%0 Journal Article
%T Antioxidants Supplementation in Elderly Cardiovascular Patients
%A Matilde Otero-Losada
%A Susana Vila
%A F. Azzato
%A Jos¨¦ Milei
%J Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/408260
%X Supplementation with antioxidants and its benefit-risk relationship have been largely discussed in the elderly population. We evaluated whether antioxidants supplementation improved the biochemical profile associated with oxidative metabolism in elderly cardiovascular patients. Patients ( ) received daily supplementation with ¦Á-TP 400£¿mg, beta-carotene 40£¿mg, and vitamin C 1000£¿mg for 2 months (treatment). Plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol (¦Á-TP), ¦Â-carotene (¦ÂC), ubiquinol-10 (QH-10), glutathione, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were determined before and after treatment. Response to treatment was dependent on pretreatment ¦Á-TP and ¦ÂC levels. Increase in ¦Á-TP and ¦ÂC levels was observed only in patients with basal levels <18£¿¦ÌM for ¦Á-TP ( ) and <0.30£¿¦ÌM for ¦ÂC ( ). Ubiquinol-10, glutathione, and TBARS were unaffected by treatment: QH-10 (+57%, , , and N.S.), glutathione (+21%, , , and N.S.), and TBARS (£¿29%, , , and N.S.). Treatment reduced oxidative metabolism: 5.3% versus 14.6% basal value ( , ). Basal TBARS/¦Á-TP ratio was higher in smokers compared to nonsmokers: 0.11 ¡À 0.02 versus 0.06 ¡À 0.01 ( , ). Response to antioxidant supplementation was dependent on basal plasma levels of ¦Á-TP and ¦ÂC. Smoking status was strongly associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and high TBARS/¦Á-TP ratio (lipid peroxidation). 1. Introduction Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the general population [1]. Numerous studies have focused on the utility of antioxidant supplementation in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases [2]. Yet, whether antioxidant supplementation has any preventive and/or therapeutic value in cardiovascular pathology is still a matter of debate for evidence is inconclusive [3¨C9]. Observational studies of vitamins C and E, the most prevalent natural antioxidant vitamins, suggest that supplemental use of these vitamins may lower the risk for coronary events [10]. High doses of antioxidants may pose risk due to adverse effects [11]. Advertising and marketing encourage consumption of vitamins supplements regardless of proper indication and supplements are ready available on-the-counter for self-medication. The estimated prevalence of dietary-supplement use among US adults was reported to be 73% not long ago [9]. In some populations, supplements are consumed to enhance general wellbeing following the advice of friends and magazines [12]. Oxidative stress results from the imbalance between oxidative metabolism and antioxidant activity and is involved in the
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/omcl/2013/408260/