on platelet function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bioactive-rich plant extracts and isolated bioactive metabolites on platelet function. Blood samples from healthy subjects (n = 4) and subjects with metabolic syndrome (n = 4) were treated with six extracts of bioactive-rich plants consumed as traditional foods in the Black Sea region, or with human metabolites of the bioactives quercetin and sulforaphane. Markers of arachidonic acid induced platelet activation and platelet–leucocyte aggregation were assessed using flow cytometry. RESULTS In subjects with metabolic syndrome, kale extract significantly inhibited agonist induced P-selectin expression (P = 0.004). Sulforaphane–cysteine–glycine, a human plasma metabolite of the related glucosinolate, glucoraphanin, significantly inhibited P-selectin and GPIIb–IIIa expression (P = 0.020 and 0.024, respectively) and platelet–neutrophil aggregation (P = 0.027). Additionally, pomegranate extract significantly inhibited GPIIb–IIIa expression (P = 0.046) in subjects with metabolic syndrome. In healthy subjects only dill extract significantly inhibited agonist induced P-selectin expression (P = 0.025). CONCLUSION These data show that bioactive-rich extracts of kale and pomegranate that are consumed as traditional plant foods of Black Sea area countries were effective in modulating platelet function. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH-D3) concentration in pregnancy increases the risk of preeclampsia (PE) based on studies from countries with vitamin D fortification policy. The objective of this stu...