International 
Working Women are Prone to Oxidative Stress
Bogor, 27 June 2010 - Today, Consumer Care Division of PT Bayer Indonesia and Bogor Agricultural University - the Faculty of Human Ecology announced the result of a research titled 'The Effect of Multivitamin-Mineral Supplementation on Antioxidant Status'. It was stated that Redoxon Fortimun is proven to increase 47% of SOD level that neutralize free radicals in human body. This research was also discussed in the "Allergy and Clinical Immunology Update in Daily Practice" symposium organized by the Jakarta Allergy and Clinical Immunology Network (JACIN) in Bogor on 26-27 June 2010. The study was brought up in the "Role of Vitamin in Immune System" session, divided into two parts. The first part "Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Supporting Immunity" was presented by Dr. Rimbawan and Dr. Fitrah Ernawati, MSc the second part "Vitamin Halt Atherosclerosis? Beyond Fact and Myth" by Dr. dr. Joko Maryono, SpPD, SpJP, FIHA, FASE.
Today's modern life demand people to pay more attention to their health and physical conditions. Air-conditioned and clean interior office does not mean that it is free from free radicals exposure. In addition, high stress level, air pollution from the outside and unhealthy diet and lifestyle lead to weak body immune system. Food, particularly vegetables and fruits are the main antioxidant source that stabilizes free radicals. Meanwhile, vitamin and mineral supports the work of various enzymes that also functions as antioxidant.
Based on Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization data in 1992, working women at their productive age are susceptible to insufficient level of micro-nutrition. The underlying causes are stress, either from environmental stress or job-related stress, aside from the fact that women are having regular menstruation and they tend to be on a diet. Being preoccupied at work and ignorance often cause people to pay less attention to their nutrition intake which leads to low body immune and diseases. In order to keep balance and complete nutrition intake, many women choose to take multivitamin-mineral supplementation.
On the support of the Consumer Care Division of PT Bayer Indonesia, David M. Budi, General Manager Bayer HealthCare Consumer Care PT Bayer Indonesia said, "This research is one of Bayer HealthCare Consumer Care's commitments in the effort of increasing people's health status. We believe that improving men's quality of life can be started by improving their health. Through this study, we hope people will understand the importance of the role of vitamin to the immune system."
The study enrolled 150 female subjects who were employees at a garment manufacturer in. They were selected based on the fact that female factory workers at their productive ages are susceptible to insufficient level of micro nutrition and oxidative stress exposure as they work in a cramped workplace and they also have to stand in a fixed position for a prolonged time. Oxidative stress occurs due to unbalanced oxidant and antioxidant status. The research was conducted within 70 days by dividing samples into two big groups: those who were provided with multivitamin supplementary and placebo.
This research was performed by Dr. Fitrah Ernawati MSc, a researcher from the Bogor Nutrition and Food R&D Center, Dr. Rimbawan, Dr. Hadi Riyadi MS, and Dr. I. Wayan T. Wibawan MS from the Public Nutrition Department of the Human Ecology Faculty, Bogor Agricultural University, and Prof. Muhilal PhD, a former member of the National Research Board. The result revealed that multi-vitamin supplementary intake in working women significantly increases the level of vitamin E and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) level, and raise the amount of vitamin A and C. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that could break the free radicals chain through several processes. Meanwhile, vitamin C is needed to sustain vitamin D regeneration process so it can also perform its role in the breaking of free radicals chain. Meanwhile, superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that helps fixing cells and prevents cell damage caused by superoxide: the free radicals inside human body. Vitamin E contains antioxidant that can break the chain of free radical through several processes. Vitamin C is needed to help the process of vitamin D regeneration and return its role of breaking the free radicals chain. Meanwhile, superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that performs to fix cells and reduce cell damage caused by free radical superoxide in human body.
Dr. Rimbawan, the lead researcher from IPB explains, "SOD serves as antioxidant in the body and neutralizes free radicals that causes aging skin and cell changes. Our study has proven that multivitamin mineral supplementation is able to alleviate free radicals indicated by lower percentage of sample with subnormal SOD level, compared to those who were given placebo. For that reason, micro nutrition supplementation is recommended to improve the status of antioxidant nutrition of working women who are at risk of stress oxidative exposure."
This study showed that Redoxon Fortimun which contains multivitamin mineral has proven to increase SOD level. Increased SOD level shall neutralize the free radicals in the body while high dose vitamin C is necessary to create natural antioxidant.
Meanwhile, in other symposium session that discussed about the role of vitamin in atherosclerosis, Dr. dr. Djoko Maryono, SpPD, SpJP, FIHA, FASE said,"Vitamin and mineral consist of antioxidant properties that enhance the cellular immunity system. Various clinical studies have proven that vitamin and mineral prevents atherosclerosis aggresivity and also reduced acute coronary events, restenosis in angioplasty, and stroke cases."
About Bayer HealthCare Consumer Care
The Consumer Care Division of Bayer HealthCare LLC, is headquartered in Morristown, N.J. Bayer's Consumer Care Division is among the largest marketers of over-the-counter medications and nutritional supplements in the world. Some of the most trusted and recognizable brands in the world today come from the Bayer portfolio of products. These include Bayer Aspirin®, Aleve®, Flanax®/Apronax®, Alka-Seltzer Plus®, Bactine®, Citracal®, RID®, Phillips' Milk of Magnesia, Midol, Alka-Seltzer®, Talcid®, Rennie®, Canesten®, Bepanthen®, Bepanthol®, One-A-Day® vitamins, Flintstones vitamins, Supradyn®, Redoxon®, Berocca®, Cal-D-Vita/Elevit®, Vital 50 Plus®, CardioAspirin
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Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. The company's products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time Bayer creates value through innovation, growth and high earning power. The Group is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its role as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. Economy, ecology and social responsibility are corporate policy objectives of equal rank. In fiscal 2009, Bayer employed 108,400 people and had sales of €31.2 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to €1.7 billion, R&D expenses to €2.7 billion. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.
Forward-looking statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to confirm them to future events or developments.
For further information please contact:
Eleonora Situmorang
Communication Specialist
PT Bayer Indonesia, Bayer HealthCare Consumer Care
Tel: (62 21) 570 3661, Fax: (62 21) 573 9693
E-mail: eleonoraveron.situmorang@bayerhealthcare.com
Working Women are Prone to Oxidative Stress
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