The Effect of Carrot Juice, ${\beta}$-carotene Supplementation on Plasma Antioxidant Status of Korean Smokers

당근즙 및 ${\beta}$-Carotene의 섭취가 흡연자의 혈장 항산화 영양 상태에 미치는 영향

Smoking is associated with an increased incidence of numerous cancers and other degenerative diseases. It has been suggested that high consumption of fruits and vegetables may give some protection. Especially carrot is the most important source of dietary ${\beta}$-carotene. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate whether carrot juice supplementation to smokers have different or superior effect of compared to the effect supplementing purified ${\beta}$-carotene. The study was conducted in a randomized and placebo-controlled design, after a depletion period of 14 days, 48 smokers were supplemented either carrot juice (n = 18), purified ${\beta}$-carotene (n = 16) or placebo (n = 14). Each group was supplemented for 8 weeks with approximately 20.49 mg of ${\beta}$-carotene/day and 1.2 mg of vitamin C/day, as carrot juice (300 mL/day) or purified ${\beta}$-carotene (1 capsule/day). Plasma vitamin C, vitamin E and ${\beta}$-carotene level were significantly increased after carrot juice and ${\beta}$-carotene supplementation. These results suggest that carrot juice containing ${\beta}$-carotene or ${\beta}$-carotene itself have similar antioxidative potentials by increasing the antioxidant potential in smokers. Therefore, we suggest moderate dose of vitamin supplementation (amount of two servings of vegetable intake) may help to replenish the decreased oxidative stress levels in smokers.

건강한 성인 남자 48명을 대상으로 각각 당근즙 섭취군과 ${\beta}$-carotene 섭취군, placebo 약 섭취군으로 나누어 8주동안 실시하였으며, 당근즙은 매일 300 mL을 주었고 정제된 항산화 비타민은 당근즙에 함유된 ${\beta}$-carotene과 같은 양을 주어 항산화 영양 상태에 대한 개선 효과를 비교하고자 하였다. 그 결과, 혈장 비타민 C, 비타민 E 및 ${\beta}$-carotene 함량은 당근즙 및 항산화 비타민 섭취 전보다 유의적으로 높게 나타났고, 그 증가 정도가 비슷하게 나타나 식품으로부터 항산화 영양소를 충분히 섭취하는 것이 흡연자의 산화적 손상과 관련된 질병을 예방하는 좋은 방법이 될 수 있을 것이라 사료된다.