Influence of habitual diet on antioxidant status: a study in a population of vegetarians and omnivores.
BACKGROUND
Antioxidant status can be used as a biomarker to assess chronic disease risk and diet can modulate antioxidant defence.


OBJECTIVE
To examine effects of vegetarian diet and variations in the habitual intakes of foods and nutrients on blood antioxidants.


METHODS
Thirty-one vegetarians (including six vegans) and 58 omnivores, non-smokers, in Northern Ireland.


METHODS
A diet history method was used to assess habitual diet. Antioxidant vitamins, carotenoids, uric acid, zinc- and ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were measured in fasting plasma and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) and level of reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in erythrocytes.


RESULTS
Vegetarians had approximately 15% higher levels of plasma carotenoids compared with omnivores, including lutein (P< or =0.05), alpha-cryptoxanthin P< or =0.05), lycopene (NS), alpha-carotene (NS) and beta-carotene (NS). The levels/activities of all other antioxidants measured were similar between vegetarians and omnivores. Total intake of fruits, vegetables and fruit juices was positively associated with plasma levels of several carotenoids and vitamin C. Intake of vegetables was positively associated with plasma lutein, alpha-cryptoxanthin, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, whereas intake of fruits was positively associated with plasma beta-cryptoxanthin. Intake of tea and wine was positively associated with FRAP value, whereas intake of herbal tea associated positively with plasma vitamin C. Intakes of meat and fish were positively associated with plasma uric acid and FRAP value.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall antioxidant status was similar between vegetarians and omnivores. Good correlations were found between intakes of carotenoids and their respective status in blood.
Haldar
S
S
Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, UK. s.haldar@ulster.ac.uk
Rowland
I R
IR
Barnett
Y A
YA
Bradbury
I
I
Robson
P J
PJ
Powell
J
J
Fletcher
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014675:Vegetables
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D002338:Carotenoids