Super Antioxidant (beta-carotene(vit A) with vitamins C and E/selenium)

Multivitamins Oral Capsule

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data

Overview

Ascorbic acid is the functional and principal in vivo form of vitamin C, an essential water-soluble vitamin.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and an antioxidant.

Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that is present in foods in a variety of forms, is available for clinical use as retinol (vitamin A alcohol) or esters of retinol formed from edible fatty acids, principally acetic and palmitic acids.

Generic name: beta-carotene(vit A) with vitamins C and E/selenium
Drug class: Multivitamins
Therapeutic class: Electrolyte Balance-Nutritional Products

Reference product & biosimilars

No reference, biosimilar or interchangeable associated with this drug.

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Indications

No indications are available for this drug.

Dosing

Vitamin E activity is generally expressed in USP or International Units which are equivalent; the International Unit of vitamin E is no longer officially recognized but continues to be used in the labeling of some preparations. It should be noted that vitamin E preparations are historically and incorrectly labeled as d- or dl-alpha-tocopherol and their respective esters. Vitamin E compounds include the all racemic (all rac)-alpha-tocopherol (dl-alpha-tocopherol (RRR-, RRS-, RSR-, RSS-, SSS-, SRS-, SSR-, and SRR-) or synthetic) form and its esters and the RRR-alpha-tocopherol (d-alpha-tocopherol or natural) form and its esters, and any of these compounds may be present in fortified foods and vitamin preparations.

One unit of vitamin E equals the biologic activity of 1 mg of all rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate), 1.12 mg of all rac-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (dl-alpha-tocopheryl acid succinate), 910 mcg of all rac-alpha-tocopherol (dl-alpha-tocopherol), 735 mcg of RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate), 830 mcg of RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (d-alpha-tocopheryl acid succinate), and 670 mcg of RRR-alpha-tocopherol (d-alpha-tocopherol). However, because the USP potency unit for vitamin E was defined before studies showed a lack of human activity for the 2S-stereoisomers, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Food and Nutrition Board recommended in 2000 that the current equivalency defined in the USP standard be redefined based on the R-stereoisomeric forms of alpha-tocopherol, which are the forms that are active in humans. According to the NAS definition, each USP unit of vitamin E is equivalent to the biologic activity of 450 mcg of the synthetic all rac-alpha-forms of tocopherol and its esters or 670 mcg of the RRR-alpha-forms of tocopherol and its esters.

To avoid toxicity, dietary intake of vitamin A should be estimated and considered when determining the dosage of the vitamin. Vitamin A activity is expressed in terms of the equivalent amount of retinol (i.e., as retinol equivalents (RE) or retinol activity equivalents (RAE)) and is expressed also in USP units or International Units (IU, units). USP units and International Units are equivalent. One USP vitamin A unit is the specific biologic activity of 0.3 mcg of all-trans-retinol; one retinol equivalent (RE) is the specific biologic activity of 1 mcg of all-trans-retinol; one retinol activity equivalent (RAE) is equal to 1 mcg of all-trans-retinol, 12 mcg of all trans-beta-carotene, or 24 mcg of other provitamin A carotenoids. The use of RAE is preferred when calculating and reporting the amount of total vitamin A in mixed foods or assessing the amount of dietary and supplemental vitamin A consumed.

Drug interactions

Concurrent administration of more than 200 mg of ascorbic acid per 30 mg of elemental iron increases absorption of iron from the GI tract; however, most individuals are able to absorb orally ingested iron adequately without concurrent administration of ascorbic acid.

Increased urinary excretion of ascorbic acid and decreased excretion of aspirin occur when the drugs are administered concurrently.

Salicylates inhibit uptake of ascorbic acid by leukocytes and platelets. As a result, leukocyte and plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid are decreased to concentrations slightly higher than those associated with tissue depletion of the vitamin; however, there is no evidence to date that salicylate therapy precipitates ascorbic acid deficiency. Although concomitant administration of ascorbic acid supplements in patients receiving salicylates increases plasma ascorbic acid concentrations, leukocyte ascorbic acid concentrations are not increased and tissue stores of the vitamin may not be increased. Therefore, routine administration of ascorbic acid supplements to patients receiving salicylates is not warranted; however, patients receiving high dosages of salicylates who exhibit any signs or symptoms of ascorbic acid deficiency should be evaluated for such a deficiency.

Ascorbic acid has reportedly decreased the anticoagulant effect of warfarin; however, other investigators have failed to show this effect. Concurrent administration of ascorbic acid and fluphenazine reportedly resulted in decreased fluphenazine plasma concentration. Acidification of the urine following administration of ascorbic acid may result in altered excretion of other drugs.

Vitamin E may increase the absorption, utilization, and storage of vitamin A and may protect against hypervitaminosis A; however, these effects are controversial.

Vitamin E in dosages of greater than 10 units/kg daily may delay the response to iron therapy in children with iron-deficiency anemia, and low-birthweight infants treated with iron supplements may develop vitamin E-deficiency hemolytic anemia.

Vitamin E or one of its metabolites reportedly may have anti-vitamin K effects; patients receiving oral anticoagulants may be at risk of hemorrhage after large doses of vitamin E. In normal healthy individuals, vitamin E caused no change in blood clotting.

Excessive use of mineral oil may decrease the absorption of vitamin E.

Orlistat may result in decreased GI absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin E. At least 2 hours should elapse between (before or after) any orlistat dose and vitamin E administration; administering fat-soluble vitamins at bedtime may be a convenient time. Although the manufacturer of orlistat recommends that a vitamin supplement containing fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) be used during orlistat therapy, such vitamin concentrations in clinical studies with the drug remained within the normal range for most patients despite decreases, and vitamin supplementation was only occasionally needed.

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Adverse reactions

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Precautions

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ICD codes

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data