Aging is an independent risk factor for the development of various diseases associated, among others, with detrimental blood levels of fat- and water-soluble vitamins. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate age-related changes in blood levels of vitamin A, B12, C, D, and E. Subject serum vitamin levels were obtained from the combined National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). NHANESIII and NHANES 1999–2000, 2001–2002, 2003–2004, and 2005–2006. The raw data set was stratified into five age groups G1- G5: 20 ≤ G1 < 30, 30 ≤ G2 < 40, 40 ≤ G3 < 50, 50 ≤ G4 < 60, and 60 ≤ G5 < 70 years of age. Age stratified data was cleaned using the modified Horn algorithm. The reference range for the vitamin level of a specific age group was defined as data between the first and third quartile of the subject defined by normal blood pressure and normal bone density. Age-dependent changes in serum/plasma vitamin levels were assessed using the bootstrap technique with 10,000 repeats and Bonferroni adjustment. There was a continuous increase in vitamin A, B12, D, and E levels in the blood. However, the vitamin C concentration remained virtually constant in all age groups. There was a lack of cross-correlations between lipid and water-soluble vitamin levels and blood pressure and bone health. The following reference levels for vitamin A, B12, C, D, and E in subjects older than 20 years of age were established: vitamin A: 1.32–2.8 mmol/L, vitamin B12: 257.94–498.33 pmol/L, vitamin C: 38.18–79.2 mmol/L, vitamin D: 76.33–199.36 nmol/L and vitamin E: 3.65–41.12 μmol/L.

Fluctuations in biochemical parameters defining cardiovascular, liver and muscoskeletal health were analyzed to evaluate the health status of world class bodybuilders using performance enhancement drugs such as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) [testosterone propionate, drostanolone propionate (Masteron), trenbolone acetate (Finajet), oxandrolone (Anavar), stanozolol (Winstrol) and boldenone undecylenate], human growth hormone (HGH) and “fat-burning drugs” [triiodothyronine (t3), clenbuterol, mesterolone (Proviron), tamoxifen citrate (Nolvadex) and 2,4-Dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP)], and a 6-month preparation period. Changes in serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and bilirubin, as well as body mass (BM) and total body fat percentage (BF%), were measured as a function of the competition preparation period. The study shows a continuous increase in BM, accompanied by a decrease in BF% to the physiologically optimal level. TC levels varied significantly within the desired concentration range (TC < 5.18 mmol / L), and TG fluctuated between the ranges of concentrations borderline high (1.69 mmol / L ≤ TG < 2.26 mmol / L) and high (2.26 mmol / L ≤ TG < 5.65 mmol / L) concentration ranges. HDL-C levels remained within the low range (TG < 1.03 mmol / L), whereas LDL-C fluctuated across all physiologically important ranges, that is, near-optimal / above optimal (2.59 mmol / L ≤ LDL-C < 3.34 mmol / L), borderline high (3.35 mmol / L ≤ LDL-C < 4.11 mmol / L), and high (4.14 mmol / L ≤ LDL-C < 4.91 mmol / L). AST and ALT concentrations remained within the high-concentration region, i.e., > 0.58 mkat / L and > 0.91 mkat / L. Bilirubin concentration fluctuated within the desirable limits (3.42 mmol / L ≤ Bilirubin < 2.53 mmol / L), and urea concentration were between desirable (3.2 mmol / L ≤ Urea < 7.9 mmol / L) and high values (Urea ≥ 7.9 mmol / L). Although most of the changes are within physiologically acceptable ranges, there are evident disturbances in LDL-C and Urea levels induced by performance-enhancing drugs. To our knowledge, this study is among the few, if not the only, that discloses the physiological changes associated with doping-assisted preparations for an international bodybuilding contest.

Background. Alcohol is one of the leading causes of liver hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. Both medical conditions are defined by a combination of specific symptoms whose interaction allows for a diagnosis with reasonable precision. Aims. This study aimed to differentiate between acute alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis at the molecular level. Methods. This report analyzed changes in levels of vitamin D3, TNF-alpha, IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and adiponectin determined using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay and Luminex xMap technology. The study population consisted of 42 male patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis and 50 male patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Results. The result revealed a statistically significant difference in TNF-alpha, IL-8, and IL-12 between acute alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis. It also revealed distinct correlation patterns that differentiate acute alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis. A network of significant cross-correlations between the cytokines studied defines alcoholic cirrhosis. Conclusion. This report revealed that the studied medical conditions can be differentiated by specific levels of cytokines and by cross-correlation between cytokines.