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Intake of Antioxidants and Subsequent Decline in Physical Function
Author(s) -
Bartali Benedetta,
Curto Teresa,
Maserejian Nancy,
Araujo Andre
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.233.1
Subject(s) - quartile , medicine , vitamin d and neurology , population , demography , vitamin d deficiency , gerontology , environmental health , confidence interval , sociology
Background/Objectives Oxidative stress is considered a risk factor for physical function (PF) decline with aging. The objective of this study was to examine the relation of antioxidant intake to change in self‐reported PF over a 5‐year period. Methods The Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey is a population‐based longitudinal study of a racially/ethnically diverse population. Change in PF from baseline (2002–2005) to follow‐up (2006–2010) was assessed using the SF‐12 questionnaire. Intake of antioxidants (combining dietary and supplemental) was estimated at baseline using the validated Block FFQ. In total, 2827 persons aged 29–80 years had complete assessments at both baseline and follow‐up. General linear models were used to examine the association between energy‐adjusted quartiles of vitamins A, C, E and change in PF, after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, SES, smoking, BMI, physical activity, depression and chronic conditions. Results A low intake (first quartile) of vitamins C and E was associated with a greater decline in PF compared with the highest quartile, with an adjusted mean difference in change in PF of −1.29 (95%CI:−2.34,−0.25) for vitamin C and of −1.21 (95%CI:−2.24, − 0.18) for vitamin E. PF decline was not significantly different in the lowest compared with the highest quartile of vitamin A (mean difference=−0.30,95%CI:−1.36,0.76). Conclusions A low intake of vitamins E and C plays a role in PF decline with aging. These results support the idea that oxidative stress contributes to PF decline and may help inform the development of intervention strategies aimed at reducing this important clinical and public health problem.