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Effect of vitamin C and E supplementation in modulating the peripheral nerve conduction following cold exposure in humans

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Abstract.

Exposure to an extremely cold environment without proper protection leading to hypothermia is an emergency, one of the several complications of which is impairment in nerve conduction. Our previous work in the rat model has shown the beneficial effect of vitamin C in modulating the effect of hypothermia on nerve conduction. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamins C and E, administered alone or in combination, in modulating the effect of mild hypothermia on human ulnar nerve conduction. The study was carried out on 26 volunteers divided into three groups: group I received vitamin C supplementation (2000 mg/day in a single dose and 1,000 mg/day for the next 6 days), group II received vitamins C and E in combination (1,000 mg and 800 mg respectively in a single dose and 500 mg and 400 mg respectively for the next 6 days) and group III received vitamin E (800 mg in a single dose and the same for the next 6 days). The recordings were carried out before and after single and weekly supplementation in each group. There was a fall in ulnar nerve conduction velocity with a reduction in the oral temperature of 2–2.5 °C. Vitamin C administered alone and in combination with vitamin E reduced the fall in ulnar nerve conduction velocity. Prior supplementation with vitamin C and E could help ameliorate the impairment in human ulnar nerve conduction due to hypothermia.

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Acknowledgement.

We are grateful to the Army Headquarters for providing volunteers and express our indebtedness to the army personnel who volunteered to be the subjects for this study (214 GR Army Unit). The studies would not have been possible but for the unstinted cooperation and willingness of the participants. We are grateful to Dr. S.N. Singh for guidance in the estimation of vitamin levels. Dr. S.S. Verma, Dr. Y.K. Sharma and Shikha Arora are thanked for statistical analysis. We are also grateful to Mr. Karan Pal for drawing blood samples. We thank Ms. Pooja Goswami and Uma Sanduja for assistance in typing the manuscript. The authors are also grateful to the Director DIPAS, for having shown keen interest and encouragement throughout the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi-110054, India

    Usha Panjwani, Deepak K. Yadav, Amitabh Kumar, S. B. Singh & W. Selvamurthy

  2. Scientist 'H', Outstanding Scientist, Advisor, Biomedical Sciences, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Lucknow Road, Timarpur, Delhi-110054, India

    W. Selvamurthy

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  1. Usha Panjwani
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  2. Deepak K. Yadav
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  3. Amitabh Kumar
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  4. S. B. Singh
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  5. W. Selvamurthy
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Correspondence to W. Selvamurthy.

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Panjwani, U., Yadav, D.K., Kumar, A. et al. Effect of vitamin C and E supplementation in modulating the peripheral nerve conduction following cold exposure in humans. Int J Biometeorol 48, 103–107 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-003-0183-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-003-0183-1

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