Plasma antioxidant capacity of HIV-seropositive and healthy subjects during long-term ingestion of fruit juices or a fruit-vegetable-concentrate containing antioxidant polyphenols.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether antioxidant polyphenols from fruit juices or a fruit-vegetable-concentrate increase the plasma antioxidant capacity in HIV-infected and healthy subjects.

DESIGN

Twenty-three HIV-seropositive and 18 seronegative adults were randomized to ingest either 1 l of fruit juice or 30 ml fruit-vegetable-concentrate per day over 16 weeks in addition to their normal Western diet.

METHODS

Plasma antioxidant capacity was determined as Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) at baseline, after 1 and 16 weeks of intervention, and after a 6 week washout.

RESULTS

There was no difference in plasma antioxidant capacity between HIV-infected and healthy subjects at baseline (P=0.1). After 16 weeks of intervention TEAC increased in HIV-positive subjects with both types of polyphenol supplementation (juice, 1.38+/-0.07 to 1.42+/-0.04 mM, P=0.034; concentrate, 1.40+/-0.09 to 1.46+/-0.08 mM, P=0.025). TEAC was not altered by either type of supplementation in HIV-seronegative subjects.

CONCLUSION

Plasma antioxidant capacity can be increased by long-term ingestion of polyphenols from fruit juices or fruit-vegetable-concentrate in HIV-seropositive but not in HIV-seronegative subjects.

SPONSORSHIP

This study was supported by a grant and Cellagon aurum from HG Berner GmbH, Altenholz, and fruit juices from Eckes Granini GmbH & Co. KG, Nieder-Olm.