Increase of singlet oxygen protection of erythrocytes by vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta carotene intakes.

Substantial evidence supports the theory that free radicals, especially oxygen radicals, are involved in the process of aging. The human organisms have two ways to fight them: an enzymatic way with enzymatic intervention like superoxide dismutase, catalase... and a chemical way with the intervention of scavengers such as vitamins, cysteine, methionine, gluthatione... The aim of this work was to determine that an intakes of vitamins association: vitamin E, vitamin C and beta carotene induce an increase of singlet oxygen protection of erythrocytes' subjects. The method was based on the haemolytic effect of singlet oxygen which is generated by irradiation of hematoporphyrine at 365 nm, in 22 p. cent suspension of erythrocytes' subjects. Results show that a supply of beta carotene (15 or 30 mg/day), vitamin E (15 mg/day) and vitamin C (30 mg/day) involves an increase of singlet oxygen protection of erythrocytes of subjects. This protection appears very quickly after 15 days of treatment.