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Research: COUDRAY and colleagues, G
Listed in Issue 27
Abstract
COUDRAY and colleagues, Groupe de Recherche et dEtude sur les Pathologies Oxydatives (GREPO), Faculte de Pharmacie, Universite J Fourier, La Tronche, France write that selenium (Se) and antioxidant vitamins may plan an important role regarding free radical-related diseases and ageing .
Background
Methodology
The authors studied, in 1389 people aged 59-71 years, plasma thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) as an indicator of free radical-induced lipid peroxidation, plasma selenium and carotenoids and red blood cell vitamin E levels and searched for an association between these parameters and cardiovascular risk factors in the early elderly.
Results
Plasma TBARS were significantly increased in elderly compared with younger adults. However levels of plasma Se and carotenoids and red blood cell vitamin E levels were not very different between the elderly compared with younger adults. Although plasma Se was not different between men and women, the other parameters were significantly higher in women compared with men. With regard to cardiovascular risk factors, plasma TBARS were highly positively correlated with total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in men and women . Plasma carotenoids were also positively correlated with plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in men and women. Plasma TBARS were also highly correlated with smoking and alcohol consumption .
Conclusion
These results show that certain cardiovascular risk factors, including smoking and cholesterol levels, are associated with high free radical-induced TBARS levels in the early ageing population.
References
Coudray C et al. Selenium and antioxidant vitamin and lipidoperoxidation levels in preaging French population. EVA Study Group. Etude de vieillissement arteriel. Biol Trace Elem Res 57(2): 183-90. May 1997.
Comment
We are constantly admonished that we can obtain all the levels of antioxidants we require from a "balanced diet". How many experts and how many studies do we require before it is realised that virtually no one eats an ideal "balanced" diet and that many of us may be at risk from frank inadequacy of essential disease-preventing nutrients.
