The Mollusca of the Chicago area, by Frank Collins Baker

Vitamins E plus C and interacting conutrients required for optimal health

“…The latter concurs with the weak positive association of both plasma antioxidants (r = 0.23; p = 0.055) in a previous survey in non-smokers [184] and in the already mentioned Nutritional Survey of Boston Elderly regarding different antioxidants [182]. The supplementation study in American volunteers [197] was not suited to test effects of liposoluble antioxidants on vitamin C levels since the latter approached the renal threshold of vitamin C already at baseline (in response to its prior dietary intake). It must be admitted, however, that short-term experiments with excessive doses of these dietary antioxidants are not physiological and could even create a poorly understood imbalance among antioxidants.…”

“…The short-term supplementation study in American volunteers [197] confirmed in a small number of middle-aged males (N = 13) again the ability of vitamin C to spare vitamin E: the common doubling of plasma vitamin E by substantial vitamin E supplements (of 50 to several hundred mg daily) within 2 weeks was tripled by an extra 1 g vitamin C daily. Correspondingly, when in an other study in California the molar α-tocopherol/cholesterol ratio in plasma was tripled by exclusive supplements of 1 g vitamin E per day this ratio was increased about 5-fold by the additional supplement of 2 g vitamin C daily [198].…”

“…Correspondingly, when in an other study in California the molar α-tocopherol/cholesterol ratio in plasma was tripled by exclusive supplements of 1 g vitamin E per day this ratio was increased about 5-fold by the additional supplement of 2 g vitamin C daily [198]. The supplementation study in American volunteers [197] favored also the beforementioned possibility of synergistic interactions between vitamin E and β-carotene (30 mg daily) as well as between vitamin C and β-carotene: when exclusive supplementation of β-carotene increased plasma β-carotene significantly by 74%, the combination of β-carotene with vitamin E (800 mg daily) yielded a 108% rise of plasma β-carotene, and the combination of β-carotene + vitamin C elevated plasma β-carotene by 138%, i.e., apparently more than β-carotene alone. The latter concurs with the weak positive association of both plasma antioxidants (r = 0.23; p = 0.055) in a previous survey in non-smokers [184] and in the already mentioned Nutritional Survey of Boston Elderly regarding different antioxidants [182].…”

“…It must be admitted, however, that short-term experiments with excessive doses of these dietary antioxidants are not physiological and could even create a poorly understood imbalance among antioxidants. This is suggested by the observation that the combination of vitamins C+E + β-carotene in a ratio of 3.1 : 1 : 0.03 µmol per day yielded lower plasma levels than any combinations of two antioxidants only [197] whereas in regular life for primary prevention an intake ratio of approximately 8-13 : 1 : 0.1-0.2 µmol per day (120-200 mg vitamin C : 25-67 mg vitamin E : 2.5-4 mg β-carotene) may be desirable for 95% of non-smoking healthy males [14].…”

Snail and Clam Infestations of Drinking‐Water Supplies

“…Baker (1) first reported the faucet snail from observations he made in 1898 on a water supply taken from Lake Michigan through an intake known as the Lake View crib. This supply is now incorporated into the Chicago system.…”