SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN HOMOCYSTEINE AND ox‐LDL IN HEALTHY HEAVY SMOKERS AFTER NUTRACEUTICAL SUPPLEMENTATION

Abstract

Nutraceuticals may attenuate some negative effects of cigarette smoking. We evaluated effects of two different encapsulated formulas, consisting primarily of mixed juice powder concentrate (Juice Plus+®), in a randomized placebo controlled, double‐blind study on 101 heavy smokers (>20 cigarettes/d, duration ≥10y, median age 47; 41–57 y, 63 M, mean capsule compliance 85.2%). Smokers were divided into 3 groups: A‐placebo, B‐fruit/vegetable, C‐fruit/vegetable/berry. Serum and erythrocyte folate (s‐fol and ery‐fol, respectively) and total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations were measured before and after 3‐m supplementation. In 75 (46 M) compliant (>95%) subjects, lipid panel parameters (total Cholesterol, tChol; LDL‐c; oxidized‐LDL, ox‐LDL) were evaluated. Median values were compared (t‐test for paired data); data are reported as mean delta values (± standard deviation). Intervention with both nutraceutical formulations resulted in reduction in ox‐LDL and tHcy compared to placebo.Support: NSA, Collierville, TN A (placebo) B (fruit/veg) C (fruit/veg/berry) tChol (mg/dL) 9.3 (±18.4) −11.6 (±22.9)* −6.3 (±25.5)* LDL‐c (mg/dL) 16.8 (±17.6) −8.1 (±17.9)* −0.8 (±20.5)* ox‐LDL (U/L) −2.3 (±11.3) −13.8 (±12.5)* −11.2 (±12.2)* tHcy (μM) −0.14 (±1.4) −2.38 (±2.3)# −3.20 (±5.2)# s‐fol (nM) 2.8 (±5.5) 13.7 (±9.9)# 16.6 (±9)# ery‐fol (nM) 194 (±178.3) 488.2 (±349)# 646.3 (±362.1)#