title: Antioxidant effect of zinc supplementation on both plasma and cellular red-ox status markers in a group of elderly Italian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of long term supplementation with two moderate dose of Zn on plasma and cellular red-ox status markers in elderly volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double blind study 108 healthy volunteers, aged 70-85 years, were enrolled. They were randomly divided in 3 groups of treatment, receiving placebo, 15 mg/day and 30 mg/day of Zn for 6 months. Red-ox status markers were assessed at baseline and after 6 months evaluating carotenoids, vitamin A and E in plasma; glutathione (GSH), thiol groups (RSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), percentage of haemolysis and methemoglobin in erythrocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Zn supplementation had no significant effects on red-ox status markers except for vitamin A levels (from 1.94±0.44 to 2.18±0.48 μM in volunteers receiving 15 mg of Zn and from 1.95±0.46 to 2.26±0.56 μM in volunteers receiving 30 mg of Zn), which increased proportionally to zinc dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that, differently from unhealthy populations, long-term supplementation with two moderate doses of Zn in a healthy elderly population, with an adequate Zn nutritive status and macro and micronutrients intakes in the range of normality, is an inefficient way to increase antioxidant defences.
authors.affiliation: E. Venneria, Agricultural Research Council - Research Centre on Food and Nutrition (CRA-NUT), Rome, Italy. Via Ardeatina 546, 00178 Rome, Italy, phone number: 0039 06 51494553, eugenia.venneria@entecra.it.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Venneria
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Intorre
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Foddai
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azzini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palomba
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raguzzini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polito
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ciarapica
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaccaria
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Catasta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maiani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D004034:Diet Surveys; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008706:Methemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D008706:Methemoglobin; D005978:Glutathione; D015032:Zinc