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Four week supplementation with mixed fruit and vegetable concentrates elevated protective serum antioxidants and folate and decreased plasma homocysteine
Author(s) -
Wise John A.,
Kawashima Akira,
Komatsu Yasuhiro
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a550
Subject(s) - oxidative stress , homocysteine , placebo , lycopene , medicine , vitamin c , urine , food science , endocrinology , chemistry , carotenoid , alternative medicine , pathology
The consumption of fruits and vegetables has been shown to be inversely correlated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. We investigated the effect of supplementation with dehydrated juice concentrates from mixed fruits and vegetables (JuicePlus+®) on selected serum antioxidants, folate, homocysteine and oxidative stress measures. Japanese subjects (m=39; f=21; mean age = 27.8 yrs.) including 35 smokers, participated in a randomized double‐blind placebo controlled 28 day study. Subjects took either capsules containing juice powders (3g daily) or matching placebo capsules. Blood samples were taken at baseline, 2 and 4 weeks. Compared with the placebo, 4 week supplementation increased the concentration of serum beta‐carotene 528% (p<0.0001), lycopene 80.2% (p<0.0005), alpha tocopherol 39.5% (p<0.0001). Serum folate increased 174.3% (p<0.0001) and correlated with a decrease in plasma homocysteine of −19.9% (p<0.03). Compared with baseline, measures of oxidative stress decreased; serum lipid peroxides −10.5% (p<0.02) and urine 8OHdG −21.1% (p<0.02). Supplementation with fruit and vegetable concentrates proved to be a highly bioavailable source of phytonutrients, which elevated important antioxidants to levels associated with decreased risk of CVD and cancer while reducing markers of oxidative stress, and improved folate status with concomitant decrease in homocysteine – a risk factor for CVD. (Support provided by NSA Inc., Memphis, TN.)