Dietary Supplementation with a Natural Carotenoid Mixture Decreases Oxidative Stress
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European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2003) 57, 1135–1140 & 2003 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved 0954-3007/03 $25.00 www.nature.com/ejcn ORIGINAL COMMUNICATION Dietary supplementation with a natural carotenoid mixture decreases oxidative stress S Kiokias1 and MH Gordon1* 1Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, UK Objective: To determine whether dietary supplementation with a natural carotenoid mixture counteracts the enhancement of oxidative stress induced by consumption of fish oil. Design: A randomised double-blind crossover dietary intervention. Setting: Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights PO Box 226, Reading RG6 6AP, UK. Subjects and intervention: A total of 32 free-living healthy nonsmoking volunteers were recruited by posters and e-mails in The University of Reading. One volunteer withdrew during the study. The volunteers consumed a daily supplement comprising capsules containing fish oil (4 Â 1 g) or fish oil (4 Â 1 g) containing a natural carotenoid mixture (4 Â 7.6 mg) for 3 weeks in a randomised crossover design separated by a 12 week washout phase. The carotenoid mixture provided a daily intake of b-carotene (6.0 mg), a-carotene (1.4 mg), lycopene (4.5 mg), bixin (11.7 mg), lutein (4.4 mg) and paprika carotenoids (2.2 mg). Blood and urine samples were collected on days 0 and 21 of each dietary period. Results: The carotenoid mixture reduced the fall in ex vivo oxidative stability of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) induced by the fish oil (P ¼ 0.045) and it reduced the extent of DNA damage assessed by the concentration of 8-hydroxy-20-deoxyguanosine in urine (P ¼ 0.005). There was no effect on the oxidative stability of plasma ex vivo assessed by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity test. b-Carotene, a-carotene, lycopene and lutein were increased in the plasma of subjects consuming the carotenoid mixture. Plasma triglyceride levels were reduced significantly more than the reduction for the fish oil control (P ¼ 0.035), but total cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels were not significantly changed by the consumption of the carotenoid mixture. Conclusions: Consumption of the natural carotenoid mixture lowered the increase in oxidative stress induced by the fish oil as assessed by ex vivo oxidative stability of LDL and DNA degradation product in urine. The carotenoid mixture also enhanced the plasma triglyceride-lowering effect of the fish oil. Sponsorship: The study was supported by funding from the Greek Studentship Foundation and from Unilever Bestfoods plc. Carotenoids were contributed by Overseal Foods plc. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2003) 57, 1135–1140. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601655 Keywords: carotenoids; bioavailability; antioxidant; oxidative stress Introduction in vivo (Krinsky, 2001). A body of scientific evidence links the Carotenoids scavenge free radicals and thereby act as antioxidant character of carotenoids with their subsequent antioxidants under reduced oxygen conditions in vitro and beneficial effects on chronic diseases including cardiovascu- lar and photosensitivity diseases, cataracts and age-related degeneration (Rousseau et al, 1992; Riso et al, 1999). The *Correspondence: MH Gordon, Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, evidence for the beneficial effects of lycopene in reducing School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular P.O.Box 226, Reading, RG6 6AP, UK. diseases is particularly strong (Rao & Agarwal, 2000). There is E-mail: [email protected] Guarantor: MH Gordon. also evidence that the xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin Contributors: SK performed the practical work and analysed the data may have a protective role in delaying the onset of chronic from the study, and contributed to the preparation of the manuscript. disease (Mares-Perlman et al, 2002). However, three large- MHG contributed to the experimental design, data analysis and scale clinical trials, namely the Alpha Tocopherol Beta- preparation of the manuscript. Received 12 July 2002; revised 6 September 2002; Carotene (ATBC) trial, the b-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy accepted 12 September 2002 Trial (CARET) and the Physician’s Health Study, concluded Dietary supplementation with natural carotenoid mixture S Kiokias and MH Gordon 1136 that dietary supplementation with beta-carotene did not day diet diary to give more accurate information on their reduce the risk of chronic diseases (Pryor et al, 2000). These dietary intake. One male withdrew from the study after 3 trials indicate that dietary supplementation with high levels weeks. of an individual carotenoid may lead to adverse effects in Ethical permission for the execution of this trial was given individuals subject to a high level of oxidative stress. It may by the Ethics and Research Committee of the University of be deduced that individual carotenoids may accumulate to Reading. Each individual gave their written consent. unacceptable levels in selected tissues, where they may enhance oxidative deterioration due to their high concen- tration. Dietary supplementation with individual carote- Experimental design noids may consequently provide an unacceptable risk. A The study was a randomised double-blind crossover dietary wide range of carotenoid-rich extracts are used by the food intervention of 18 weeks duration. Participants were ran- industry as colouring materials in foods, and dietary domly assigned to consume a daily supplement of 4 Â 1g supplementation with a mixture of carotenoids of varying capsules of fish oil or 4 Â 1 g capsules each containing fish oil polarity and properties is less likely to allow the develop- plus 24.6 mg tomato extract (Lyc-O-mato), 6.3 mg palm oil ment of adverse effects. carotene extract, 2.0 mg marigold extract, 3.7 mg paprika Most intervention studies investigating the effects of extract and 3.7 mg bixin for 3 weeks. The total active carotenoids on biomarkers of oxidative stress have investi- carotenoid content of the test supplement was 7.6 mg per gated the effects of individual carotenoids. Some studies capsule, and the fish oil contained 65% EPA and DHA. Lyc- have found that carotenoids increase the oxidative stability O-mato was purchased from Forum Products Ltd, Redhill, UK of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (Agarwal & Rao, 1998; and the other carotenoid-rich extracts were supplied by Dugas et al, 1999), but other studies have found no effect on Overseal Foods, Overseal, UK. The supplements were sup- this parameter (Reaven et al, 1993; Gaziano et al, 1995). Lin plied in opaque brown capsules prepared by RP Scherer, et al (1998) found an increase in the oxidative stability of Swindon, UK. After a 12-week washout period, individuals LDL following supplementation with a b-carotene-rich were crossed over to receive the opposite supplementation carotenoid mixture. Consumption of a mixture of b-carotene regimen. Fasting blood and urine samples were collected on with vitamin E and vitamin C was found to reduce base days 0 and 21 of each intervention period. damage in lymphocyte DNA (Duthie et al, 1996). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a mixture of Laboratory measurements. Analyses were performed on natural carotenoids on biomarkers of oxidative stress. three replicate samples for HPLC, ORAC, LDL lag phase, and In order to make the study more sensitive, it was plasma lipid assays, or on two replicate samples for 8- considered desirable to use subjects whose level of oxidative hydroxy-20-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) determination. All stress was towards the higher end of the normal range. Since blood samples were centrifuged at 1600 Â g for 10 min and dietary supplementation with b-carotene in smokers has the plasma stored at À801C, until required for analysis. For been shown to have adverse effects, it was not considered HDL-chol analysis, a subsample of plasma was precipitated ethical to use these subjects. Instead, the oxidative challenge with dextran sulphate and magnesium chloride in order to of the background diet was increased by including fish oil in remove apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins (McNa- the background diet of both the control and test groups. Fish mara et al, 1994), and the supernatant fraction was stored oil is rich in the polyunsaturated fatty acids eicosapentae- at À801C. noic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and several LDL-chol was determined using the Friedewald formula studies have shown that fish oil increases oxidative stress (Friedewald & Levy, 1972). Plasma samples were analysed for when assessed by the oxidative stability of LDL (Wander et al, TG, total-chol and HDL-chol using the Monarch Automatic 1996; Sorensen et al, 1998; Foulon et al, 1999; Leigh-Firbank Analyser (Instrumentation Laboratories Ltd, Warrington, et al, 2002). Ches., UK) as described by Minihane et al (2000). Platelets were extracted from the whole blood according to the method of Indu and Ghafoorunissa (1992) (300 Â g for Methods 18 min followed by 1700 Â g for 10 min), and stored at À801C Subjects for platelet phospholipid fatty acid analysis. Preparation and A total of 32 free-living healthy nonsmoking volunteers were analysis of fatty acid methyl esters was according to Leigh- recruited by posters and emails in The University of Reading. Firbank et al (2002). The platelet-poor plasma was used for The subjects comprised 17 males and 15 females aged the isolation of LDL as described by Leigh-Firbank et al 31.7711.3 y (mean7s.d.), of body mass index (BMI) (2002). Assessment of the oxidative stability of LDL ex vivo 22.473.0 kg/m2. Subjects were recruited on the basis of a was performed according to Esterbauer et al (1989). Lipid health and lifestyle questionnaire and a screening blood peroxidation in LDL (50 mg LDL protein/ml) was induced by sample. On the basis of physical examination and standard CuSO4 (0.005 mM), and the absorbance at 234 nm was haematological tests, all volunteers were considered healthy.