Effects of multinutrient supplementation on antioxidant defense systems in healthy human beings

Oxidative damage involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetics. The antioxidant defense system plays an important role in protecting body from oxidative damage. Numerous studies have been shown that a single vitamin or mineral supplementation has the beneficial effect on the antioxidant defense system. However, the overall combined effect of multinutrient supplementation on antioxidant defense system remains to be clarified. In the present double blind, placebo-controlled study, the antioxidative defense system was measured in 34 healthy subjects before and after multinutrient supplementation. Plasma vitamin C, E and β-carotene, erythrocyte vitamin E, as well as whole blood selenium all showed increase at 5 weeks of supplementation. The activities of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), but not superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as GSH level were significantly increased at 16 weeks of supplementation. Moreover, the resistance of erythrocytes to 2,2′-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidation was elevated at 5 weeks after supplementation. These results clearly demonstrated that short-term supplementation (16 weeks) with multinutrient could markedly improve antioxidative vitamin status and enzymatic activities. These improvements also led to the reduction of RBC susceptibility to free radial peroxidation.