Abstract
An “anti-oxidant cocktail” consisting of betacarotene, vitamins B6, C, E, zinc, and selenium or corresponding placebos were given for one y as daily dietary supplements to 45 elderly residents of a nursing home. Initially, the serum TBA reactant levels were higher (2.7±0.7 μmol/L) than those of an ad hoc control group of healthy younger adults (2.3±0.6 μmol/L),p<0.01. After three mo supplementation, the levels among the verum elderly had decreased to 2.2±0.6 μmol/L, and they remained at this lower level until the end of the study period, whereas the placebo group showed no change.
A significant inverse correlation (r=−0.428,p<0.01) existed between the concentrations of serum TBA reactants and whole blood selenium (B-Se), but only B-Se levels above 200 μg/L were associated with a decrease in serum lipid peroxides. Serum alpha-tocopherol concentration also correlated inversely with serum TBA reactants but this correlation (r=−0.273,p<0.76) was not as strong as that of B-Se.
Deficient vitamin B6 status, in biochemical terms, was observed in 25% of the elderly; a daily supplement of 2 mg B6 fully cured all cases of deficiency. The verum group improved slightly in several psychological tests, whereas subjects on placebo remained unchanged or deteriorated during the follow-up period. Clinical amelioration among the verum subjects was reported by the nurses; no toxic side effects were reported. In conclusion, the elderly benefited biochemically and clinically of dietary antioxidant supplements.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
M. Tolonen, M. Halme, S. Sarna,Biol. Tr. Elem. Res. 7, 161–168 (1985).
E. Beutler, K. D. Blume, J. C. Kaplan, G. W. Löhr, B. Ramot, and W. N. Valentine,Br. J. Haematol. 35, 331–340 (1977).
K. Yagi,Lipid Peroxides in Biology and Medicine, Academic Press, New York, 1982, pp. 223–242.
J. Schrijver, B. W. C. van Veelen, W. H. P. Schreurs,Internat. J. Vit. Nutr. Res. 55, 337–349 (1985).
Working Group on Selenium. First annual report, MMM 1986: 23, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Helsinki (in Finnish), 1986.
D. Harman,J. Gerontol. 11, 298–300 (1956).
A. L. Tappel,Fed. Proc. 24, 73–78 (1965).
D. Harman,Freie Radikale. Vitamin E. Therapeutische Bedeutung. (eds. V. Böhlau, J. Reimann), Otto Hoffmanns Verlag, München 1986, pp. 19–34.
W. A. Pryor, Proceedings of the XIII International Congress of Nutrition (Hrsg. T. G. Taylor, N. K. Jenkins), J. Libbey & Company Ltd., London, 1986, pp. 585–598.
M. Uysal, H. Bulur, D. Sener,Int. J. Clin. Pharm. Theor. and Toxicol. 24, 474–476 (1986).
K. F. Gey,Bibliotheka Nutr. Dieta 37, 53–91 (1986).
M. Mezez, A. Par, P. Nemeth,Int. Clin. Phar. Res. 4, 333–338 (1986).
K. Takeda, Y. Shimada, M. Amano,Critical Care Medicine 12, 957–959 (1984).
K. F. Gey, G. B. Brubacher, H. B. Stähelin,Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 45, 1368–1377, 1987.
T. Westermarck, P. Santavouri,Med. Biol. 62, 148–151 (1984).
M. Tolonen, T. Westermarck, M. Halme,VitaMinSpur 1, 21–24 (1986).
U. Vuonnala, T. Westermarck, P. Santavuori,Biolochemistry of Vitamin B 6, T. Korpela and P. Christen (eds.), Birkhäuser, Basel, Switzerland, 1987, pp. 411–416.
Y. Yamamoto, M. H. Brodsky, J. C. Baker,Analytical Biochemistry 160, 7–13, 1987.
M. Wartanowicz, B. Panzenco-Kresowska, S. Ziemlanski, M. Kowalska, and G. Okolska,Ann. Nutr. Metab. 28, 186–191 (1984).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tolonen, M., Sarna, S., Halme, M. et al. Anti-oxidant supplementation decreases TBA reactants in serum of elderly. Biol Trace Elem Res 17, 221–228 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02795458
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02795458