• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.366-377
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• 2011

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is a multigene family of phase II detoxifying enzymes that metabolize a wide range of exogenous and endogenous electrophilic compounds. GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms may account for inter-individual variability in coping with oxidative stress. We investigated the relationships between the level of lymphocyte DNA and antioxidative parameters and the effect on GST genotypes. GSTM1 and GSTT1 were characterized in 301 young healthy Korean adults and compared with oxidative stress parameters such as the level of lymphocyte DNA, plasma antioxidant vitamins, and erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes in smokers and non smokers. GST genotype, degree of DNA damage in lymphocytes, erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and plasma concentrations of total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), vitamin C, ${\alpha}$- and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol, ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-carotene, and cryptoxanthin were analyzed. Lymphocyte DNA damage assessed by the comet assay was higher in smokers than that in non-smokers, but the levels of plasma vitamin C, ${\beta}$-carotene, TRAP, erythrocyte catalase, and GSH-Px were lower than those of non-smokers (p < 0.05). Lymphocyte DNA damage was higher in subjects with the GSTM1- or GSTT1-present genotype than those with the GSTM1-present or GSTT1- genotype. No difference in erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities, plasma TRAP, or vitamin levels was observed in subjects with the GSTM1 or GSTT1 genotypes, except ${\beta}$-carotene. Significant negative correlations were observed between lymphocyte DNA damage and plasma levels of TRAP and erythrocyte activities of catalase and GSH-Px after adjusting for smoking pack-years. Negative correlations were observed between plasma vitamin C and lymphocyte DNA damage only in individuals with the GSTM1-present or GSTT1- genotype. The interesting finding was the significant positive correlations between lymphocyte DNA damage and plasma levels of ${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene, and cryptoxanthin. In conclusion, the GSTM1- and GSTT1-present genotypes as well as smoking aggravated antioxidant status through lymphocyte DNA damage. This finding confirms that GST polymorphisms could be important determinants of antioxidant status in young smoking and non-smoking adults. Consequently, the protective effect of supplemental antioxidants on DNA damage in individuals carrying the GSTM1- or GSTT1-present genotypes might show significantly higher values than expected.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.527-538
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• 2002

Body antioxidant status is an important factor in the prevention of many chronic diseases caused by oxidative stress, especially in the elderly and is affected by health-related habits, such as smoking, drinking and regular physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between these health-related habits and plasma antioxidant status in the elderly. Plasma antioxidant status was examined by determining plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins (vitamin C, A, E, $\beta$ -carotene), total antioxidant status (TAS) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) . The subjects included 225 elderly persons aged over 60 yews (63 males, 162 females) living in the Ulsan area. They were interviewed to collect data on their general characteristics and health behaviors such as smoking, exercise and alcohol consumption by means of questionnaires. Their dietary intakes were obtained by means of semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) The study population was divided into two or three groups according to their smoking, drinking, and exercise status. The ratio of smoker, drinker and exerciser was 16.7%, 31.0% and 44.2% respectively. The dietary antioxidant vitamin intakes were not significantly different among groups of smoking and drinking status, but tended to be higher in non-smokers and non-drinkers than in smokers and drinkers. Plasma vitamin C and $\beta$ -carotene levels were significantly higher in non-smokers, but Plasma vitamin A and TBARS levels were significantly lower in non-smokers than in smokers. Plasma TAS was not significantly different among the smoking groups, but showed a tendency to decrease with an increase in the number of packyear. Plasma vitamin C and $\beta$ -carotene levels of the non-drinkers were higher than those of drinkers and past-drinkers, but plasma vitamin A, C, E, TAS and TBARS showed no difference among the groups of drinker. All vitamin intakes of the exercisers were slightly higher than those of the non-exercisers, but vitamin C intake was significantly higher in female exercisers than in non-exercisers. Plasma $\beta$ -carotene levels were significantly higher in male exercisers and plasma vitamin A, C, E, TAS and TBARS levels tended to be higher in exercisers than in non-exercisers. These results suggested that change to non-smoker, modulation of alcohol consumption and regular exercise could enhance antioxidant defences against reactive oxygen species and might increase the likelihood of a healthier life span.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of oxidative stress in NIDDM patients with diabetic complications and to determine the relationship between oxidative stress and diabetic complications. For this study, 139 NIDDM patients were recruited, 85 with diabetic complications and 54 without complications were recruited. The concentration of malondialdehyde(MDA) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes including catalase, superoxide dismutase(SOD), gluthatione peroxidase(GSH-Px)were determined. The daily intakes and plasma concentrations of beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein nd alpha-tocopherol were determined by food frequency questionnaire and by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), respectively. Among the antioxidant enzymes studied, only GSH-Px activity was lower in NIDDM patient, with diabetic complications than in those without complications(2.91$\pm$0.80 vs 3.54$\pm$0.44 U/mgHb, p<0.05). Those NIDDM patients with diabetic complications had higher MDA concentrations than those without diabetic complications(1.40$\pm$0.25 vs 1.25$\pm$0.11 nmol/ml, p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the dietary intakes of total carotenoids(2854 vs 2824ug/day)or vitamin E (9.5$\pm$3.2 vs 9.5$\pm$2.0mg/day)between NIDDA patients with and without complications. However, the plasma concentrations of beta-carotene and lycopene were significantly lower in NIDDM patients with complications than in NIDDM patients without complications (Beta-carotene : 24.2$\pm$12.5 vs 33.1$\pm$16.2(ug/dl), lycopene : 2.8$\pm$2.1 vs 4.3$\pm$2.8(ug/dl)). This study showed that in NIDDM patients with complications, the lipid peroxidation of erythrocytes was higher increased and the antioxidant reserves were significantly dipleted, compared with NIDDM patients without complications. The lower plasma concentrations of beta-carotene and lycopene in NIDDM patients may be due to the presence of diabetic complication, not due to the lower dietary intakes of antioxidant vitamins. To define the role of carotenoids in diabetes, more experimental and clinical studies are needed.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2012

Dietary intakes and plasma concentrations of retinol and carotenoids were estimated in assessing the vitamin A status of Korean adults living in Seoul and the metropolitan area. Three consecutive 24-h food recalls were collected from 106 healthy subjects (33 males and 73 females) aged 20-59 years. Fasting blood samples of the subjects were obtained and plasma retinol and carotenoids were analyzed. The daily vitamin A intakes ($mean{\pm}SD$) were $887.77{\pm}401.35{\mu}g $ retinol equivalents or $531.84{\pm}226.42{\mu}g$ retinol activity equivalents. There were no significant differences in vitamin A intakes among age groups. The retinol intake of subjects was $175.92{\pm}129.87{\mu}g/day$. The retinol intake of the subjects in their 50's was significantly lower than those in their 20's and 30's (P<0.05). Provitamin A carotenoid intakes were $3,828.37{\pm}2,196.29{\mu}g/day$ ${\beta}$-carotene, $472.57{\pm}316.68{\mu}g/day$ ${\alpha}$-carotene, and $412.83{\pm}306.46{\mu}g/day$ ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin. Approximately 17% of the subjects consumed vitamin A less than the Korean Estimated Average Requirements for vitamin A. The plasma retinol concentration was $1.22{\pm}0.34{\mu}mol/L$. There was no significant difference in plasma retinol concentrations among age groups. However, the concentrations of ${\beta}$-carotene, lycopene, and lutein of subjects in their 50's were significantly higher than those of in their 20's. Only one subject had a plasma retinol concentration < $0.70{\mu}mol/L$ indicating marginal vitamin A status. Plasma retinol concentration in 30% of the subjects was 0.70- < $1.05{\mu}mol/L$, which is interpreted as the concentration possibly responsive to greater intake of vitamin A. In conclusion, dietary intakes and status of vitamin A were generally adequate in Korean adults examined in this study.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.933-941
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• 2003

It has been suggested that green juice supplementation may have some health promoting benefits. We evaluated the effects of green juice (Angelica keiskei) consumption on parameters of lipid profiles and plasma antioxidant status in healthy male smokers. Fifty-four smokers were supplemented with 300 ml of green juice for 6 weeks while maintaining their normal diet. Blood samples were collected on week 0 and week 6 in order to evaluate plasma lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol) , plasma antioxidant vitamin levels (ascorbic acid, $\alpha$ -tocopherol, ${\gamma}$ -tocopherol, $\alpha$ -carotene, $\beta$ -carotene, cryptoxanthin and lycopene) , the degree of LDL oxidation and GOT, GPT levels for liver function. Plasma ascorbic acid level remained at the same level. However, $\alpha$ -tocopherol and ${\gamma}$ -tocopherol normalized by total cholesterol (p <0.05) and $\beta$ -carotene (p <0.001) level were all significantly increased after green juice supplementation. Plasma cholesterol was reduced for 12%, LDL-cholesterol was reduced for 9.3% after green juice consumption, while plasma triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol was not changed. Oxidized LDL assessed by conjugated diene (CD) , was decreased (p < 0.0001) after green juice consumption. These results further support a role for green juice supplementation in the improvement of lipid status, prevention of lipid peroxidation, and thereby reducing risk factors of numerous diseases associated with elevated oxidative stress in smokers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.848-858
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• 1995

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin A on the antioxidant status in ethanol-treated rats. Weaning rats were fed a basal diet until they reached about 160-180g body weight. Thereafter, four experimental groups were fed a liquid diet containing 36% ethanol of total calorie and four pair-fed groups were fed isocaloric sucorse instead of ethanol. Additionally, the liquid diet contained adequate amount of ${\beta}-carotene$, retinyl acetate, or 13-cis-retinoic acid except vitamin A deficient diet. The rats were sacrificed after 7 weeks of feedng periods. Significant decrease in hepatic vitamin E content was found in rats treated with chronic ethanol. However, dietary supplementation of retinyl acetate modified the change to some extent. Total vitamin C content of liver increased in vitamin A-deficient or ${\beta}-carotene$ groups with ethanol feeding. The ratio of reduced/oxidized vitamin C increased in the plasma and liver of ${\beta}-carotene$ group with ethanol feeding. Chronic ethanol intake did not change the total glutathione content of rat liver, but increased reduced glutathione(GSH)/oxidized glutathione(GSSG) ratio. This increase in hepatic GSH after chronic ethanol treatment. The changes of Se content in plasma and liver was not consistant. Fe content of liver increased by ethanol treatment, but this increase reduced in rats fed dietary retinyl acetate or 13-cis-retinoic acid. Fe content of plasma increased in vitamin A-deficient and ${\beta}-carotene$ supplemented groups with ethanol intake.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.278-286
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• 2003

Alcohol is well known agent which can damage the human tissues such as liver via stimulating lipid peroxidation. On the other hand, carotenoids in addition to vitamins A, C and I play important roles in protecting these oxidative damages as well as preventing the production of free radicals. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin A on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants status in ethanol-treated rats. In the experiment, male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 160~180 g were given a liquid diet containing 36% of total calories as ethanol for 7 weeks. The pair-fed control rats received an isocaloric amount of diet containing sucrose instead of ethanol on the following day Additionally, the liquid diet contained adequate amount of $\beta$-carotene, retinyl acetate or 13-sis-reinoic acid except vitamin A-deficient diet. The results obtained are as follows. The levels of plasma and hepatic lipid peroxide were increased after chronic ethanol feeding in rats. Retinyl acetate supplementation significantly reduced lipid peroxidation induced by ethanol feeding Glucose 6-phosphatase activity was significantly reduced in rats fed vitamin A-deficient diet with ethanol and alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly induced in rats fed 13-cis-reinoic acid diet with ethanol. Catalase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities did not show a consistent tendency in experiment groups. The hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities did not significantly changed by chronic ethanol feeding groups. The striking decrease in conversion of $\beta$-carotene to retinol was observed in rats fed a $\beta$-carotene diet with ethanol feeding The level of retinol and retinoic acid in plasma and liver was decreased after chronic ethanol administration Based on this result, these data suggest that ethanol feeding enhances oxidative stress especially in those fed a vitamin A-deficient diet, and vitamin A supplementation, especially, retinyl acetate intake can prevent enhanced lipid peroxidation and related damage to some extent.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1088-1092
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• 2004

The present investigation was undertaken to study the status of plasma antioxidant vitamins in normal cycling and $\alpha$-tocopherol supplemented anestrus buffalo heifers. The pre-supplementation plasma levels ($\mu$mol/L) of vitamin E and $\beta$-carotene were significantly (p<0.05) lower and of vitamin C was significantly (p<0.05) higher in anestrus heifers (4.06$\pm$0.07; 4.56$\pm$0.17; 21.04$\pm$0.21) when compared to normal cycling ones (4.92$\pm$0.05; 6.76$\pm$0.12; 14.24$\pm$0.16). The oral supplementation of$\alpha$-tocopherol at 3,000 mg per week per animal in anestrus heifers resulted in a significant (p<0.01) increase in vitamin E and $\beta$-carotene levels and a significant (p<0.01) decrease in vitamin C concentration. Results indicated that supplementation of $\alpha$-tocopherol to anestrus buffalo heifers improved the antioxidant status by mitigating the harmful effects of free radical induced oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.708-719
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• 2007

Glutathione S-transferase genotypes GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTP1 were characterized in 104 healthy male and female subjects and compared with parameters of oxidative stress at the level of DNA and lipids, with antioxidant enzymes, and with plasma antioxidants in smokers and non.smokers. Of the 104 subjects studied, 57.4% were GSTT1 present and 47.6% were GSTM1 present. The GSTP1 polymorphisms a and b were represented as follows: a/a, 75.5%; a/b, 21.6%; b/b type, 2.9%. The GSTT1 null genotype was associated with decreased glutathione in erythrocytes and elevated lymphocytes DNA damage. GST-Px was higher in GSTT1 null compared with GSTT1 present type. The homozygous GSTP1 genotype was not associated with any antioxidant status or DNA damage. The difference in plasma ${\alpha}$-carotene and erythrocytes GSH-Px and GST activities between smokers and non-smokers was detected in the GSTT1 null genotype. Plasma ${\gamma}$-tocopherol and ${\beta}$-carotene decreased significantly in smokers having GSTM1 null genotype. When GSTT1 and GSTM1 were combined, plasma lycopene and erythrocyte GST were reduced in smokers in both null types of these genes. As for GSTP1 genotype, plasma ${\alpha}$-carotene and erythrocytes GSH-Px decreased significantly in smokers with GSTP1 b/b, while erythrocytes GSH-Px activities decreased in smokers with GSTP1 a/b. The different ${\beta}$-carotene level between smokers and non-smokers was seen with both GSTP1 a/a and a/b genotype. It seems that polymorphisms in the phase II metabolizing enzyme glutathione S-transferase may be important determinants of commonly measured biomarkers.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2003

This study was done to evaluate the antioxidant status of female college students by determining their intakes and plasma levels of antioxidnt vitamins (vitamin C, A and E) and total antioxidant status (TAS). Subjects were 46 healthy female college students aged 20 - 29 years. Body composition was determined by a multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Dietary intakes were examined by 24hr record method and nutrients intakes were analyzed by the Computer Aided Nutritional analysis program for professional (CAN-pro). Plasma vitamin C level were measured by spectrophotometric method and retinol, ${\beta}$-carotene, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol were measured by HPLC. Plasma TAS was measured with a Randox kit using the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) method. Daily energy and protein intakes of the female college students were 1670.5㎉ (83% of RDA) and 63.3g (115.1% of RDA), respectively. However their intakes of Ca and Fe were below 75% of RDA. Their intakes of vitamin A and C were 596.6 ${\mu}$ gRE (85.2% of RDA) and 71.0mg (101.4% of RDA), respectively. Plasma levels of vitamin C, retinol, ${\beta}$-carotene and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol were 14.7mg/L, 0.7mg/L, 0.2mg/L and 9.1mg/L, respectively which were within normal range. There was no subject with deficiency or marginal level in plasma vitamin A and C. However 1.6% of the subjects had below adequate level in vitamin E. Plasma TAS level was 1.2mmol/L. Correlation data showed that all plasma antioxidant vitamins were positively correlated with plasma TAS. Overall data indicate that the antioxidant status of female college students were pretty good. However it might be necessary to educate them to eat more fruits and vegetables for preventing many chronic diseases in a later life. (J Community Nutrition 5(1) : 13∼20, 2003)