Impact of Fruit Beverage Consumption on the Antioxidant Status in Healthy Women

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 35 - 42
• Main Authors: Cilla, Antonio, De Palma, Giada, Lagarda, María J., Barberá, Reyes, Farré, Rosaura, Clemente, Gonzalo, Romero, Fernando
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2009
• Subjects: administration & dosage; Adult; antioxidant activity; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Antioxidants - metabolism; apricots; Beverages; blood; Cardiovascular diseases; chemical constituents of plants; chemistry; Cross-Over Studies; Diet; Dietary minerals; drug effects; erythrocytes; Female; food intake; free radical scavengers; free radicals; Fruit; Fruit - chemistry; fruit drinks; Fruit juices; Fruits; grape juice; Health risks; Humans; Iron; iron absorption; metabolism; milk; Nutrition research; Nutritional Status; orange juice; Original Paper; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Oxidative Stress - physiology; peroxidant effect; peroxide value; physiology; phytochemicals; Reactive Oxygen Species; Reactive Oxygen Species - blood; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; stoichiometry; superoxide dismutase; women; Womens health; Young Adult; Antioxidant status; Superoxide dismutase; Iron absorption; Fruit beverages; Milk
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697; 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000205318

Background: Epidemiologic studies suggest that antioxidant-rich foods might reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Aim: To test the health-protective potential of three fruit beverages, Fb (grape-orange-apricot), FbM (Fb with skimmed milk) and FbMFe [FbM + Fe(II)], in healthy women. Methods: The influence of fruit beverage consumption (500 ml/day) upon serum antioxidant capacity determined by ORAC and TEAC methods and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was assessed in 32 healthy female volunteers. In the intervention study, each subject received the fruit beverages during three periods (3 weeks for Fb and FbM, and 12 weeks in the case of FbMFe), with a 2-week washout period between treatments. Results: Intake of fruit beverages does not improve total antioxidant capacity. However, the induction of SOD found after fruit beverage consumption may be more effective than the effects of antioxidants present in these beverages, which can only stoichiometrically scavenge reactive species derived from oxidative stress. Conclusion: Iron added to FbM (FbMFe) showed induction of SOD activity, with no prooxidant effect, and could constitute a complementary source of iron, because the regular consumption of FbMFe may be beneficial for women of fertile age.