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Effects of enhanced consumption of fruit and vegetables on plasma antioxidant status and oxidative resistance of LDL in smokers supplemented with fish oil

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 1303–1310 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether consumption of five portions of fruit and vegetables per day reduces the enhancement of oxidative stress induced by consumption of fish oil.

Subjects: A total of 18 free-living healthy smoking volunteers, aged 18–63 y, were recruited by posters and e-mail in The University of Reading, and by leaflets in local shops.

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights PO Box 226, Reading RG6 6AP, UK.

Interventions: All subjects consumed a daily supplement of 4 × 1 g fish oil capsules for 9 weeks. After 3 weeks, they consumed an additional five portions of fruits and vegetables per day, and then they returned to their normal diet for the last 3 weeks of the study. Fasting blood samples were taken at the ends of weeks 0, 3, 6 and 9.

Results: The plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid, lutein, β-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene and β-carotene all significantly increased when fruit and vegetable intake was enhanced (P<0.05). Plasma concentrations of α-tocopherol, retinol and uric acid did not change significantly during the period of increased fruit and vegetable consumption. Plasma oxidative stability, assessed by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, also increased from weeks 3–6 (P<0.001) but not in association with increases in measured antioxidants. Lag phase before oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) significantly decreased in the first 3 weeks of the study, reflecting the incorporation of EPA and DHA into LDL (P<0.0001). Subsequent enhanced fruit and vegetable consumption significantly reduced the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation (P<0.005).

Conclusion: Fish oil reduced the oxidative stability of plasma and LDL, but the effects were partially offset by the increased consumption of fruit and vegetables.

Sponsorship: This study was supported by funding from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and from Boots plc.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the volunteers for their time and patience, and to Julie Lovegrove, Anne-Marie Minihane and Kim Jackson for phlebotomy, and to Jan Luff for help on clinic days.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, UK

    W G Roberts, M H Gordon & A F Walker

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  1. W G Roberts
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  2. M H Gordon
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  3. A F Walker
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Contributions

Guarantor: MH Gordon.

Contributors: WG Roberts performed the practical work and analysed the data from the study. AF Walker designed the nutrition trial. MH Gordon contributed to the design of the analytical procedures and data analysis. All contributors contributed to the preparation of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to M H Gordon.

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Roberts, W., Gordon, M. & Walker, A. Effects of enhanced consumption of fruit and vegetables on plasma antioxidant status and oxidative resistance of LDL in smokers supplemented with fish oil. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 1303–1310 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601692

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