Plasma Antioxidant Profile Research Articles

Nutraceutical Role of Honey and Garlic (Allium sativum) on Haematological and Plasma-Antioxidant Profile of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Aims: This work aimed to evaluate the nutritional benefits of honey and garlic (Allium sativum) in five different dietary inclusions on the blood and plasma-antioxidant profile of Clarias gariepinus. 
 Methodology: Five treatments; control T1 (0%), T2 (0.5% honey), T3 (1% honey), T4 (0.5% garlic), and T5 (1% honey) were designed for a 30-days study. The garlic (powder form) and honey were incorporated into the feed by firstly mixing it with water in a 2:1 ratio and sprayed over the feed (kg) and sundried before feeding it to the fish.
 Results: The results indicated a significant difference (P < .05) in the haematological profile of the T2-T5 treatment groups compared to the T1 control group, except for neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. It was noted that the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels showed a significant difference (P < .05). However, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH), showed an insignificant variation (P > .05).
 Conclusion: The results indicated that honey and garlic increased the haematological and antioxidant indices of the supplemented groups (T2-T5) compared with the control group (T1). As a result, the study suggests the use of honey and garlic in aquaculture should be adopted to boost fish well-being.

Evaluation of oxidative stress in seminal plasma of adolescents with varicocele.

SummaryVaricocele, defined by a dilation of efferent testicular veins, is the most commonly identifiable, surgically correctable lesion associated with male-factor infertility, starts at puberty and causes a progressive decline in fertility potential. The pathophysiology of infertility caused by this disease is still poorly understood, but it is suggested that the main mechanism is oxidative stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify if the varicocele is associated with changes in enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms and seminal plasma lipid peroxidation levels in adolescents. We recruited 90 adolescents that were divided into control (C; n = 27); varicocele and normal semen (VNS; n =46); varicocele and altered semen (VAS; n =17). Seminal and serum levels of lipid peroxidation were quantified by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Seminal plasma antioxidant profile was evaluated by the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The VAS group had increased lipid peroxidation levels when compared to the other groups. The levels of serum lipid peroxidation and activities of the enzymes SOD and GPx did not differ between groups. CAT was undetectable by the method used. In conclusion, in adolescents with varicocele and altered semen analysis, there is an increase in seminal lipid peroxidation levels compared to adolescents with varicocele and without seminal change and adolescents without evident varicocele. However, the observed oxidative stress is not caused by a decrease in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, which did not differ between adolescents with and without evident varicocele.Lay summaryVaricocele, defined by a dilation of efferent testicular veins, is the most commonly identifiable, surgically correctable lesion associated with male-factor infertility, starts at puberty and causes a progressive decline in fertile potential. There is still much that is not understood regarding how exactly it affects semen quality, but most studies agree that oxidative stress, which is defined as excessive amounts of free radicals in relation to antioxidant defense, is an important mechanism. In this study, we aimed to verify if the varicocele is associated with changes in antioxidant defense and semen oxidation in 90 adolescents with and without varicocele. In adolescents with varicocele and abnormal semen, there is an increase in semen oxidation compared to controls or to the group with varicocele and normal semen quality. Our results can help to understand how varicocele leads to infertility in adolescents, identifying changes in oxidative activity in semen, since the onset of varicocele and before damage to sperm production can be detected.

Antioxidant Status in Paranoid Schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s Disease

Objective. To study measures of the plasma antioxidant profile in patients with paranoid schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Materials and methods. The study included 33 patients with paranoid schizophrenia and 18 patients with AD. Groups of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia and responding positively to treatment were identified. Measures of the antioxidant profile were determined by chemiluminometry and spectrofluorimetry. Results and discussion. Systemic oxidative stress due to lack of plasma low molecular weight antioxidants was not seen in AD though “thiol” protein oxidative stress was detected, providing indirect evidence of insufficiency of the glutathione system. Systemic oxidative stress was also not typical of patients with treatment-resistant paranoid schizophrenia while “thiol” oxidative stress was marked. Patients with paranoid schizophrenia and responding to therapy showed the opposite picture – systemic oxidative stress was more intense and “thiol” oxidative stress was less so. Of the neuroleptics studied, haloperidol, zuclopenthixol, risperidone, and ziprasidone had no antioxidant properties, while pericyazine, clozapine, and especially chlorpromazine had marked antioxidant properties, though they were unlikely have effects on plasma antioxidant potential. These results led to the conclusion that the glutathione component of the antioxidant system is most impaired in treatment-resistant paranoid schizophrenia and AD, while systemic antioxidant stress is minor. Oxidative impairments were less pronounced in successfully treated paranoid schizophrenia.

INCLUSION OF DRIED AGRO-INDUSTRIAL STRAWBERRY BY- PRODUCTS IN GROWING RABBIT DIETS

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of using dried strawberry by-product (ASB) in growing rabbit diets on growth performance, nutrients digestibility coefficients, some blood parameter and relative economic efficiency. Seventy two weaned male New Zealand White rabbits at 6 weeks received diets containing 0, 25, 50 and 75% ASB as a replace of berseem hay. The growth trial lasted for 8 weeks. Results obtained could be summarized as follows: There were significant increases in body weight gain with increasing ASB levels in the diets. Whereas, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio were not significantly affected by ASB feeding. Ether extract digestibility coefficients were significantly decreased with increasing dietary level of ASB, while the digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP and CF were higher in treatments containing ASB, while the digestibility coefficients of OM, CP and CF were significantly higher in treatments containing ASB. Dressing percentages of rabbits were significantly higher with 75% ASB feeding compared with other treatments. Dietary ASB treatments had no significant effects on meat chemical analysis (moisture, DM and CP contents). But EE and ash contents were decreased with ASB feeding. Blood plasma concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL, vLDL and total lipids were significantly decreased with increasing the level of ASB in rabbit diets. Feeding ASB had a significant positive effect on blood plasma antioxidant profile. Leveling up dietary ASB inclusion rate decreased MDA level and increased the TAC capacity in an incremental manner with increasing ASB of the diet. Using ASB as a feed ingredient improved the relative economic efficiency of diets. It could be concluded that ASB can be used in the growing rabbit diets with no adverse effects on performance and health status of the rabbit. Besides, ASB could reduce the cost of the diet.

Influence of ovarian stimulation for IVF/ICSI on the antioxidant defence system and relationship to outcome

Ovarian stimulation is used with IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles to obtain multiple oocytes and improve pregnancy rates; however, it also induces perturbation in the oxidant–antioxidant balance leading to oxidation stress. The present study monitored the plasma antioxidant status in women undergoing a long agonist protocol of ovarian stimulation at three different time points: at baseline (T0), after pituitary suppression (T1) and on the day of oocyte retrieval (T2). The antioxidant composition of follicular fluid samples collected on T2 was also evaluated. Significant decreases (P<0.05) of plasma vitamin C, vitamin E and carotenoids were found between T1 and T2 but not between T0 and T1. At T2, high plasma vitamin E was associated with high numbers of total and mature oocytes retrieved per patient, which, in turn, were favourable for achieving pregnancy. Accordingly, women who became pregnant presented higher vitamin E concentrations both in plasma and FF than those who did not. In conclusion, this study confirmed the occurrence of significant modifications of the plasma antioxidant profile during ovarian stimulation with gonadotrophins; at the same time, it was found that both systemic and follicular antioxidant status may be related to IVF/ICSI outcome.

Combined effect of antioxidant supplementation and resistance training on oxidative stress markers, muscle and body composition in an elderly population.

This study was aimed to examine the effect of vitamin C/E intake alone or combined with resistance training on antioxidant/pro-oxidant status, muscle strength and body composition in an elderly population. Fifty-seven men and women with a mean age of 65.6 ± 3.8 years were recruited and randomized in a double-blind fashion into four groups: control-placebo; resistance training (RT); vitamins C/E supplementation (AS); AS+RT. Oxidative stress status and metabolic and lipid profiles were determined at baseline and after six months. Fat-free mass and fat mass measured by DXA were similar at baseline for all groups. At six month, there was a significant difference among the groups as a function of vitamin E supplementation. Moreover, although there was no effect on pro-oxidative parameters, a significant effect on body composition was noted, but no difference was noted on strength gain. The combination of RT+AS had a positive effect on the plasma antioxidant profile but not on the pro-oxidant status.

Antioxidant biomarkers and food intake in elderly women.

To investigate the relationship between antioxidant biomarkers and food intake in elderly women. Cross-sectional study. Recreation Center for the Elderly in the city of Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil. 73 elderly women with an average age of 71 years, 93% caucasian, average body weight 68.7 ± 13.1 kg and average BMI 28.5 ± 2.3 kg/m². Nutritional status was assessed based on the Body Mass Index (BMI). Data on food intake were obtained by applying the 24h diet recall method in three non-consecutive days, including Sunday. The assessment of antioxidant biomarkers was performed based on tests for total plasma thiols and phenolic compounds. The linear regression analysis was used to assess the effect of the consumption of food groups on antioxidant biomarkers. A positive association was found between thiols and intake of carotenoid-rich vegetables (p=0.03), oils, fats and oilseeds (p=0.03); a negative association was observed between total concentrations of phenolic compounds and intake of cereals (p=0.04). The intake of foods from the carotenoid-rich vegetables, oils, fats and oilseeds food groups increased the levels of plasma thiols, and the intake of foods from the group of cereals decreased the plasma concentration of phenols. Studies should be conducted to investigate the association between the intake of antioxidant-rich foods and the plasma antioxidant profile, as a way to protect against the aging process.

A study to determine plasma antioxidant concentrations in patients with Barrett’s oesophagus

Background: Dietary questionnaire studies have suggested that patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma are deficient in antioxidants. It is not known whether the same holds true for patients with the precursor lesion,...