Dietary Modification and Moderate Antioxidant Supplementation Differentially Affect Serum Carotenoids, Antioxidant Levels and Markers of Oxidative Stress in Older Humans

Abstract

Oxidative stress is thought to be a factor in the progression of chronic diseases, and even the aging process itself. We examined the effect of two moderate vitamin, mineral and phytochemical supplements and a dietary intervention on markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status in older humans. Subjects (n = 60, 65-85 y old) were enrolled in a 5-wk, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The subjects were randomly assigned to a group with one of four interventions: antioxidant supplement capsule, antioxidant supplement tablet, high carotenoid diet or placebo. Postintervention serum levels of some of the supplemented carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol were higher in all treated groups compared with the placebo group and with preintervention levels within groups. Markers of oxidative stress or antioxidant capacity were not significantly different from preintervention levels, although the diet and supplement capsule groups had lower levels of some of those markers than the placebo group postintervention. The results suggest that both moderate antioxidant supplementation and a diet high in carotenoids elevate serum carotenoids and antioxidant levels in an older adult population, although with different specific effects.

Serum concentrations of antioxidant vitamins and carotenoids are low in individuals with a history of attempted suicide

“…Oxidative stress has been implicated in diseases ranging from cancer to cardiovascular diseases and age-related macular degeneration (Nelson et al 2003). The role of oxidative stress in neurological * Low level was defined as below the gender-specific 25% of the distribution among the weighted study population.…”

Light-dependent regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis in plants

“…Carotenoids also protect plant cells from photooxidative damage by quenching singlet oxygen produced from the chlorophyll triplet in the reaction center of photosystem II (Takano et al, 2005;Telfer, 2005). This antioxidant characteristic is a result of the conjugate bonds of the polyene chain, which permit the absorption of excess energy from other molecules (Britton, 1995;Britton et al, 1998;Nelson et al, 2003). Therefore, carotenoids provide photo-oxidative protection to cells and tissue against the harm-ful effects of singlet oxygen and lipid radicals and from the chlorophyll triplet (Stahl and Sies, 2003;Dall'Osto et al, 2006).…”

Combined effect of antioxidant supplementation and resistance training on oxidative stress markers, muscle and body composition in an elderly population

“…Elderly people are at higher risk of developing oxidative stress conditions due to lower plasma levels of antioxidants, especially vitamins C and E (12). AS has been shown to increase plasma levels of these antioxidants (15) and improve the action of antioxidant enzymes (16,17). It can also reduce atherosclerosis development by decreasing the susceptibility of lipoproteins to lipid peroxidation (18,19) and increase the beneficial effects of physical exercise by upregulating angiogenesis and nitric oxide bioavailability (20).…”