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Issue # 60.1- Antitoxidants BenefitsCan antioxidant supplements protect against genetic damage? The effects of antioxidant supplementation on chromosome damage in humans were investigated in a recent 3-month supplementation trial. A group of 28 myocardial infarction survivors and 57 controls (all males) participated in the trial, which involved daily supplementation with vitamin C (100mg), vitamin E (100mg), beta-carotene (6mg) and selenium (50mcg). Measurements of dietary antioxidants in plasma, total plasma antioxidant status and oxidative stress were taken. Lymphocytes were collected at the beginning and end of the supplementation period to assess chromosome damage. Supplementation with antioxidants was associated with a significant decrease in chromosome damage in the control group, with the largest effect seen among those who smoked. These results support the hypothesis that antoxidants decrease genetic damage. Mutagenesis. 2003 Jul;18(4):371-6. Benefits of multivitamin supplements? Multivitamin supplements have a reputation of being able to modify certain risk factors associated with disease. The efficacy of a multivitamin supplement was recently investigated in an open label pilot investigation. Specific endpoints including blood concentration of certain vitamins, homocysteine, lipids and indices of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation were assayed in 150 subjects, at baseline, after 12 weeks and after 24 weeks. The results showed significant increases in the blood concentrations of a range of vitamins and significant reductions in homocysteine concentration and LDL oxidation rate. It was concluded that a multivitamin formula with antioxidant properties has significant effects on homocysteine and LDL oxidation indices. Nutrition. 2002 Sep; 18(9):738-42. |