title: The effect of a water-dispersible beta-carotene formulation on the prevention of age-related lymphoid neoplasms in mice.
abstract: There is currently a great interest in the efficiency of micronutrients against age-associated disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of beta-carotene on the incidence of lymphoid neoplasia, a fatal pathology associated with OFI mouse ageing. Beta-carotene, given as a water-dispersible preparation to 8-month-old mice, on a four month follow-up study, significantly reduced the incidence of neoplasm (12.5% versus 50% for controls). Evaluation of the parameters of oxidative stress showed a highly-significant reduction of the antioxidant defenses in the liver of cancer mice when compared to healthy controls (78% decrease in GSH-Px activity and 47% decrease of the ratio GSH/GSSG). Liver GSH-Px activity was 35% higher in old than in young mice, which correlated with higher (41%) plasma Se level. In conclusion beta-carotene improved the antioxidant status of the mice, causing a 4.5-fold increase in the liver GSH/GSSG ratio, an effect which was probably responsible for the lowered incidence of neoplasia observed.
authors.affiliation: Université de Grenoble, Laboratoire de Biologie du Stress Oxidant, Biochimie, Faculté de Pharmacie, La Tronche, France. Jacqueline.Riondel@ujf-grenoble.fr
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riondel
authors.forename: Heng-Kuan
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Glise
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ducros
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Favier
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene; D014867:Water; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D012643:Selenium