[Serum levels of vitamins A, C and E in the population of Slovakia].
BACKGROUND
Significant forms of vitamin deficiencies are rare in Slovak Republic, however mild hypovitaminoses are still relatively frequent and they have negative consequences on the functional status. Vitamins A, C and E represent an important part of the antioxidant defense system acting against free-radical damage. Imbalance between oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity which leads to free radical damage is considered to be an aetiological factor of ischaemic heart disease and cancer.


OBJECTIVE
The study was focused on assessment of serum levels of vitamins A, C and E in the Slovak population older than 35 y and frequency of decreased levels. Relationship between high prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases and high frequency of suboptimal levels of antioxidant vitamins is discussed.


METHODS
Serum levels of vitamin A and E were assessed by the HPLC method, the levels of vitamin C by the colorimetric method.


RESULTS
Mean levels of vitamin A were 1.85 mumol/l in both sexes (95% c.i. 1.75-1.89 in males, 1.77-1.92 in females). Mean level of vitamin C was 31.36 mumol/l in males (95% c.i. 30.06-32.72), the value observed in females was significantly higher (43.05 mumol/l, 95% c.i. 41.75-44.40). Mean level of vitamin E observed in males (29.2 mumol/l, 95% c.i. 27.62-30.87) was only slightly, not significantly higher than in females (28.11 mumol/l, 95% c.i. 26.45-29.87). Decreased levels of vitamin E were observed only in a small proportion of the sample, however almost one third of males had decreased level of vitamin C and more than 20% had low level of vitamin A. We observed high prevalence of serum levels of vitamins A, C and E suboptimal from the aspect of risk of coronary heart disease and cancer (vitamin A: males 78%, females 75.5%, vitamin E: 41.9 and 49.6%, respectively, vitamin C: 61.8% and 41.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that sizeable proportion of population has decreased serum levels of vitamins, males especially of vitamin C and females of vitamin A. According to serum levels of vitamin A, C and E high percentage of population can be ranked into the group with increased risk of CHD and cancer. (Tab. 6, Ref. 29.)
Babinská
K
K
Výskumný ústav výzivy v Bratislave, Slovakia.
Béderová
A
A
Grancicová
E
E
Magálová
T
T
Brtková
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D001361:Avitaminosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
Sérové hladiny vitamínov A, C a E u obyvatel'ov Slovenska.