UNIVERSITY OF BOHOL

Maria Clara Street, Tagbilaran City Bohol-6300

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
First term 2nd Semester
A.Y 2020-2021

BSPh 207 LABORATORY:

PHARMACOGNOSY AND
PLANT CHEMISTRY

RESEARCH ARTICLE CRITIQUE

VITAMINS

STUDENT:

Resane, Ma. Jannelle

 1. Antioxidant Effect of Vitamins in Olive Oil Emulsion

SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLE KEY POINTS

Research Topic

- The research topic is about the characterize and investigate on the fortification of water-
in-extra virgin olive oil emulsion with vitamins. The antioxidant activity of the vitamins
was estimated by evaluating the oil oxidation. Different emulsifiers were tested in order
to find a suitable emulsion composition

Literature review

- Gitto and co-workers showed studies with vitamin E, vitamin C, glutathione and
desferrioxamine (desferoxamine) in rat liver homogenates highlighting the synergistic
actions of melatonin with vitamin C and vitamin. Liu and coworkers demonstrated that
the antioxidant property of a combination of lycopene, vitamin E, vitamin C and β-
carotene was substantially superior to the sum of the individual antioxidant effects

Design/Methods

- A suitable emulsion composition was selected after considering different surfactant

(mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, E471; sorbitan monooleate, Span 80;
polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, Tween 80) and water concentrations. The most
appropriate emulsion, for the high stability, resulted the one containing concentrations of
Span 80 1% w/w and water 1% w/w

Result

- The antioxidant activity generated by the co-loading of vitamin C and E was very
effective to the point that in presence of high amounts of vitamins the peroxide values did
not change in about 40 days of storage, due to the vitamin E regeneration by vitamin C.

Discussion
 - The first step of the present investigation was centered on the choice of a suitable
emulsifier and on the appropriate amount for the assembly of a suitable and stable water-
in-olive oil emulsion. The hydrophilic–lipophilic balance parameter (HLB) allows
choosing the emulsifiers according to the type of system to stabilize. As a rule, high
values of HLB correspond to emulsifiers with hydrophilic characteristics, which are
mostly used in the stabilization of oil-in-water emulsions (o/w); on the contrary,
emulsifiers with low HLB values are more suitable for stabilizing w/o emulsions

Recommendation for the future research

- allows the use of w/o emulsions as vitamin E fortified preparation

- a study on the emulsion enrichment with vitamins was proposed

Critique of the article

Research Topic

- This study talks about the characterize and investigate on the fortification of water-in-
extra virgin olive oil emulsion with vitamins or the Antioxidant Effect of Vitamins in
Olive Oil Emulsion. I think that this topic is okay. It was also related to the
pharmaceutical topic. This topic also is specific and related to the whole context of this
study. The terms and words are very familiarize to me because it tackled to our
discussion.

Literature review

- The literature review gives summary overview information of this study. The researchers
didn’t cite sources that were being published. But it has only two that they stated the past
demonstrated studies. It synthesized the information needed and provided opinions,
perceptions, and experiences in a meaningful ways of their study. The researchers stated
only a brief but further not on fully detail on any studies mentioned. It is much better if
the researchers to provide more information on these studies and must give coherence
explanation with the cited sources. They must also provide additional information about
the topic
Design/Methods

- This research design/ methods of this study is specific in which they give important
details on the materials, the preparation of water-in-oil emulsions, how the stability of the
emulsion, and the peroxides determination. The researcher gives all the materials needed
and in a proper way. In the preparation of water-in-oil emulsion are all prepared but I
think it is lack of information in terms of processing. In the stability of the emulsion
which is the researchers estimated through the turbidity spectra, they specified the
spectrophotometric measurement and the samples are being analyzed. Then, lastly, in the
peroxides determination where in the methods are only described by the regulation. It is
also lack of information needed on how they get that data but they only stated that data
are reported with the mean of three replicates.

Result

- The result of this study is explanatory. Actually, they are in the same of the discussion. In
every result the researchers every explanation. They provides on the first step of the
present of investigation, the materials they used and its application. The researchers also
provide tables in order to tabulate their results and outcomes of their methods. Every
figure they explained and analyzed which is understandable. They also provide schematic
representation to further analyze and evaluated those samples according to the official
protocol but it is hard to understand. Then lastly, this result was well organized and more
on explanatory.

Discussion

- The researchers provide the explanations of the result. Also, these observations are
consistent with the findings of they presented data. They clearly stated the determination
of the outcomes of the result. They reinforce the conclusion in order to get the relation of
the samples. Since the researchers did not mention several studies but the last cases were
considered, these results of the study were to analyzed and observed. The researchers are
enabling additional mechanism which was explained. This study also was comparison to
each sample. They mentioned the guidance and feedback that can help to alleviate the
 study. Thus, they did not give some recommendations which include the expanding of the
study.

Clinical/education implications of the findings

- The clinical/education implications of the findings were related to the topic. They aimed
to characterize and investigate on the fortification of water-in-extra virgin olive oil
emulsion with vitamins. The antioxidant activity of the vitamins was estimated by
evaluating the oil oxidation. Different emulsifiers were tested in order to find a suitable
emulsion composition. And the result was that Vitamin C and E were added separately or
together to water-in-oil emulsions and their ability to influence the oil oxidation was
evaluated. It resulted that vitamin C was able to slow down the oxidation reaction, while
vitamin E had a pro-oxidant effect due to its high concentration. When loaded together,
vitamin E and vitamin C acted synergistically thus ensuring the vitamin E regeneration,
the oxidation chain breaking and a longer emulsion shelf life.

Critique the importance/relevance

- The importance or relevance of this study is that they give only the basic relevance of
their study. But in the activity is that they he presence of both the antioxidants is not the
simple mathematical sum of their effect. In terms of determining the peroxide values
were time is not valid and it is not relevant because they only based to the regulation of
the EEC. They don’t give specific information about the three replicates. In terms of the
present investigation, they only give a study on the emulsion enrichment with vitamins
that was proposed.
- So what are the limitations of the study?

Personal reflection

- As I critique this article research, I learned that this study is okay enough with the
information. It changed my perception towards this study by having a hard time to learn
more about the vitamins with its significance in antioxidant effectiveness to the olive oil.
I learned what are their methods used in order to get the result and outcomes of this
 study. The discussion that they implies by having expanding and analyzing. With the help
of the results, methods and the discussion with the list of figures, schematic
representation and the mechanism of the equation in this study was success in conducting
from the data that collected. With the help of this study, the researchers can have the
contributed in this field of research and to the people especially to the student. As I
changed the perception towards this article, their many researches would be evaluating.
Therefore, this study can widen our knowledge and it deeper my ideas in critiquing.

PDF: https://doi.org/10.3390/colloids4020023
 2. Quantitative analysis of water-soluble vitamins by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy

Summary of the article points

Research Topic

- This topic is about the analysis of water-soluble vitamins by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. It

is also a quantitative research.

Literature review

- The vitamins are essential for health and especially for the growth of babies. So, the
industry has to control the quantity and quality of vitamins in food such as baby food.
- HPLC and microbiology are the methods traditionally employed to control the vitamin
content in food mixtures. However, considerations of cost, time of analysis per sample
and complexities involved in the technique have hampered the acceptance of those
methods for raw materials analysis.

Research methods/Design

- FTIR analysis methods are convenient, rapid, accurate, and in conjunction with
Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) technology, simplify sample handling.

Result

- The analysis of water-soluble vitamins as Bl, B2, B6 and Niacin in synthetic mixtures can
be measured by ATR-FTIR with a precision of approximately 4-8%, whereas the time
required to obtain the concentration of each component is approximately 1Omin.

Discussion

- The advantage of choosing FTIR as a quantitative technique lies in its ability to readily
carry out multicomponent analysis in association with software such as Partial Least
Squares (PLS) regression. Results presented here were obtained from water-soluble
vitamins (Bl, B2, B6 and Niacin) mixtures diluted into a glucose matrix without any
chemical extraction.
Recommendation for the future research

- The ATR-FTIR seems to be suited for fast and low-cost analysis of each polyvitamins
compounds mixture since it easily reveals when a new batch has defects in quality
without a loss of time in production.

Critique of the article

Research topic

- This topic is interesting in which the researchers has a good idea in selecting this topic.
This topic was concise, specific, and relevant. The researchers provide good information
about this topic. The research title relates to the introduction, methods, results,
discussion, and conclusion.

Literature review

- This study provides only the brief introduction and the background information of the
vitamins, FTIR, and ATR. The researchers giving the firm sense of what was done in the
study. However, they did not stating the purpose and rationale of the study. They only
selected few resources from the past studies. It illustrates how their current study that fits
into their existing of research.

Research design/method

- This study clearly state what the researcher did and how it summary done where the
reader understand how the researchers used the method. They stated well in organizing
how the data analytical method was used. But those methods are unfamiliar like they
prepared the ROCHE and DANONE. This study. Each step on the procedure was
explained by the researchers where it includes how the samples are being used and how
the variables are being controlled. They used the quantitative analysis, the spectral data
treatment which being defined by the relative standard deviation according to the
 formulas and algorithm to correlate the data. Each data was being analyzed and evaluate
by the researcher.

Results

- The results of this study were well contained about the summary of each result in the
sample preparation and how the data acquisition explained. The researchers provide
tables and infrared spectra of the collected data wherein given in order to enhance the
reader in understand of the result. Thus, it was accurate and straightforward in identifying
the presentation of the results. This presented result was relevant of this study. In terms of
the quantitative analysis of the result was that they specified the steps and they provide
that test in having the validity of the results information. Then lastly, they also stated
their observations in properly.

Discussions

- The discussion of the result was in flow logically from the data. By the discussion, it was
not mentioned any related literature review in placing the study in context. The
relationships with the findings are being explored to the researchers with the used of the
methods in the study. It also being generalize in any interpretations or inferences that was
drawn with such and consistent with results. They also predict the results and the actual
concentrations with the help of the analysis results. However, the researchers should
provide here meaningful suggestions for the future use in the area. They also not included
and provide any limitations to the study.

Clinical/education implications of the findings

- The clinical implications of the findings is that they give properly stated the analysis of
water-soluble vitamins such as B1,B2,B6, and Niacin where it measured by the ATR-
FTR with having the precision of 4-8% whereas the time that required in obtaining the
concentration of each component is result as 10 minutes interval. The research
implication of the findings is that they did not drawn any recommendations or
suggestions that was based on the results. They indicate the specific measures or the
 directions where the researchers taken. By that, the implications of this study can also
affect prospects in the research.

Critique the importance/relevance

- The relevance of this study is that they give brief and concise every information of the
context. In the relevance are did not provide mostly sources that correlates to their study.
However, it also relevance because it established a good thematic topic wherein it is not
against from the viewers because the researchers stated that correspondence was
addressed. It also organized the way they presented the importance of the answers
especially in interpreting the data. With the conclusions that only are made from the
results and discussions. The researchers was also stated the weaknesses, strengths, and
the limited of the study where being précised.
- So what are the other suggestions for this study?

Personal reflection of this study

- As I critique this article research, I learned that this study gives me adequate information
of this study. It changed my perception towards this study by having a good time in
reading this research article. I learned what are their methods used in order to get the
result and outcomes of this study. The discussion that they implies by having expanding
and analyzing. With the list of figures and tables, I can be able to interpret a little and
understand those data. I learned also what they used equation in this study in conducting
from the data that collected. With the help of this study, the researchers can have the
contributed in this field of research and to the people especially to the student. As I
changed the perception towards this article, their many researches would be evaluating.
Therefore, this study can have a big contribution to this field of research.

PDF: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(97)00138-6
 3. Supplemental Vitamins and Minerals for CVD Prevention and Treatment

Summary of the Article Key Points

Research Topic

- This topic is about the Supplemental Vitamins and Minerals for Cardiovascular Disease
Prevention and Treatment

Literature Review

- Treatment and prevention of micronutrient deficiencies with vitamins and minerals in the
last two-and-a-half centuries are among the most dramatic achievements in the history of
nutritional science. Despite high supplement use by the general public, there is no general
agreement on whether individual vitamins and minerals or their combinations should be
taken as supplements for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention or treatment.

Methods/ Design

- Identified individual randomized controlled trials from previous meta-analyses and

additional searches, and then performed meta-analyses on cardiovascular disease
outcomes and all-cause mortality

Results

- Their systematic reviews and meta-analyses showed generally moderate- or low-quality

evidence for preventive benefits (folic acid for total cardiovascular disease, folic acid and
B-vitamins for stroke), no effect (multivitamins, vitamins C, D, b-carotene, calcium, and
selenium), or increased risk (antioxidant mixtures and niacin [with a statin] for all-cause
mortality). Conclusive evidence for the benefit of any supplement across all dietary
backgrounds (including deficiency and sufficiency) was not demonstrated; therefore, any
benefits seen must be balanced against possible risk

Discussion
 - In general, the data on the popular supplements (multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium, and
vitamin C) show no consistent benefit for the prevention of CVD, MI, or stroke, nor was
there a benefit for allcause mortality to support their continued use

Recommendations for the future research

- Their 2014 recommendation statement concluded, “that the current evidence is

insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of single or paired nutrient
supplements (except for b-carotene and vitamin E) [that were recommended against] for
the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer

Critique of the article

Research topic

- This topic is a well-defined which I interested in choosing this subject or the issue. This
topic was concise, specific, and relevant. The researchers provide good information about
this topic. The research title relates to the introduction, methods, results, discussion, and
conclusion. They provides the terms in further understanding about the topic.

Literature review

- This study was good and provides the brief introduction and the background information
of the topic where the concepts included the introduction about the vitamins and
minerals. They put some abbreviations and acronyms to further understand the terms. It
demonstrates the researchers of the clinical trials that was conducted to the past studies.
This is literally appropriate depth and breadth of topic but without questions. Mostly,
they get their on the survey such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey and the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) data
where it is recent validity. They include also the historical as well as the contemporary
that was being studied in the context. The researcher also relies on their personal
 evidence or opinion that was not fondly existed in the research. It is reviewed critically,
highlighting the recommendation without being stated the limitations of the study.

Research design/method

- This study clearly state what the researcher did and how it summary done where the
reader understand how the researchers used the method by which conducting a systematic
review and meta-analysis of existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses and single
randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English from January 2012. They
provide also the identified the unique studies and excluded duplicates, studies that were
not relevant, and studies that did not provide data. Each step on the procedure was
explained by the researchers where it includes how the samples are being used and how
the variables are being controlled. They addressed under the broad of validity and
reability each methods where it has the consistently and accurately measure under the
concept of the study. Each data was being analyzed and evaluate by the researcher using
the central illustrations and figures for search summary. In terms of performed a search of
published studies in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and PubMed, and used the search
terms: dietary supplements or supplement and cardiovascular disease or myocardial
infarction or stroke or cardiovascular death or mortality or all-cause mortality or death or
cancer death or cancer mortality. Specific searches were conducted for individual
supplements of the vitamins and minerals in the USPSTF report of 2013 for CVD
outcomes and total mortality. The search was limited to meta-analyses, RCTs, and
observational studies but their data was not reported Other than that, the researchers
provides and stated the risk of bias of the study wherein used to asses eligible RCTs, then
follow the grading of evidence for the assessing the study limitations. Overall, the
researcher described the research design well, the outline was clear, the logical steps of
the data in collecting. All the steps are fully described but hard to follow.

Results

- The results of this study were well contained about the summary of each result in the
sample preparation and how the data acquisition explained. The researchers provide
tables and figures of the collected data wherein it is hard to understand or just confusing.
 The researchers were clearly identified the statistical used and undertaken on why these
results or the tabulated results were used. Thus, it was accurate and straightforward in
identifying the presentation of the results. The variables in explaining are statistically
significant where it helps to the researcher to have the validity of getting the result or
what are the results. This presented result was relevant of this study. Then lastly, they
also stated their observations in properly.

Discussions

- The discussion of the result was in flow logically from the data. By the discussion, it was
not mentioned any related literature review in placing the study in context. The
relationships with the findings are being explored to the researchers with the used of the
methods in the study. It also being generalizes in any interpretations or inferences that
were drawn with such and consistent with results. They also predict the results and the
actual concentrations with the help of the analysis results. In addition, the researcher were
able to support the relevant and suggestions in the field of research. They also provide the
strengths which is provided an update on the USPSTF assessment but focused on the
components of CVD: MI, stroke, and their associated mortalities and weaknesses in
which included our lack of consideration of data from the fixed-effects model and from
the results from cohort studies. RCTs are often of shorter duration, whereas cohorts of
longer duration might be required to fully capture chronic disease risk.

Clinical/education implications of the findings

- The clinical implications of the findings is that they give properly stated the further
studies on multivitamins, the most commonly used supplement, may still be useful,
because of the marginal benefit. The research implication of the findings is that they did
not drawn any recommendations or suggestions that was based on the results. Also, the
strengths, weaknesses of the study. They indicate the specific measures or the directions
where the researchers taken. By that, the implications of this study can also affect
prospects in the research. Also the researchers are glad to share their database with those
who request it, either for verification or for collaborative purposes.

Critique the importance/relevance

 - The relevance of this study is that they give brief and concise every information of the
context. In the relevance provide some sources that correlate to their study and they more
focus to the survey of the samples. However, it also relevance because it established a
good thematic topic wherein it is not against from the viewers because the researchers
stated that correspondence was addressed. It also organized the way they presented the
importance of the answers especially in interpreting the data. With the conclusions that
only are made from the results and discussions. The researchers was also stated the
weaknesses, strengths, and the limited of the study in a logical manner.

Personal reflection of this study

4. As I critique this article research, I learned that this study gives me in-depth information
by critically understanding all on what the researchers conducting. It changed my
perception towards this study by having a good time in reading this research article. I
learned what are their methods used in order to get the result and outcomes of this study..
having the result of this study, we can able to apply their recommendations that they
provided. The discussion that they implies by having expanding and analyzing. With the
list of figures and tables, must properly provide because it is just little confusing and
cannot able to interpret some of the data. I learned also what they used equation in this
study in conducting from the data that collected. With the help of this study, the
researchers can have the contributed in this field of research and to the people especially
to the student. This study would such a great opportunity for the treatment to the people
having the CVD and by the used of vitamins and minerals. As I changed the perception
towards this article, their many researches would be evaluating. Therefore, this study can
have a big contribution to this field of research especially to the prevention and treatment
whose Cardiovascular diseases.

PDF: https://www.jacc.org/doi/pdf/10.1016/j.jacc.2018.04.020