title: Plasma total antioxidant capacity in an adult Hong Kong Chinese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) in a Chinese population with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease compared with Caucasian populations, in relation to dietary intake, age, sex, and the presence of cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a randomized territory-wide survey stratified by sex and 10-year age groups; 728 subjects (367 men, 361 women) were recruited. Dietary intake assessment was by a food frequency questionnaire; plasma TAOC was estimated by the ABTS method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TAOC values were normally distributed, the mean +/- SD being 1.78 +/- 0.18 mmol/L. The mean value was higher in men compared with women, inspite of a lower dietary intake of vitamins A and C per 1000 kcal in the former. Subjects who consumed water spinach twice or more a week had higher mean levels. No difference in mean levels was observed between those with and without hypertension or cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of plasma TAOC as a risk factor in epidemiological studies of cardiovascular diseases may have limited use, since TAOC include substances associated with a protective effect as well as increased risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. jeanwoowong@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Janus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D044466:Asian People; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants