title: Lower Plasma Levels of Antioxidant Vitamins in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Case Control Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a coexistence of metabolic risk factors affecting the development of cardiovascular diseases. Reactive oxygen species, which are excessively produced in MS, participate in its pathogenesis. Vitamins A, C and E are an important part of the non-enzymatic antioxidative barrier in humans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to estimate plasma vitamin A, C and E levels and the intake of these vitamins from the diet in patients with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 182 patients with MS, 94 men and 88 women, aged 30-65 years (mean 57.31 ± 8.28 years). The control group was comprised of 91 subjects, 56 men and 35 women, aged 41-65 years (mean 57.75 ± 5.84 years). The MS diagnosis was based on IDF criteria. The determination of the serum level of vitamin A, C and E was performed using the spectrophotometric method. The food intake was assessed by 24-h dietary recall.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean plasma vitamin A, C and E levels were significantly lower in MS patients than in the controls (p = 0.05). No correlation was found between vitamin A, C and E intake from the diet and their plasma concentrations in MS patients. Plasma vitamin A, C and E deficiency was observed significantly more often in MS patients than in the control group (15.38% vs. 2.19%, 79.12% vs. 8.79% and 60.45% vs. 5.49%, p < 0.0001, respectively). BMI was the one factor significantly affecting the mean value of vitamin A, C and E levels in MS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MS patients demonstrated significantly lower plasma levels of vitamin A, C and E compared to the healthy subjects. Lower plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins with their high intake from the diet indicate antioxidant barrier impairment in MS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Chair of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Godala
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Nephrodiabetology, Chair of Internal Diseases and Cardiology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Materek-Kuśmierkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Nephrodiabetology, Chair of Internal Diseases and Cardiology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moczulski
authors.affiliation: Department of Military Toxicology and Radiological Protection, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rutkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion, Chair of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Franciszek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Szatko
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion, Chair of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaszyńska
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, Poland.
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tokarski
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kowalski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: antioxidant vitamins; diet; metabolic syndrome; oxidative stress