Serum levels of antioxidant vitamins and lipid peroxidation in multiple
sclerosis.
Besler HT, Comog˜lu S, Okçu Z
Nutr Neurosci 2002 Jun 5:215-20
Abstract
We determined serum levels of ascorbic acid, betacarotene, retinol and alpha
tocopherol and lipid peroxidation (as estimated by thiobarbituric acid
reacting substances (TBARS) generation) in 24 multiple sclerosis (MS)
patients and 24 healthy sex- and age-matched person as control. The levels
of four antioxidant vitamins were significantly lower in MS patients
compared to controls (p < 0.05). TBARS levels were significantly higher in
the patients of MS compared to the controls (p = 0.001). In MS patients, the
levels of beta-carotene, alpha tocopherol and ascorbic acid correlated
significantly with each other (r2 = 0.689 - 0.779). It appeared that there
was inverse correlation between the serum levels of ascorbic acid or
beta-carotene, but not of alpha tocopherol or retinol, and TBARS levels in
MS. The present study indicates that antioxidant vitamins (alpha tocopherol,
beta-carotene, retinol and ascorbic acid) are decreased in sera of MS
patients during an attack, and that this decrease may well be dependent on
the increased oxidative burden as reflected by lipid peroxidation products.
The role of antioxidant vitamin supplementation in prevention and/or
treatment of MS remains to be explored.
Author Address
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Technology,
Hacettepe University, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. rt.ude.epettecah|fbth#rt.ude.epettecah|fbth
