title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Foods and Nutrition, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84115, USA. jnelson@usoe.k12.ut.us
authors.forename: Jerusha L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Von Tress
authors.forename: E Wayne
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Askew
mesh_terms: D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010919:Placebos; D024341:Xanthophylls; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D024504:gamma-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D065366:Cryptoxanthins; D010919:Placebos; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; D006147:Guanine; C078307:8-oxo-7,8-dihydrodeoxyguanine; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D024504:gamma-Tocopherol; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D000077276:Lycopene