Effects of 6-month multivitamin supplementation on serum concentrations of alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and vitamin C in healthy elderly women.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with nutritional doses of antioxidant nutrients on the serum concentrations of ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene in healthy elderly women.


METHODS
The study was performed as a randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. Two hundred forty-one free-living, healthy women aged 60 years and older were recruited by newspaper advertisement in Hanover, Germany and its environs. As 21 women dropped out, data of 220 women (aged 60-91 years median 63 years) were included in this evaluation. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either a multivitamin/mineral or placebo capsule with identical appearance for six months containing 36 mg 36mg vitamin E, 150 mg vitamin C, and 9 mg beta-carotene. Serum concentrations of vitamin C, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene were measured initially and after six months of supplementation. Data were analyzed with the SPSS 10.0 program.


RESULTS
Median serum concentrations of alpha-carotene and vitamin E increased significantly in the supplemented group (p=0.000), whereas no significant modifications were observed in the placebo group. Median vitamin C concentration of the supplemented group did not differ from baseline after intervention, but that of the placebo group was significantly decreased after six months (p=0.000). In comparison to estimated desirable serum concentrations of > 30 micromol/L vitamin E, 50 micromol/L vitamin C, and > 0.4 micromol/l beta-carotene at baseline, lower concentrations were found in 21.1%, 6.9%, and 1.0% of all subjects, respectively. After supplementation none of the members of the supplemented group had tocopherol concentrations below 30 micromol/L and only one woman of the supplemented group had a serum beta-carotene concentration below 0.4 micromol/L. The change in serum concentrations of vitamin C and E in the supplemented group depended on the status at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
A six-month supplementation with physiological doses of antioxidant vitamins improves the blood concentration of these nutrients even in relatively well-nourished elderly women or, as seen for vitamin C, prevents reduction of serum concentrations. Prevalence of suboptimal serum concentrations can be reduced.
Wolters
Maike
M
Institute of Food Science, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Hanover. maike.wolters@lw.uni-hannover.de
Hermann
Silke
S
Hahn
Andreas
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
D000975:Antioxidants; D010919:Placebos; D014815:Vitamins; D019207:beta Carotene; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid