The effect of palm wine on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status of rural dwellers in South West Nigeria.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the levels/activities of antioxidants and lipid peroxidation in the blood of subjects that consumed palm wine on regular bases.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Sixty-four male volunteers between the ages of 30-70 years were recruited for the study. The subjects were those that visited palm wine vendor outlet on regular basis at least for a minimum duration of 5 years, with daily intake of 80-160 gm of palm wine at a sitting for a minimum of 3 to 4 days per week. Plasma activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (a-GT); plasma concentration of total antioxidant status (TAS), Malonyldialdehyde ((MDA), selenium (Se) and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were determined.

RESULTS

The plasma activity of a-GT and marker of lipid peroxidation (MDA) were significantly increased in subjects compared to the controls p<0.01. However, the erythrocyte scavenging antioxidant activity of GSH-Px and plasma Se for the subjects were significantly reduced compared to the controls p<0.05. Positive correlation was observed between MDA/ level of palm wine consumption (r =+ 0.471, p<0.01), AST/ level of palm wine consumption (r=+ 0.263, p<0.05) and a- GT/level of palm wine consumption (r=+ 0.518, p< 0.001) for the subjects. However, a negative correlation was obtained between GSH-Px/level of palm wine consumption (r= - 0.364, p<0.05) and selenium/ level of palm wine consumption (r=- 0.375, p< 0.05) for the subjects.

CONCLUSION

Reduced plasma Se and erythrocytes GSH-Px activity with increased plasma MDA in this study revealed that palm wine consumption may deplete the body's antioxidants against free radical attacks and render the body in a state of oxidative stress.