A comparison of antioxidant status and free radical peroxidation of plasma lipoproteins in healthy young persons from Naples and Bristol

Abstract

Ischaemic heart disease mortality is much lower in Southern Italy than in the U.K. and this is not entirely explained by differences in classical risk factors. Differences in antioxidant intake, affecting free radical peroxidation of plasma lipoproteins, may be relevant. Therefore, dietary intake, antioxidant status and plasma lipid peroxidation were compared in healthy young persons eating typical regional diets from Naples (22) and Bristol (26). The Naples group consumed more fresh tomatoes, more fat as monounsaturates (from olive oil) and had higher plasma levels of the lipid antioxidants vitamin E (mean (SD; 95% CI) 29.1 (4.5; 26.8 to 31.3) vs 25.1 (3.86; 23.4 to 26.8) mumol.l-1, P = 0.005) and beta-carotene (4.74 (1.2; 4.14 to 5.34) vs 2.85 (0.8; 2.5 to 3.2) mumol.l-1, P < 0.001). Intakes of vitamin C, total uncooked fruit and vegetables, plasma vitamin A, serum selenium and copper levels were similar. All indices of plasma lipid peroxidation were significantly lower in the Naples group: conjugated dienes (median (interquartile range; non-parametric 95% CI)) 29 (21.5-39.9; 24 to 36.7) vs 41.5 (37-48.5; 38 to 44.5) mumol.l-1, P < 0.001; diene conjugation index 1.38 (1.02-1.55; 1.06 to 1.49) x 10(-2) vs 1.57 (1.43-1.74; 1.44 to 1.71) x 10(-2), P = 0.019; lipid peroxides (geometric mean (95% CI) 1.24 (1.12 to 1.37) vs 4.58 (3.84 to 5.46) mumol.l-1, P < 0.001.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)