Modulation of apoptosis and improved redox metabolism with the use of a new antioxidant formula

Abstract

Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of a wide spectrum of diseases, implicating that strategies directed at counterbalancing oxidative processes could have a role in clinical medicine. There is also an evidence that oxidative stress acts as a major determinant of apoptotic cell death. Many studies have reported favourable effects of antioxidant formulas on several parameters of the oxidant–antioxidant balance, but none of them has focused whether antioxidant formulas could modulate apoptosis. We investigated in 20 healthy individuals the effect of supplementation with a formula containing α-tocopherol, α-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q 10, carnitines, and selenomethionine, on plasma oxidant status and peroxide levels, erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes, lymphocyte apoptosis, and generation of ROS at the mitochondrial level. Control subjects received only carnitines or an incomplete formula with α-tocopherol, α-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q 10, and selenomethionine. Supplementation with the complete formula resulted in a significant increase in the plasma antioxidant status that was mirrored by a decrease in blood peroxide levels and a reduced generation of ROS at the mitochondrial level. This was associated with a significant decrease in the frequency of peripheral blood lymphocytes, with either CD4 or CD8 phenotype, undergoing apoptosis. Less consistent results were found when either incomplete formula was used. Our study suggests that supplementation with antioxidant formulas can modulate the process of apoptosis under in vivo conditions. The clinical potential of this strategy in the treatment of diseases with an elevated commitment to apoptosis should be explored.