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Dietary antioxidant capacity and concentration of adiponectin in apparently healthy adults: the ATTICA study

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

This study aimed at evaluating the relationship of adiponectin concentration with total dietary antioxidant capacity in free-living, apparently healthy adults from the ATTICA study.

Subjects/Methods:

A random subsample from the ATTICA study, consisting of 310 men (40±11 years) and 222 women (38±12 years), was selected. Adiponectin, along with other inflammatory markers, was measured in fasting participants. Dietary habits were evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire and the dietary antioxidant capacity was based on published values of Italian foods measured by three different assays: ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total radical-trapping antioxidant parameters (TRAP) and trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC).

Results:

Positive associations were observed between dietary antioxidant capacity and adiponectin concentration, as assessed with FRAP (b±s.e.=0.012±0.005, P=0.018 per 1 mmol Fe (II)/day), TRAP (b±s.e.=0.030±0.013, P=0.017 per 1 mmol trolox equivalent/day) and TEAC (b±s.e.=0.025±0.012, P=0.042, per 1 mmol trolox equivalent/day) in multiadjusted analysis. Moreover, a negative relation of dietary antioxidant indices with inflammatory markers was revealed.

Conclusions:

Diets with high antioxidant capacity are related to increased adiponectin levels. An adiponectin-mediated route through which antioxidant-rich foods exert beneficial effects against inflammation and cardiovascular diseases can be thus hypothesized.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the field investigators of the ‘ATTICA’ study: Dr John Skoumas (principal field investigator), Dr Natasa Katinioti (physical examination), Dr Spiros Vellas (physical examination), Dr Efi Tsetsekou (physical/psychological evaluation), Dr Dina Massoura (physical examination), Dr Lambros Papadimitriou (physical examination), as well as the technical team: Dr Marina Toutouza (principal investigator in biochemical analysis), Ms Carmen Vasiliadou (genetic analysis), Mr Manolis Kambaxis (nutritional evaluation), Ms Konstadina Paliou (nutritional evaluation), Dr Manolis Economou (biochemical evaluation), Ms Konstadina Tselika (biochemical evaluation), Ms Sia Poulopoulou (biochemical evaluation) and Ms Maria Toutouza (database management). This work was supported by the Hellenic Cardiological Society and the Hellenic Atherosclerosis Society.

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Correspondence to D B Panagiotakos.

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Detopoulou, P., Panagiotakos, D., Chrysohoou, C. et al. Dietary antioxidant capacity and concentration of adiponectin in apparently healthy adults: the ATTICA study. Eur J Clin Nutr 64, 161–168 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2009.130

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