Changing dietary habits increases the intake of antioxidant vitamins and reduces the concentration of reactive oxygen species in blood: a pilot study

Abstract

The present study investigated whether changes in diet associated with an increased intake of micronutrients with antioxidant potential could affect reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation determined by EPR-spectroscopy. Out of initial 16 participants, 6 participants (28.3 ± 6.8 years) demonstrated a nutritional behavior below current national recommendations and were instructed to follow a mixed healthy diet for 2 weeks. ROS formation and nutrient intake were measured before and after the intervention and nutrient intake was quantified by nutritional protocols. The results indicated that ROS generation significantly decreased (p < .05). This was accompanied by a significantly increased intake of vitamin C (p < .05), vitamin E (p < .05), β-carotene (p < .01). This study showed that mixed healthy diet increased dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins and reduced ROS concentrations. The results indicated that EPR spectroscopy could be a useful tool to identify health-related effects of dietary regimens on ROS.