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Seasonal variations of antioxidant imbalance in Cuban healthy men

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 55, pages 29–38 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To determine the antioxidant imbalance in healthy Cuban men 2 y after the end of the epidemic neuropathy (50 862 cases from 1991 to 1993) and to evaluate its change over 1 y.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: La Lisa health centres (Havana, Cuba).

Subjects: One-hundred and ninety-nine healthy middle-aged men were selected and 106 completed the study. Subjects were studied at 3 month intervals over 1 year.

Interventions: No invervention.

Main outcome measures: An assessment of dietary intake and the determination of blood lipid peroxides (TBARS), glutathione, diglutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, vitamin E, carotenoids, copper, zinc and selenium were performed at each period.

Results: While dietary zinc, vitamins C and E, carotenoids and fat dietary intakes and blood concentrations were low for adult men compared to international reference ranges, serum TBARS concentrations were high at every period. Some significant seasonal variations were observed. The lowest carotenoids (P<0.002) and vitamin C(P=0.0001) intakes, serum β-carotene (P=0.0001) and lutein/zeaxanthin (P<0.05) concentrations, and the highest blood TBARS (P=0.0001) and diglutathione (P<0.001) concentrations were observed at the end of the rainy season (October). This period seemed to pose the greatest risk of antioxidant imbalance.

Conclusions: Cuban men still represent a vulnerable population in terms of antioxidant imbalance. A national program of vegetable growing and increase in fruit and vegetable consumption is now evaluated in Cuba.

Sponsorship: Nestec-Nestlé, Merck-Biotrol diagnostics, Trace Element Institute for Unesco, Grenoble University, INRA.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 29–38

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biochimie C, CHUG, BP 217, Grenoble, France

    J Arnaud, M-J Richard & AE Favier

  2. Centro national de Toxicologia, La Habana, Cuba

    P Fleites & R Perez-Cristia

  3. INRA, Unité d'Ecopathologie, Saint Genès Champanelle, France

    M Chassagne, J Barnouin & J-P Chacornac

  4. Instituto Finlay, La Lisa, La Habana, Cuba

    T Verdura

  5. Instituto Farmacia y Alimentos, La Coronela, La Lisa, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba

    I Garcia Garcia

Authors
  1. J Arnaud
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  2. P Fleites
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  3. M Chassagne
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  4. T Verdura
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  5. J Barnouin
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  6. M-J Richard
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  7. J-P Chacornac
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  8. I Garcia Garcia
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  9. R Perez-Cristia
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  10. AE Favier
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and the SECUBA group

Contributions

Guarantors: R Perez-Cristia, J Barnouin and J Arnaud.

Contributors: JA participated in the study design, carried out trace elements determinations, participated in the discussion of results and wrote the paper. PF participated in the study design, coordinated the study, examined the subjects, participated in the discussion of results and reviewed the paper. MC collected the data, did the statistical analysis, participated in the discussion of results and reviewed the paper. TV participated in the study design, collected the data, participated in the discussion of results and reviewed the paper. JB participated in the study design, coordinated the study, participated in the discussion of results and reviewed the paper. M-JR carried out enzyme, glutathione compound and lipoperoxide determinations and reviewed the paper. J-PC carried out liposoluble vitamin determinations. IGG coordinated dietary records and participated in the discussion of results. RP-C participated in the study design, coordinated the study and participated in the discussion of results. AEF participated in the discussion of results.

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Correspondence to J Arnaud.

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Arnaud, J., Fleites, P., Chassagne, M. et al. Seasonal variations of antioxidant imbalance in Cuban healthy men. Eur J Clin Nutr 55, 29–38 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601118

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601118

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