Antioxidants Supplementation in Elderly Cardiovascular Patients

Abstract

Supplementation with antioxidants and its benefit-risk relationship have been largely discussed in the elderly population. We evaluated whether antioxidants supplementation improved the biochemical profile associated with oxidative metabolism in elderly cardiovascular patients. Patients (n=112) received daily supplementation withα-TP 400 mg, beta-carotene 40 mg, and vitamin C 1000 mg for 2 months (treatment). Plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol (α-TP),β-carotene (βC), ubiquinol-10 (QH-10), glutathione, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were determined before and after treatment. Response to treatment was dependent on pretreatmentα-TP andβC levels. Increase inα-TP andβC levels was observed only in patients with basal levels <18 μM forα-TP (P<0.01) and <0.30 μM forβC (P<0.02). Ubiquinol-10, glutathione, and TBARS were unaffected by treatment: QH-10 (+57%, F1,110=3.611,P<0.06, and N.S.), glutathione (+21%, F1,110=2.92,P<0.09, and N.S.), and TBARS (−29%, F1,110=2.26,P<0.14, and N.S.). Treatment reduced oxidative metabolism: 5.3% versus 14.6% basal value (F1,110=9.21,P<0.0003). Basal TBARS/α-TP ratio was higher in smokers compared to nonsmokers: 0.11 ± 0.02 versus 0.06 ± 0.01 (F32,80=1.63,P<0.04). Response to antioxidant supplementation was dependent on basal plasma levels ofα-TP andβC. Smoking status was strongly associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and high TBARS/α-TP ratio (lipid peroxidation).