Cold, vitamin

The principal OTC pharmaceutical products include cold remedies, vitamins and mineral preparations, antacids, analgesics, topical antibiotics, antiftingals and antiseptics, and laxatives. Others include suntan products, ophthalmic solutions, hemorrhoidal products, sleep aids, and dermatological products for treatment of acne, dandmff, insect parasites, bums, dry skin, warts, and foot care products (11). More recent prescription-to-OTC switches have included hydrocortisone, antihistamine and decongestant products, antiftingal agents, and, as of 1995, several histamine H2-receptor antagonists. 

The solvent is then evaporated, and the unconverted sterol is recovered by precipitation from an appropriate solvent, eg, alcohol. The recovered sterol is reused in subsequent irradiations. The solvent is then evaporated to yield vitamin D resin. The resin is a pale yeUow-to-amber oil that flows freely when hot and becomes a brittie glass when cold the activity of commercial resin is 20 30 x 10 lU/g. The resin is formulated without further purification for use in animal feeds. Vitamin D can be crystallized to give the USP product from a mixture of hydrocarbon solvent and ahphatic nitrile, eg, benzene and acetonitrile, or from methyl formate (100,101). Chemical complexation has also been used for purification. 

After stirring for 2 hours at room temperature, the mass of vitamin A acid has crystallized out. It is sharply filtered off by suction and washed with a little ice-cold isopropanol. From the filtrate, a further small amount of mainly all trans vitamin A acid crystallizes out upon the addition of water. The filter cake is suspended in 600 parts of water and stirred for 4 hours at room temperature it is filtered by suction and the product washed with water. It is dried in vacuo at 40° to 50°C and 115 parts of vitamin A acid are obtained. The melting point lies between 146° and 159°C. 

In more recent times, large doses of vitamin C have been claimed to prevent the common cold, cure infertility, delay the onset of symptoms in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and inhibit the development of gastric and cervical cancers. None of these claims have been backed by medical evidence, however. In the largest study yet done of the effect of vitamin C on the common cojd, a meta-analysis of more than 100 separate trials covering 40,000 people found no difference in the incidence of colds between those who took supplemental vitamin G regularly and those who did not. When taken during a cold, however, vitamin C does appear to decrease the cold s duration by 8%. 

Vitamin C status is supposed to play a role in immune function and to influence the progression of some chronic degenerative diseases like atherosclerosis, cancer, cataracts, and osteoporosis. The role of vitamin C in immune function, especially during common cold and upper respiratory tract infection, is the subject of lively debate. The exact mechanisms of action have not yet been fully elucidated, but the results of several trials point to a reduced duration and intensity of infections in subjects consuming high amounts of vitamin C (200-1000 mg/d). However, the incidence of common cold was not influenced significantly (24). 

On the basis of available results, persons suffering from common cold might benefit from taking 1 -2 g/d of vitamin C. However, the usefulness of taking high amounts of vitamin C to prevent common cold has yet to be proven [2]. 

Elez-Martinez P and Martin-Belloso O. 2007. Effects of high intensity pulsed electric field processing conditions on vitamin C and antioxidant capacity of orange juice and gazpacho, a cold vegetable soup. Food Chem 102(l) 201-209. 

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is probably the most known vitamin in the world. Its legendary fame is based on the two events its exceptionally important role in the treatment of scurvy and Linus Pauling s proposal to use the huge doses of ascorbic acid for the prevention of common cold. The latter proposal, based obviously on the antioxidant properties of ascorbic acid, generated numerous studies and was frequently disputed, but many people (me including) successfully apply ascorbic acid for the treatment of starting stage of common cold. 

Human life, furthermore, certainly benefits from a less polluted world, and here, again, sol-gel entrapped catalysts are, literally, able to have transferred to within their large inner porosity the whole chemistry of fine chemicals production. Think for instance of an innocuous easily handled orange powder called SiliaCat TEMPO (Chapter 5) that added to a mixture of alcohols at 0 °C with a modest excess of aqueous, cold bleach rapidly converts them into all those fragrances, vitamins, hormones and drugs made of carbonyl compounds. 

Activation of 7-dehydrocholesterol by UV light in the skin produces cholecalciferoi (vitamin Dj) This step is insufficient in many people in cold, doudy dimates, and vitamin Dj... 

Codeine, dextromethorphan and pholcodine are opioid cough suppressants indicated for dry cough. Sedating antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, tend to have an antitussive action as well. Vitamin C is not used in the management of cough but may be used as a prophylaxis against colds. 

The first limited list proposals were annoimced in November 1984 and proposed that a list of 31 products was adequate to meet all clinical needs in the seven therapeutic areas of indigestion remedies, laxatives, analgesics, cold and cough remedies, vitamin preparations, tonics and benzodiazepines. In the event, when the proposals became operational in April 1985, the initial list had been expanded to 129 products, and later to 160 products. The remaining products reimbursable on the NHS could only be dispensed if prescribed by their generic as opposed to their brand names. 

Douglas RM, Hemila H, ChaUcer E, Treacy B. Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007. 

Significant medical conditions, including head trauma, metabolic disorders, and neurologic conditions, should be identified. Eating and sleeping patterns are important to identify over time to know if these relate to the present condition and to know if medications affected them. Information about potential drug sensitivities or interactions may be obtained from a medication history that includes antibiotics commonly used, cold preparations, vitamins, health supplements, and present and past psychotropic medications. It is important to find out about previous medication trials what was tried, what worked, what did not work, and why. 

At low and medium doses, it is well established that the nutritional value of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats as macronutrients are not significantly impaired by irradiation, and neither the mineral bioavailability is impacted. Like all other energy depositing process, the application of ionizing radiation treatment can reduce the levels of certain sensitive vitamins. Nutrient loss can be minimized by irradiating food in a cold or frozen state and under reduced levels of oxygen. Thiamin and ascorbic acid are the most radiation sensitive, water-soluble vitamins, whereas the most sensitive, fat-soluble vitamin is vitamin E. In chilled pork cuts at the 3 kGy maximum at 0-10°C, one may expect about 35 0% loss of thiamin in frozen, uncooked pork meat irradiated at a 7 kGy maximum at —20°C approx., 35 % loss of it can be expected [122]. 

Keijbets, M. J. H., Ebbenhorst-Seller, G. (1990). Loss of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) during long-term cold storage of Duteh table potatoes. Potato Research, 33, 125-130. 

Phyllanthus virgatus Forster Xi Ye Zhu Chi Cao (whole plant) Vitamin C, amino acids.57 Treat heptitis, cold, fever, blood vomitting, diarrhea. 

N.A. Forsythin, vitamin P.132 Antiseptic, remedy for colds, flu, sore throats, and tonsillitis. 

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