Logo - Rejuvenal
Synthetic versus Natural ingredients
High dosage of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol is not useful for diminishing oxidative stress and DNA damage in healthy elderly adults.
Ann Nutr Metab. 2008;52(2):167-73. Epub 2008 Apr 29.
Retana-Ugalde R, Casanueva E, Altamirano-Lozano M, González-Torres C, Mendoza-Núñez
Unidad de Investigación en Gerontología, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
AIM: To determine the useful dosage of ascorbic acid and L-alpha-tocopherol against oxidative stress and DNA damage in the elderly.
METHODS: A double-blind controlled clinical assay carried out in a sample of 66 healthy subjects divided into three age-paired random groups with 22 subjects in each group. Group A received placebo and group B was administered 500 mg of ascorbic acid and 400 IU of L-alpha-tocopherol, whereas group C received 1,000 mg of ascorbic acid and 400 IU of alpha-tocopherol for a 6-month period. The following measurements were performed before and after the 6-month treatment period: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS); total antioxidant status (TAS); superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutation peroxidase (GPx) and DNA damage by comet assay.
RESULTS: After 6 months, group B subjects exhibited an increase in SOD and GPx enzyme levels; however, this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Likewise, TBARS and TAS concentrations remained unchanged (p > 0.05). In addition, in group C the decrease in TBARS and increase in SOD, GPx, and TAS were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Similarly, average DNA migration showed no significant differences with high-dosage ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol.
CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that administration of 1,000 mg of ascorbic acid plus 400 IU of alpha-tocopherol for 6 months is not useful for diminishing oxidative stress and DNA damage in healthy elderly adults.
2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Studies:
Studie1